CLEAN SWEEP DRIVES BLUES
NSW five-eighth James Maloney has answered the question many are asking.
What is driving the serieswinning Blues in State of Origin’s game three dead-rubber?
“The fans,” Maloney says. “We have a duty to the state to perform well.
“You know how much it matters to everyone.
“You could see that after game two, the fans were going mental.
“As a kid, you know how much pride you have in NSW, just watching it.
“It’s your job to perform for all the fans.
“You see how big it is. When you play, you know there are so many people who are into it. Everyone watches it.
“Going up there (to Brisbane), it doesn’t matter what’s on the line, we need to instil pride in the NSW jersey.”
The Blues have a real steely feel about them less than a week before Origin III at Suncorp Stadium.
To a man, each is talking tough about staying focused and relentless in pursuit of a three-nil whitewash.
They want to be heartless.
The two-nil series-winning result doesn’t seem to be enough for this ravenous bunch of NSW rookies.
Maloney stressed Queensland – in a similar situation – would be ruthless towards NSW.
“One hundred per cent they would want to do it,” Maloney said. “They say it (a clean sweep) has happened twice in the last 21 years.
“It’s very hard to do. That’s why it doesn’t come around very often.
“It would be very special to do it. We can’t set our goals on anything less.
“That is what we are going to try and achieve. We’ll tear into the preparation.”
The Baby Blues have the chance to become the first NSW since 2000 to secure an historic whitewash.
And they meet a Queensland clearly rattled by failure this season.
NSW prop Paul Vaughan said: “I think it’s a pride thing too. We’ve got a good opportunity to go three-zip, which hasn’t been done for a long time. I think we have the team to do it.
“We just need to be a little ruthless in what we are doing. I’m sure if the shoe was on the other foot, Queensland would want to be ruthless too.
“I think that is one thing we should be working towards. We have to make the most of it. All the boys are soaking it up and enjoying the experience.”
There are doubters who claim NSW’s younger brigade may lack the necessary killer instinct to push for a clean sweep.
Vaughan disagrees, saying: “I don’t know about that. It’s an Origin series – you want to be successful in everything you do.”
NSW is adamant every game – even a dead-rubber – is treated with the same intensity and importance.
“I know from the last two games, the level of football has been crazy,’ Vaughan said.
“I don’t think it’s going to change. It’s going to be a tough ask going up there.”