State Of Origin Game 2: It’s prompted fears from the likes of former NSW half Matthew Johns that Queensland could deliberately slow the ruck down and push the boundaries with the markers being square to limit Cook’s opportunities.
But Blues forward Jack de Belin said the team had to take it upon themselves to ensure the Maroons don’t nullify their advantage through the middle. “We’ve just got to fight hard to play the ball,” de Belin told AAP. “Hopefully the referees don’t let them get away with too much. We’ve just got to counteract that by running the ball extra hard.
State Of Origin Game 2
“That suits us. We’re a young side, we’re fit and the ball in play is going to tire them out a lot more than us.” NSW players also have the belief that planning to shut down Cook’s speed is one thing, but doing it is another.
One thing is certain in State of Origin, Queensland are never beaten until the final whistle is blown. The ability of the team in maroon to fight back against all odds is part of the legend that makes State of Origin the must-watch rugby league spectacle that it is each year.
Queensland will run onto ANZ Stadium on Sunday night, trailing 1-0 in the 2018 series, with New South Wales the shortest-priced favourite they have ever been, with the majority of the full house behind the home team. With no one outside their dressing room and fanatical fans giving them a realistic chance of saving this series, Queensland have New South Wales exactly where they want them.
The South Sydney hooker has terrorised the NRL all season out of dummy-half, leading all hookers for linebreaks, tackle busts and metres, while sitting equal-first in try-assists and tries.
Queensland are also without Cameron Smith, who has become an expert in controlling the tempo of the game throughout his career.
And regardless, NSW captain Boyd Cordner said nothing would change from the series opener despite the lack of penalties.
“I think ruck speed and everything like that, it’s always a step up in Origin. Everything seems quicker, so I don’t think that will be an issue,” he said. “We’ve trained the way we did in game one and how we feel is best, and what can benefit us.
There has been much written about the fabled Queensland passion, the stronger pride in their jersey, the greater willingness to go into battle for their mates. Whenever Queensland win against the odds, it is thrown in the faces of every New South Welshman - "you lot down there, just don't get State of Origin".
Four of the last five times New South Wales have taken a 1-0 series lead, Queensland have fought back to win the trophy. Last year New South Wales won the first three halves of the series convincingly, but failed to win the vital last three.
Over the last 12 years, Queensland have lost only one series. Over the last 12 years Queensland have enjoyed having some of the greatest players to ever pull on a boot in their key positions. Darren Lockyer, Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith dominated the spine, with Greg Inglis cashing in out wide. Now only Slater and Inglis remain and the spine looks solid, but certainly not world beating.
This game will answer a lot of questions over whether it has been Queensland passion or Queensland talent that has been behind their recent dominance.
When New South Wales won three straight series from 2003, they did it on the back of a spine featuring players like Danny Buderus, Andrew Johns, Brad Fittler and Anthony Minichiello. No amount of Queensland passion was able to stop the Blues during that run.
