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'It's very hard to do as you can see': Why NSW Blues are up against it in Origin III
NSW will head out onto Suncorp Stadium for Wednesday night’s State of Origin decider with everything against them.
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With 52,000 Queensland fans cheering on the home team, the Blues face an almighty battle and record despite the absence of COVID-affected Maroons playmaker Cameron Munster.
NSW sides have won just two of 12 in series-deciding games in Queensland.
It’s why former Blues great Andrew Johns recently described winning game three in Brisbane as the hardest challenge any New South Welshman could face.
Johns achieved the feat in 2005 and the only other side to have done so was the 1994 Blues team.
NSW were visited by the heroes of those years this week and have been given constant reminders throughout this series by the fact Danny Buderus (2005) and Paul McGregor and Paul Sironen (1994) form part of coach Brad Fittler’s backroom staff.
“There was a lot of pressure,” Sironen told AAP.
“It’s very hard to do as you can see in the last sort of 25 to 30 years it hasn’t been done very often.
“We had the core of a very good side and we had won the previous two series under Phil Gould.
“I think we all knew the role we had to play.
“It’s a huge challenge for this group of men but I’ve got every confidence they can do it.”
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The similarities between 1994 and 2022 are striking.
NSW had lost at home to open the series and they had to go to a neutral venue to get level in game two.
“We thought we had game one under control and as Queenslanders can do they scored late on,” Sironen said.
“It was dour in Melbourne and then we rained on Mal Meninga’s parade in Brisbane for his final Origin game.”
Fittler’s side broke the mould in 2021 when they clinched the series in the opening two games with all three contests being played in Queensland.
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Their success included a 26-0 drubbing of the Maroons at Suncorp for game two – the first time Queensland had ever been held to nil north of the Tweed – from which Sironen said they should take confidence.
“Our record hasn’t been great prior to last year,” he added. “But it would be nice to go up to Lang Park and hold the shield up there.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Brilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to comments