Brad Fittler’s call to put two of his best strikers on the bench before the start has been put under the microscope as the NSW package was overtaken in its initial defeat in the Origin 16- series. 10.
Meanwhile, Billy Slater produced some tactical master strokes with his exchange to help Queensland turn the momentum in their favor against the streak of the game.
Keep reading to see all the conversation points from Source I..
Play the game 1 REPLAY of FOX LEAGUE State of Origin in Kayo without announcements during the game. Full and condensed rehearsals are available starting 23:00 AEST on Wednesday. Are we in Kayo? Try 14 days free now.
THE LATE CHANGES OF THE BLUES IN QUESTION
Brad Fittler surprised some selection surprises when he put Junior Paulo and Cameron Murray on for Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Liam Martin before the release.
Since they lost the game, questions will inevitably be asked if Fittler made the right call to push two of his best forwards on the bench.
Cooper Cronk believes the Blues strikers will have a rocket under them by the Blues coaching staff after being overtaken by their Maroons counterparts.
“I think the NSW midfielders will have a tough conversation with Brad Fittler and Greg Alexander ahead of the second game because they lost a bit of momentum,” Cronk said.
“They weren’t beaten or anything. It was that they didn’t have enough momentum going forward and they didn’t play the balls quickly for their stars to make theirs.”
Braith Anasta questioned whether Fittler’s call to the Murray and Paulo bench was necessary.
“Did you find it unusual to start with Martin instead of Murray?” Anasta asked.
“Did it work? Do you think it was necessary?”
Cronk didn’t care about Fittler’s call-up, but he believes the Blues need to do more as a forward team to match the Maroons in the middle.
“I actually liked it,” Cronk replied.
“Murray is the man for Cook, so you want him in the middle third and around, but Isaah Yeo is that guy. He’s the player who dictates the terms.
“I thought Martin should have started when the teams were named.
“I think you’ve put Payne Haas, RCG, Ryan Matterson and Junior Paulo in place. in front”.
SUPERHUMAN efforts see garnets hold up 00:59
COBBO AND COTTER SHINE IN THE DEBUT
The most important question mark surrounding the Maroons heading to the game was whether their debutants could make their way to Origin, and in front of a man who stood up, especially Reuben Cotter and Selwyn Cobbo.
Cooper Cronk praised Cotter’s performance as he played 80 minutes and several positions as Queensland struggled with an injury crisis.
“Reuben Cotter we talked about was that dog with a bone and he was chasing anything that moved,” Cronk said.
“He was like that for 80 minutes. He was in the middle. He came out on the edge when Nanai was out.
“I think some players get to that level and start thinking that they should do other things that previous players have done.
“When they choose you, it’s because you’re good at something. Hold on and play with you.
“He didn’t do anything great, but he held on to the middle third and tackled anything that moved and took a few hard turns. It’s not a big body. He took the handbrake off and got straight into it.”
Braith Anasta was full of praise for Cotter, who he thinks made Origin seem easy.
“Cotter was my favorite,” Anasta said.
“He did it for North Queensland, but the transition to Origin is the next level and he did it easily.
“He never seemed tired. He was everywhere. The energy and he kept moving. He didn’t stop for 80 minutes.
“I was injured and I would have gone to a dark place once or twice, but you wouldn’t know. It was so good. ”
Anasta was also amazed at Cobbo’s ability to turn the game around with his try assist for Gagai in the first half.
“I thought Cobbo was brilliant,” Anasta said.
“I was safe under the high ball and that shot from inside Gagai changed the game.
“This is a little boy who did not shy away from the bright lights and got a boost swinger in his first Origin.
“If he doesn’t get the button inside and picks up this bad pass from Ponga and finds Gagai, they don’t get on the scoreboard and NSW was dominating soon.”
Magical Cobbo evokes the first attempt at QLD | 00:54
Play all matches of each round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership season live and without commercials during the game in Kayo. Are we in Kayo? Try 14 days free now.
SLATER MASTERSTOKE CHANGES As you bring out the best in PONGA
Billy Slater saw his first home game as a coach slipping away from Queensland’s reach in the first half before making some early substitutions of courage that turned the game around.
Cooper Cronk praised the decision to face Harry Grant, Lindsay Collins and Patrick Carrigan as a masterstroke that turned the game in Queensland’s favor.
“I thought Patrick Carrigan and Lindsay Collins and Harry Grant after 25 minutes changed the momentum again in favor of Queensland,” Cronk said.
“Jack Wighton scored in the 15th minute and Dane Gagai scored in the 35th minute, so they struggled to regain control.
“Grant looked dangerous, but these two guys Carrigan and Collins were rock solid by the middle third.”
Anasta thinks it was a great call to let Ben Hunt take the needle of the first exchanges and allow Grant to come in and do his magic in the back half of the early 40’s.
“Starting an Origin is always very hard and intense and Ben Hunt is tough,” Anasta said.
“He got the job done early and Harry came in and was relentless out of the mannequin half.
“He just ran his foot and whenever the markers were slow or he had a marker, he ran and put the team on the front foot.
“During the time he was the son of that camp, he made Queensland a better side.”
Anasta and Cronk also believe that Slater managed to get the best out of Kalyn Ponga on the sidelines, who was one of Maroons’ most influential stars.
“As Cooper Cronk said before the game, Billy brought out the best in Kalyn Ponga,” Anasta said.
“Put in that second half it was brilliant. He had a good look on his left hand when he gave the balloon to Payne Haas and threw the last cut, which beat Tupou in Val Holmes and made the big play when they needed it most. ”
“I think tonight we saw Kalyn Ponga play the ball in more threatening positions for Queensland than we’ve seen all season for the Newcastle Knights,” Cronk said.
“That was terrifying for Payne Haas against Kalyn Ponga 10 meters from the line.”
Was Paulo unfairly detained in a DCE attempt? | 00:50
Get all the latest NRL news, news, and analysis right in your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now !!
COOK UNDER PRESSURE AS THE BLUES ATTACK STOPS
Damien Cook could be under pressure for Api Koroisau for the second half after failing to catch the Blues’ attack in the first half.
Cook had a zero-yard run in the half and Anasta believes Murray’s absence hurt Cook’s running game.
“I think with Cook, what triggers Cook is Murray,” Anasta said.
“Even with the Souths, Murray ‘s support is what drives Cook and that’s when he’s up and running and at his best.
“He didn’t really see any light until Murray came in and they got that combination on club ground.
“I thought Cook should be better sooner than he was and it took him too long to get into the game, but then he got some really nice touches.
“This could be an area of some criticism, I think.”
However, Anasta believes Brad Fittler will remain solid with Cook, although he acknowledged that it was a valid point of discussion for the selection before the second game to be won.
“I think they will stay (keeping Cook), but I think there will be people who will say there should be Api Koroisau?” said Anasta.
“I think after this game there will be heat in Cook and there will be heat in the selectors and Brandy and Freddy.”
New South Wales Press Conference | 07:28
THE BLUES MEDIUM MALT WITH CRICHTON FIGHTS IN THE DEBUT
Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary, and their Panthers teammate Stephen Crichton fought in the first game.
Braith Anasta believes the pressure is on Penrith and NSW players to get more involved in the second game with the series in play.
“Luai’s play was very good, but it was too late,” Anasta said.
“They ran late and almost got home in NSW, but there was a period of 20 or 30 minutes when their attack was pretty normal and their overtaking wasn’t where it should be.
“Cook was not getting enough of the half mannequin. There was not enough time and space for Cleary and Luai.
“Cleary was very calm. Cleary didn’t really make much of an impact.”
Crichton also struggled on his bench and gave a crucial penalty as soon as he entered the field.
Wighton MUSCLES for opening | 00:36
FINAL GAME CONTROVERSY END OF MARCH EPI
Queensland was clearly the best team, but the Blues may feel a little harsh on the controversial final play of the game.
Just as they did in a controversial final for the first game of the 2020 series, Queensland stretched over Blues player Isaah Yeo while the clock was ticking and Ashley Klein did not make a penalty.
It was a good game for the Maroons, but Klein should have taken some form of action against Queensland for putting Yeo too long before the final whistle sounded.
Cooper Cronk believes Queensland were smart enough to push for a penalty kick for a try when the time expired.
“That was a big play when the siren and Kalyn Ponga sounded with the rescue attack and it was a bit controversial,” Cronk said.
“I thought the ball could have escaped, but Queensland was smart enough to put it over and give the penalty.”
However, Braith Anasta has no doubt that Klein should have called one way or another …