Origin 2. The Preview

By Stephen Gallagher

Tonight brings us the second instalment of State of Origin in 2023, in the cauldron of Suncorp Stadium, as the home side get the opportunity to clinch the series for the second straight year.

Origin 1 tossed up plenty of talking points. Mainly, once again, that “Origin Spirit” that Queensland has, and New South Wales don’t… Maroons coach Billy Slater picking form over reputation, with an eye on the future, and the Blues attack looking clunky and discombobulated. 

Injuries have affected both these teams for game two, with the Canetoads missing Cobbo, Arrow, and Gilbert. That means Coates, Nanai, and Fotuaika claiming there spots.

The hamstring of Cleary sees him out for the Cockroaches, Mitchell selected and ruled out again, as well as Koroisau missing with a broken jaw. Hynes and Pangai Junior dropped. Joining the side for this match is Moses, Utoikamanu, Robson, and Cook. Two on debut amongst that crew. Crichton will line up in the centre’s once again.

Backs against the wall, the Blues have a mammoth task ahead of them. Coach Brad Fittler has never lost a game two in Origin, which bodes well for this side, but what Queensland managed to produce in game one was very easy points. That’s a massive concern for a side that also struggled to put on points and have a fluid attacking performance.

So what do New South Wales have under the hood? We don’t see them win many close ones – game three of 2019 (Tedesco tiptoe down the sideline) was a six point victory, everything else has been a very one-sided thrashing of Queensland.

So we know they can put points together, we know they have good combinations throughout the side with Panthers and Rabbitohs players in there, and we know they’ve got world class players in their ranks. So what will it take for them to win up at Suncorp Stadium to send the series to a decider?

Their attack must not break down on the fourth and fifth tackles. We saw plenty of missed opportunities through dropped-balls, players not in the right spot, and players trying to do too much rather than just their roles in the first outing which frustrated thousands of fans, and must have frustrated those on the field trying to orchestrate their possession. 

What Mitchell Moses can bring is a solid kicking game. He’s done it for many many years in the Eels jersey, and was great with a broken back in his Origin debut in 2021 despite the two point loss. We’ve seen Moses at his best when he runs the ship, and plays on the front foot and eyes up – which is as about as cliche as it comes.

I think Freddy needs to be smarter with his interchange bench, too. Reece Robson on a well-earned debut would be great to start ahead of Damian Cook in my opinion. He can get niggly and grindy and handle that physicality, then play in a loose-forward or prop role when Cook comes on.

Hudson Young must play more than 20 minutes. His opening stint was good without being great, but he’d have learnt a lot from that. He loves playing hard and running hard, and on the left or right edge, wherever you want him – can pop up and force the defence to work hard to defend him.

Stefano Utoikamanu has a lot of potential for a guy that’s been playing for the Wests Tigers. His imposing frame and impressive work ethic in clubland makes him an intelligent selection. Throw him in there to get stuck in and do what he does best, which is run hard and drag defenders in to try to wrap him up. 

What we heard from James Tedesco post his Roosters victory over the Bulldogs a fortnight ago was honest. He’s been trying to do too much as the captain, and not enough as the best fullback the state has. When he supports through the middle, he is incredibly dangerous.

Queensland won’t reinvent the wheel by any means, they will have to play better this time around.

Despite scoring some very soft tries, their completion rate was poor, and their error count let them down massively. They were nowhere near their best but still got the W. That shows some serious ticker.

Slater will look to inject Nanai around the posts on attack. He seems to find the tryline with ease, and they will create a game plan which will look to see him dive over and score from a little grubber, or use his athleticism in the air to out leap the outside backs of the Blues.

We didn’t see a barnstorming David Fifita either, but he did his job. I think he’ll have a challenge issued to him. To bring the heat and to play direct. He’s looked great linking up with Kieran Foran for the Titans which has earned him the recall to representative footy. When the likes of Grant or Hunt will dart from the ruck, Fifita is smart enough to get there and use his frame to make an impression on the defence.

Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster will relish the opportunity to win another series at home, and we know this duo work incredibly well together when they want to. Munster brings himself into the game at the right time, every time. Cherry-Evans just pulls the strings and has the ball on one too. Exceptional.

By no means is this an easy game for the Queenslanders. They can’t rest on their laurels of a game one win. New South Wales will be desperate. They let themselves down in game one and that will sting. If they have any chance of taking this underdog status, they have to shut the Queenslanders up early. 

A try in the first ten. A couple of repeat sets in the first quarter. A line break or two. Just something that will upset the apple cart and make their rivals think on their feet.

They don’t have to outsmart the room – they just need to play with the belief of a side that can and will do whatever it takes to win.

I want there to be a game three decider, because my tickets are sorted for the game.

I’ll take the Blues by 8 in Game Two. Frizell first try scorer. 26-18.

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