It’s do or die for the Maroons as the Mighty Blues look to wrap up the series in Perth. There are key changes in both teams, but will this make a difference?
Statistics state that any team that loses the first Origin game is going to struggle to salvage the series. Even more so when that game was lost at your home ground.
Last year the shoe was on the other foot and the mighty champions, the Blues, prevailed winning the decider at Suncorp Stadium.
Can Queensland replicate this? I think the Maroons are in trouble.
The Teams
There are some key changes in personnel including the halves for both teams. Let’s check this out.
The Blues were never changing their winning team unless there were suspensions or injuries. With both Mitches (Moses and Barnett) out with extended injuries, the Good Guys have been forced to make changes.
The forwards will take care of themselves. But if there was any criticism about the Blues attack, it was with the half’s combination of Cleary and Moses.
In comes last year’s winning five-eighth Jarome Luai to bring the Panthers band back together. Even Coach Laurie Daley acknowledged the influence of the modern marvel that is the Panthers and the leadership of their players and spine.
In my opinion, this is the backline that should have been selected for Game 1.
If you look north of the border, it’s panic stations.
Coach Billy Slater has brought out the famous Queenslander “pick and flick” dumping their general and captain DCE after one game. Unheard of but if you listen to the Queenslander commentators on NRL360 (i.e. Gordon Tallis and Brent Read) there is no such thing, wagging their fingers.
Sometimes I dislike this time of year about how depressed the commentary can be from the Queenslanders. But I must admit I am enjoying their hopelessness right now.
And this sense of hopelessness goes right through the team with Coach Billy getting upset about being called a grub.
Oh, so sensitive. No wonder they forgot how to tackle in Game 1.
Even our Queensland Correspondent, Shagger, has given up.
Who Wins
The Maroons love being the underdog even when they are favourites. We have all seen how this dance card plays out and there have been some big changes.
- Tommy Dearden being promoted to halfback.
- Cam Munster Captain.
- The two Kurts, Capewell and Mann.
The Maroons will push boundaries and hope the referee gives them more leeway in this game.
It is all or nothing.
The Blues team is by far superior to Game 1 with the inclusion of Luai. How they react to a desperate Maroons team will determine what Game 3 means.
NSW win by 22.
Rob
The Creator
