Even in defeat, Brad Fittler got a win Wednesday night.
Continuously questioned and examined before Origin I, Fittler held firm that the decision to initiate Jack Wighton into the centers was the right call.
He was right, with the five-eighth Canberra called the “best player” in New South Wales Fox League Braith Anasta after the defeat by 16-10.
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“The only threat was Jack Wighton,” Anasta said.
“This is a concern. NSW’s pre-match criticism was a question mark over Wighton on the team.
“He was your best player, so where are you going now?”
In the event that New South Wales fell short in the first game, Wighton would have been the easy scapegoat.
Now, Fittler and the Blues are left with a headache that few saw coming.
If Wighton wasn’t the problem, and in fact one of the big reasons why Wednesday night’s game was so close, what changes can they really make?
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Jack Wighton was one of the best in New South Wales. (Photo by Mark Kolbe / Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
Well, according to former New South Wales coach Laurie Daley, Fittler has to start with his decision to play Stephen Crichton from the bench.
“I wouldn’t have had Crichton when I was 14; you have to look at it,” Daley told The Great Sports Breakfast.
Of course, Kotoni Staggs ’injury ended up justifying that call, but if the Broncos center hadn’t been hurt, it was hard to see how Crichton got into the game.
Wighton could have been moved to the back row, but who, in his good judgment, would have done so given the way he was dividing it in the centers?
Speaking The Fox League podcast before Wednesday’s game, Corey Parker questioned whether Crichton could really make an impact on the role of bank utility.
“He’s a great player, Crichton, he really is,” Parker said.
“I do not see the value of a newcomer, especially an outfielder, sitting on the bench for such a long period of time consuming this nervous energy (and) as it will be positive.
“Jack is Jack and he can play anywhere, but I don’t see Stephen Crichton coming in as a winger if things go down, it just doesn’t happen, because that’s even more pressure.”
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Queensland opted for Harry Grant on the bench, sharing the hooking duties with Dragons midfielder Ben Hunt.
But the pair combined to keep the Maroons in the lead and Daley asked New South Wales to follow suit and consider a bench change to bring out the best in Damien Cook.
“After seeing it last night … I’m almost thinking you might need someone to inject a little speed around half the mannequin,” Daley said.
“But again, you don’t know how the game will play out. “Last night, with that speed and injection of Harry Grant, he just opened things up for Queensland. Sometimes, if you have the possession, you don’t need that other prostitute on the exchange bank.
“I do not know how they would get it [Crichton] in the game if Staggs was not injured “.
Stephen Crichton (center) struggled to enter the game. (Photo by Mark Kolbe / Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
Former Blues player Josh Reynolds thought Queensland “probably won the game” in the prostitute department, and urged the Blues to consider making a big change before game 2.
“The hunt started amazing and then Harry Grant came in and sped up the game,” Reynolds said. The Great Sports Breakfast.
“It was as if New South Wales were moving at the same pace and Grant said, ‘Either you come with me or we’ll leave you behind.’
“I think you could go there, and that’s nothing in Cookie, start Koroisau and then start Cookie and just say run, speed up the game. We all know how good it is at this. I think this could be a little weapon for We”.
Koroisau was fined $ 35,000 and suspended for two games after a breach of the Covid-19 bubble during last year’s Origin series.
But the fact that he was named to the extended team suggests that Fittler would be willing to take the Panthers rake to the 17th.
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Reynolds certainly thinks it would be worth a try, especially considering the success of the Hunt-Grant tandem for Queensland.
“Koroisau’s deception around the ruck is so good that it can put people behind the ruck, get people the size of backrowers to warm up and then, when Queensland starts to get tired, take them to Cookie because do exactly what Harry Grant did. ” said Reynolds.
“I think Cookie can do a better job than Harry Grant because he’s faster and if there’s a chance, we’ve seen him break 40 meters.
“It’s very misleading around the ruck, it probably only takes a step and then gives Nathan a lot of time. Cookie is a totally different prostitute from Koroisau, which these two halves are used to doing week after week.
“For me, I think they have to go with another number 9 for the next game.”