Michael Maguire’s NSW outfit have to overcome all the odds to secure an Origin series victory in the 2024 decider, but “pain” from their past could inspire a shock victory.
That is according to veteran rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield who believes the Blues forged a strong bond ahead of Game II, which lead to a 38-18 victory at the MCG.
Historically, Queensland have dominated deciders, winning the last nine out of ten dating back to 2006.
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However, Rothfield explained that every player in the NSW team has endured “far worse” battles than having to secure an unlikely victory at Suncorp Stadium.
“This football side that Michael Maguire has put together, what they face on Caxton Street when the bus goes down there,” Rothfield said on NRL360 on Monday night.
“What they face at the fortress of Suncorp, they have experienced far worse, far more pain in their lives, far more fear.
“I went through them one by one, Payne Haas with his Mum and Dad in jail. Angus Crichton, a psychiatric facility last year to the MCG in that barnstorming performance.
“Latrell Mitchell was in big trouble 10 weeks ago, the Mundine row, everything like the three week ban for the cheap shot.
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“Connor Watson last year had to climb out of a wheelchair, Michael Maguire was sacked by the Tigers, sacked by Souths.
“This is one mentally tough NSW side, and I am very confident they can overcome anything.”
NRL360 host Braith Anasta, who played 10 games for NSW between 2002 and 2008, echoed Rothfield’s opinion.
He was of the belief this NSW team were a new beast, and if they perform like they did in game II, the Blues are every chance of winning the decider.
“I don’t want to jump the gun, because we’ve read this story before, we win Game II and we go to Suncorp, different game,” Anasta said.
“All of a sudden your backs against the wall and that’s where your resilience is tested the most, it’s the hardest place to go and win a footy game.
“But I do tend to agree with you Buzz, that was a different (team), the body language, ferociousness, the way they stuck together.
“I do think they can go and win Game III and if you asked me before that game I would have said no way.”
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Meanwhile, The Australian’s Brent Read revealed he was shocked by Queensland’s lack of fight in Game II.
After Daly Cherry-Evans was called out by Andrew Johns for a late shove on Angus Crichton, it was the Blues who claimed the crown of kings of the niggle in Melbourne
Read was of the belief that Billy Slater’s side were shellshocked and were “timid”.
“I think they do exactly the same thing. Madge was aggressive and that team was aggressive, every chance they got to shove a Queensland player, hit someone a little late, they did it,” Read said.
“And they didn’t fight back, I was surprised by how timid they were and how they got bullied and I think that cannot happen again.”
Meanwhile, for Queensland legend Gorden Tallis, off-field experiences won’t be a factor in deciding the 2024 series.
“Everybody would have a story to tell, most people have a story to tell… no one does (like) Payne, and he’s amazing at what he does,” Tallis said.
“But the thing is one is wearing a blue jersey and one is wearing maroon jersey, they don’t carry that on the field.”