State of Origin 2025

To'o and Haas were our best this series. Tons of disappointing performance all round.

Dearden ... what a player. He's a champion. Munster too. That's what leadership looks like.

Our halves were diabolical sadly. Who'd have though Moses' calf would be what cost us origin. At least it couldn't be a more deserving person.
 
Properossi said:
Go Bluesers! I could have sworn you guys won the series after the first game, go and eat a d@Ck!
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Funny how things happen.
Klein should never have got the third game after the second game rort.
The Blues needed the ref to look at them kindly but it was never on.
To hard to get past Daley’s pitiful coaching and selections without the ref even being down the middle.
 
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Speed2burn said:
King and Stefano are complete ass
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Agreed, at this point I can only imagine that Terrell May ran over Laurie Daley's dog, given the insistence on selecting nuffy front-rowers.

I will point out that Stefano has played 3 Origins to date, all three of them losses:
- 2025 Game 3: 27 minutes 6 runs, 48 metres, 1 TB, 1 offload, 26 tackles, 1 MT
- 2025 Game 2: 26 minutes, 5 runs, 41 metres, 1 TB, 0 offloads, 22 tackles, 1 MT
- 2023 Game 2: 12 minutes, 6 runs, 50 metres, 0 TB, 0 offloads, 9 tackles, 1 MT

Stefano's Origin debut is widely regarded as a failure, and he didn't get picked again in 2023 or 2024, yet he managed more run metres in just 12 minutes than he did both of his 2025 matches.

I think tonight we needed someone to partner Haas who would go all match, not float in and out of contribution. We seriously lacked go-forward and the QLD line-speed was intense all match. Max King only managed 23 minutes, Leniu was nullified by our lack of possession when he went on, and nobody supported Haas in the middle.

By contrast and shame, Big Red Keith Galloway only ever played 1 Origin; Skandalis didn't play any. And Stefano has netted 3, 1x by being an emerging young talent and 2x by being Bellyache's boyfriend.
 
I think the game was won by slater and his game plan and lost by NSW (Cleary and Luai) by their inability to adapt their game plan. The way I read it - Slater identified that NSW would try to go after their inexperienced centre combination by shifting the ball. To counter that QLD were up an in all night to cut down time and not give NSW space. Cleary did not change his style. Luai adapted better, but his kicking game did not.

The biggest weakness of an up and in defence is its abilty to react to an astute kicking game. Latrell figured it out put a few kicks through - not sure why he didn't word up Cleary.

Had our halves adapted and attempted some 40,20s, short kicks behind the line, longer kicks to the wingers at pace the "up and in" defence would have to react - players would be in two minds or easily caught out as the NSW backs would have the advantage.

Once the QLD defence is in two minds you can revert back to your game plan.

QLD - better tactics
NSW - failed to react

This is my biggest criticism of Api and Luai - they are eyes up players but they really aren't students of the game. You need at least one player in the team that understands what the other team is trying to do, and where your side is at physically, to contol how you play and adapt. Slavishly following the game plan is U/15s level.
 
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cktiger said:
Funny how things happen.
Klein should never have got the third game after the second game rort.
The Blues needed the ref to look at them kindly but it was never on.
Too hard to get past Daley’s pitiful coaching and selections without the ref even being down the middle.
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Has there ever been one Origin game NSW have lost where @cktiger has not whined about the ref? Go through previous threads, you won’t find one. The thing about incessant whining is that it loses its legitimacy when it’s justified, cos you complain about anything and everything. End of the day, Daley sucks and he got what he deserved for blatantly refusing to pick certain players. Up the Maroons.
 
I can't believe what I've been reading on here about Jarome.
He was tremendous last night. Him and Latrell were just about the only players that put in a maximum effort and can still hold their heads high.
In the second half in particular Jarome's ball play was sublime and his effort plays had me marvelling at just how fit he must be. He led the kick chase and was always the first to get behind the ball on kick returns.
We all should be proud of him , instead I read the same people on here who get some perverse rush from knocking our own, having a go at him.
Do better people.
 
Ron Brodrick's Spirit said:
I can't believe what I've been reading on here about Jarome.
He was tremendous last night. Him and Latrell were just about the only players that put in a maximum effort and can still hold their heads high.
In the second half in particular Jarome's ball play was sublime and his effort plays had me marvelling at just how fit he must be. He led the kick chase and was always the first to get behind the ball on kick returns.
We all should be proud of him , instead I read the same people on here who get some perverse rush from knocking our own, having a go at him.
Do better people.
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You can't criticise him for effort, and he did do some good stuff. He reacted much better to the up and in defence than Cleary; BUT, instead of simply reacting to the defence he should have countered it. That is the difference between a good and a great half. If they were waiting for Daley to send a message down - it wasn't happening because he played eyes up footy as well and looked great outside smart halves.

Slater developed a game plan to counter what Cleary and Luia would dish up and neither of them countered it. Luai reacted well - but that doesn't win games.

Mr Tsu said - flow like water through the rocks - ie avoid the hard surfaces and attack the soft spots. Qlds soft spot was in behind the up and in defence - NSW attacked it a couple of times near the line when they were expecting it. Kick on the 4th in behind the centres or for To'o/Lomax and we would have been scoring all night.

Good effort, poor tactical game.
 
QLD were superior last night but if Lomax kicks better in game 2 series won. As a series there was nothing in it.
In saying that we can argue all day about some of the selections.
 
Ron Brodrick's Spirit said:
I can't believe what I've been reading on here about Jarome.
He was tremendous last night. Him and Latrell were just about the only players that put in a maximum effort and can still hold their heads high.
In the second half in particular Jarome's ball play was sublime and his effort plays had me marvelling at just how fit he must be. He led the kick chase and was always the first to get behind the ball on kick returns.
We all should be proud of him , instead I read the same people on here who get some perverse rush from knocking our own, having a go at him.
Do better people.
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x2
 
Jolls said:
You can't criticise him for effort, and he did do some good stuff. He reacted much better to the up and in defence than Cleary; BUT, instead of simply reacting to the defence he should have countered it. That is the difference between a good and a great half. If they were waiting for Daley to send a message down - it wasn't happening because he played eyes up footy as well and looked great outside smart halves.

Slater developed a game plan to counter what Cleary and Luia would dish up and neither of them countered it. Luai reacted well - but that doesn't win games.

Mr Tsu said - flow like water through the rocks - ie avoid the hard surfaces and attack the soft spots. Qlds soft spot was in behind the up and in defence - NSW attacked it a couple of times near the line when they were expecting it. Kick on the 4th in behind the centres or for To'o/Lomax and we would have been scoring all night.

Good effort, poor tactical game.
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Never felt that Cleary got into the game - although he defended well. Difficult for the whole team to function effectively when such a dominant player looks like he he going through the motions.
 
Out coached
Out muscled
Out played
The coach needs to go and take Belly with him , the team also needs to be re thought , Steph , Lomax , Robinson also needs to go to go , Coach decision to leave May out was a joke , he would have gone at least 50 to 60 minutes in both games 2 and 3 , One point Steph made first run , dropped back head went down needed a rest , what the hell is that , May I’ve seen do 2 and 3 hit ups in one set or had the ball 2 or 3 times in one set , Robinson was out of position and Luai was in dummy half again shit choice , Lomax just over rated
 
Telltails said:
Never felt that Cleary got into the game - although he defended well. Difficult for the whole team to function effectively when such a dominant player looks like he he going through the motions.
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He couldn't get into the game because he didn't adapt to the QLD gameplan. He continued to dig deep into the line which gave his outside backs no room to move. He did a lot of running because the outside options were cut off. Luai did much better in countering the up and in which is why we attacked so much down his side.

The QLD style of defence in the middle of the field went out in the 90s because of its inherent risk. Cleary (and Luai) shoudl have contered it - and they didn't. The game was lost by the halves.
 
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