Opener historically the key for Blues
If history is any guide, State of Origin I is just about a must-win for NSW.
If the Blues can’t get off to a winning start in Sydney on Wednesday night, their dreams of retaining the Origin shield will be shot to pieces.
Winning game one has proven critical to the Blues taking out the series. Of the 13 series wins by NSW, 11 have come after they have won the series opener.
That was the case when they finally broke eight years of interstate dominance by Queensland in 2014, when they won the first match in Brisbane and followed that up in Sydney.
Game one is also crucial for the Warriors player whose identity has yet to be revealed. It’s understood this mystery guest was a bad influence.
Hurrell is now gone – signed this week by the Gold Coast – after it was made clear he had no future with the Warriors, most particularly while McFadden is at the helm.
The club’s PR machine has been Blues because of their horror record at Suncorp Stadium, as evidenced by last year’s 52-6 shellacking in the decider.
The former Lang Park is not a happy hunting ground for the Blues. Since Queensland began their dominance of Origin in 2006, NSW have won just one live Origin match at the venue.
But the good news for Blues fans is that NSW have had success at ANZ Stadium, the venue on Wednesday.
The Blues have won six of the eight game-one matches at the venue. Queensland’s only game-one wins were in 2010 and last year when the claimed an 11-10 victory. All that makes it even more important for the Blues to start the series off on the right foot with a win in Sydney. working overtime to hose down suggestions the highly popular Vatuvei was about to pack his bags and was even being shopped around rugby clubs. In a ‘‘tell all’’ on a sponsor’s media platform yesterday that looked scripted to me, the big winger finally confirmed he had changed his mind about quitting.
Vatuvei has been out of bounds NSW v Queensland:
‘‘It is our home game and we are looking forward to putting in a good performance in front of own our crowd,’’ Blues back-rower Boyd Cordner said.
Meanwhile, Johnathan Thurston has not given up hope on injured Queensland halves partner Cooper Cronk playing in the series opener.
Thurston said Cronk, who rolled his ankle at training on Friday, had earned the right to be given until the last minute to prove his fitness.
Queensland doctor Matt Hislop for media generally since his involvement in the ‘‘energy drink’’ lapse. His only previous comment was a seemingly staged interview and video clip conducted by the team’s media man.
Contrast that with the openness around such matters when similar dramas break among Sydney clubs.
It’s troubling from a disciplinary said scans on Cronk’s injury were encouraging and it was hoped aggressive treatment would ensure the halfback was ready to play NSW.
‘‘We have got players who can fill a role if need be,’’ Thurston said. ‘‘But he [Cronk] has earned the right to be given until the last minute [to prove his fitness].
‘‘A player like him, it’s not the beall and end-all if he is not there for the captain’s run [on match eve].’’
He admitted Queensland’s preparation would be hindered without Cronk despite Thurston’s Cowboys team-mate Michael Morgan slotting into the Maroons halves at training.
Daly Cherry-Evans is in camp on standby to replace Morgan as the new bench utility. viewpoint that it appears these six Warriors players didn’t think there would be any consequences for their actions.
They were found out when a senior team-mate reported them to management.
Despite this player trying to do the right thing by the club (his name has been widely circulated on social media), his actions have