State of Origin matches make fools of us. They never go as the pundits predict, even duping the coaches of the two state teams. Because these games are so volatile and unpredictable, it defies logic why NSW and Queensland coaches have such scripted match plans, detailed down to prescribed bench rotations.
NSW’s coach Michael Maguire took an eternity to find a replacement on the right-hand side of the field to combat Queensland’s predictable raids when centre Joseph Suaalii was sent off in the Sydney match, following a high hit on fullback Reece Walsh.
‘Madge’ shuffled one edge forward and then another there, even shifting halfback Nicho Hynes onto the wing which would have rendered a player already down on confidence to ask: “Doesn’t Madge think I can tackle?”
Queensland coach Billy Slater selected Selwyn Cobbo on the bench for the Sydney game, pointing out the Maroons had needed an outside back substitute in five of their previous six games. Billy was declared a genius when Walsh was assissted off the field in the seventh minute. Yet, he hasn’t selected a specialist back on the bench for the Melbourne game.
Billy will have another script for Wednesday’s second match at the MCG, a must-win game for NSW. There are four players who might as well run out there with bull’s eyes targets on the front of their jumpers. Slater will have Valentine Holmes running at NSW’s Latrell........