It’s a fresh new Blues side and coaching staff set to turn Origin a pristine blue. But it’s not the Blues the Maroons fear, it’s the F word.
NSW Blues have the guidance of dual premiership winning coach Michael Maguire who also led the Kiwi team to beat the Kangaroos 30-Nil in last year’s Pacific Championship Trophy.
Gone are the days of Fittler and Brandy’s bizarre selections. The days of stacking the team with three fullbacks and the likes of Nicko Hynes in positions they do not play in.
Coach Maguire has selected an in-form team with five debutants (Edwards out injured – Tedesco returns). All match winners in their positions and flexible enough to move around if required.
The is an exciting team and an exciting time for NSW supporters.
While north of the border
Maroons coach Billy Slater is staring down a three-peat with mostly an unchanged team. The bookies have Queensland favourites to win Game 1 and the series but you can’t use that word in front of them.
All we hear is moaning. It is all solemn and downtrodden with a “whoa is us” mentality up there.
Paul Vautin stated the Blues must be favourites based on Coach Slater picking a back on the bench. That back being Selwyn Cobbo.
Gordon Tallis also won’t have a bar of it stating Queensland are underdogs. We are always underdogs.
In fact, it makes it hard for me to bother watching NRL360 at this time of year with grumpy Gordon on show.
Tallis asked the question if anyone had shed a tear for Maroons’ Cameron Munster like they did for Nathan Cleary.
No Gordon. We did not.
He even doubled down by stating Blues coach Maguire had an unfair advantage as he was the referee’s High-Performance Coach for one year, seven years ago.
What are you trying to say Gordon? The excuses are already out. We all know which state is under pressure.
Queensland are favourites for this year’s series. Blues fans need to get excited and cheer on our state.
A win in Sydney is the only way to turn back the maroon tide.
Go the Blues!
