There have been concerns raised over whether the Maroons lack an “enforcer” or have the mongrel in their side to “stand up for themselves” against the Blues after they were “bullied” in Game II.
The heavy defeat in Game II has also begged the question, will Maroons coach Billy Slater go back to the drawing board, or will he stick fat and call on his players to take it to the Blues?
While there won’t be mass changes, star centre Valentine Holmes could be the man on the chopping block after a game to forget at the MCG.
The only place to watch every game of every round LIVE with no ad-breaks during play is Fox League, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit.
Holmes was terrorised by the Blues’ left edge of Latrell Mitchell and Angus Crichton in Game II.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio says following their showing in Game II, the Maroons should consider replacing Holmes.
“They’ve got more problems than the Blues. They’ve got massive problems and heaps more problems than the Blues … They’re panicking,” Riccio said on NRL360.
“Valentine Holmes, as far as I’m concerned, I think he’s the man most under pressure in the outside backs for Queensland.
“Do they go down an experienced path and someone who is going to stand up for themselves and maybe push back against Latrell and bully Latrell in Dane Gagai. Certainly he is in the discussion and the other one is Selwyn Cobbo.”
There will be at least one forced change for the Maroons, with Xavier Coates out for up to two months with a hamstring injury. He’ll likely be replaced by Selwyn Cobbo.
However, Riccio says the Maroons could choose to “revamp” their right edge entirely.
“It may be a complete revamp of going both Gagai and Cobbo with the injury of Xavier Coates.
“Gagai has never let Queensland down but Latrell with that much good ball, go forward, no one stops him in the game,” Maroons great Gorden Tallis added.
Will Game 3 be refereed differently? | 02:11
MORE NRL NEWS
RESERVES WRAP: Roosters speed freak’s 10-min blitz stuns; Kevvie’s son statement
MADGE: Why Maguire’s bonded Blues can do the unthinkable
TEAM TIPS: Seibold’s big backline reshuffle; Storm’s injury headache
Tallis went onto say that if he was Slater, he’d throw down the challenge to Holmes to rise to the occasion in Game III.
“Queensland’s issue was letting them camp down there but Latrell was absolutely outstanding, Gagai has never let us down … It’s a big job but part of me that says Val, do you know want another crack? Because he had a tough night, but he had Angus Crichton beating him up as
well,” Tallis said.
While Gagai has been raised as an option to give the Maroons more mongrel, pundits also believe it’s something that Queensland’s pack is lacking at the moment.
Veteran journalist Paul Crawley noted a couple of examples of the Blues pushing the envelope which should have elicited a response from the Maroons, but didn’t.
“You had Latrell hit Coates high … You had Liam Martin lift up Reuben Cotter, no sin bin,” Crawley said.
“Queensland were bullied all game, they would have to be embarrassed at the way they were manhandled and they didn’t bloody respond.”
Tallis agreed, pointing out another moment in the first half where Latrell Mitchell pushed Reece Walsh late after a ball went into touch.
“Queensland needed to stand up for themselves. Walsh got pushed here, I didn’t like it, but no one came to help him,” Tallis said.
“That’s what I’m saying will happen next time,” Crawley responded.
“They’ll come from everywhere and because they’re playing at Suncorp.”
Riccio believes that these examples show just what the Maroons are lacking at the moment.
“Gordie, you’re down an enforcer and you know it. There’s no menace or bully in that pack,” Riccio said.
No (Tom) Flegler. He would have been the man. Who’s going to stand up this time?”
Tallis called on the likes of Lindsay Collins and Pat Carrigan to assume that role.
“What’s wrong with our front rower, Lindsay Collins. What’s wrong with Pat Carrigan,” the Queensland legend said.
“We did have Kaufusi, he’s an enforcer. Jaydn Su’A looks like he could be one.
“They have to protect. Your forward pack has to protect the little guys and it didn’t happen.”
The segment ended with former Blues star Braith Anasta throwing out a warning to New South Wales to “not get ahead of ourselves” entering Game III on Queensland’s hallowed turf.
“It is a different world at Suncorp Stadium, I need to keep saying it until the game. We can get of ourselves here, I’ve seen it before,” Anasta said.