‘Not sexy enough to play Origin’: Maroons forwards highlight NSW woes heading into Game III decider

The parochial Queensland media hasn’t missed the opportunity to twist the knife after a week from hell for Blues fans that saw NSW lose three State of Origin clashes in just 24 hours.

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Discussing the selection fallout following NSW’s disastrous second half fade out in State of Origin Game II on Wednesday night, the QLDER panel on Channel 9 didn’t hold back suggesting the Blues still ‘don’t get Origin’ when it comes to selections.

“You look at the forward pack, guys like Trent Loiero wouldn’t even get a mention for the Blues,” declared Queensland-based journalist Adam Jackson alongside guest panelist Darius Boyd, coach of the victorious Maroons Under 19 Men’s side on Thursday night.

“It’s the same with Ruben Cotter, (NSW) wouldn’t pick him yet Reuben Cotter is so important to this team, and Kurt Capewell.”

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“There are so many of those forwards that the Blues would overlook because they’re not sexy enough to play Origin, but you just need those workers to get the job done,” he continued. 

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The Blues certainly didn’t get the job done last Wednesday, a result that has brought even more scrutiny on Blues coach Laurie Daley who raised eyebrows with several big selection calls after NSW won Game I in Sydney. 

One of the most talked about was the controversial dropping of Haumole Olakau’atu for Knights debutant Dylan Lucas, who had minimal impact in attack in Game II with just 8 runs for 53 metres and no offloads, despite playing the full 80 minutes.

Olakau’atu is widely tipped to earn a recall for the winner-takes-all decider at Suncorp Stadium on July 8, while Penrith enforcer and 14-match Blues veteran Liam Martin is also short odds to make his first appearance of the series having recovered from injury.

Are those are ‘sexy’ NSW selection calls or just plain commonsense? You can make your own mind up about that.

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