HEAT IS ON ENGINE ROOM AFTER OPENING FLOP
QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters has warned his misfiring forward pack to “get their arse into gear” as chief enforcer Dylan Napa conceded he failed to counter NSW’s front-row firebrands.
Walters was left to lament an MCG midfield mauling which saw NSW’s starting forwards storm for 615 metres – 190 metres more than the dismal output of Queensland’s pack (425 metres) in the 22-12 Origin I defeat.
Maroons prop Jarrod Wallace was barely sighted, making just 43 metres, while Napa missed five tackles and tallied just 84 metres as NSW forwards Boyd Cordner (161 metres) and David Klemmer (134 metres) ran riot.
Wallace is in danger of being axed in favour of Cowboys stalwart Matt Scott for Origin II, with Walters admitting lock Josh McGuire, Queensland’s best forward, was let down by his cohorts.
“They (Queensland forwards) need to get their arse into gear,” Walters said.
“Josh was outstanding for me. He was basically our only forward to make 100 metres and our other forwards have 100-metre efforts in them, but they need to show me that.
“Jarrod is disappointed with what happened. He didn’t have the greatest of nights.
“In his second stint we just had to get Coen (Hess) back on the field, we were chasing points and Coen can jag a try from close to the tryline.
“But we just couldn’t get near the line for Coen to be effective in that area.
“NSW have set a good standard. They deserved their win, they were the better team, so now I need to challenge our guys to lift a level.”
Asked if Wallace will be retained for Origin II, Walters gave no guarantees, saying the Titans prop needed to make a statement at NRL level over the next fortnight.
“Jarrod needs to pull his head up and get going,” he said.
“He was good for us last year and I expect him to be better for Game Two. In saying that, he has to be fit and playing at the level where we know he can (to be picked).
“I still have a lot of faith in our two young front-rowers.”