Origin 2020: Andrew Johns calls for Luke Keary to be sacked for Sydney showdown
NSW have lost the unlosable match and rugby league immortal Andrew Johns has identified the main culprit.
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Andrew Johns has called for Cody Walker to be rushed into the NSW halves for Origin II, saying: “When he came onto the field the Blues looked dangerous”.
With Queensland securing arguably the greatest upset in Origin history, Johns has called on Luke Keary to be dumped for South Sydney’s indigenous livewire.
The eighth Immortal added he would also bring Clive Churchill medallist Ryan Papenhuyzen, who was unavailable through injury, into the squad as a bench utility.
SCROLL DOWN TO DELIVER YOUR PLAYER RATINGS FOR GAME ONE
Playing Origin for the first time since being hooked, and eventually dumped, after a tough debut last year, Walker was strong for the Blues off the bench in jersey No. 14.
The Bunnies playmaker also played a key hand in a late try for winger Josh Addo-Carr to keep the game alive with under five minutes to play.
As a result, Johns said Blues coach Brad Fittler should rush Walker straight into the starting side for Origin II next Wednesday in Sydney.
Hess is the biggest fallacy... bloke hasn’t played well at this level and hardly played well at his club! #stateoforigin
— Kev Hearn (@Kev_Hearn) November 4, 2020
“After what I saw tonight over the last 15 minutes, 20 minutes, Cody Walker has to start,” Johns said after the game on Channel 9.
“I think he has to come on at five-eighth.
“He provides a lot of creativity.
“When Cody came on the field, he likes to play. Likes to get his hands on the ball, and he likes to create.
“I thought there were times in that second half, obviously the Blues were on the back foot, but there were times they had quick play-the-balls and the halves didn’t stand up and play.
“At this standard, you only get a couple of opportunities a half.
“Especially when you’re on the back foot coming off your own tryline.
“So once you get those quick play-the-balls, you have to strike. You have to play.
“I thought they got bogged down, played too negative.
“But once Cody came on, (NSW) looked dangerous.
“And that’s where Queensland looked vulnerable.”
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Johns added that, defensively, the Blues left edge where Keary was positioned also looked “very vulnerable” on occasions.
“Luke defensively looked a bit vulnerable on that side of the field,” he continued. “They’ve had a long year the Roosters and have been up for a long time.
“So I think if Cody starts Papenhuyzen comes onto the bench.
“He adds more strike there
“I just didn’t think there was enough creativity in that second half. And as a half, sometimes you have to rescue your forwards.
“When your forwards are coming out of trouble and they’re struggling to get forward, you need a couple of trick shots to get the ball wide.
“Just mix it up.
“I thought they got bogged down in the second half.”
Johns said he was also “worried” for NSW skipper Boyd Cordner, who was removed from the field midway through the first half after suffering a head knock.
Despite having endured a worrying run of concussions this year, the Roosters backrower was cleared to take his place back on the field after passing his HIA assessment.
THE FORTY MINUTES THAT SAW THE BLUES LOSE UNLOSABLE MATCH
It was played in the City of Churches – and Queensland produced a holy miracle.
The Maroons never lost faith – this was a modern day miracle.
Queensland shocked NSW with an upset 18-14 at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday night, the Blues now having to win State of Origin II at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium next Wednesday night to keep the series alive.
It was a horror second half with NSW capitulating after leading 10-0 at halftime.
Bloody Queensland, you can never write them off. The Maroons were solid $3.30 outsiders for a match most anticipated would be a Blues bash up.
It was even suggested this was the worst Queensland side in 40-years of Origin.
Three second half tries – 18 unanswered points – pushed Queensland to one of the state’s most famous and remarkable victories.
It was a miraculous coaching achievement from master coach Wayne Bennett and his assistant Mal Meninga.
Benny’s Babes simply ran over the top of NSW. The Blues look rattled at Queensland’s comeback.
Three Queensland tries in 16 minutes stunned rugby league, shocked the Blues and surprised the Adelaide crowd.
A second try to NSW’s Josh Addo-Carr set up a thrilling finish but Queensland held on tenaciously, despite the Blues hammering Queensland’s tryline on full time. For the final 12 seconds, Queensland lost Felise Kaufusi to the sin bin.
As always, Origin went down to the final second.
There was no hint of a courageous Queensland comeback during a NSW-dominated first half. The Blues threw away what was a certain victory.
Just when you think Queensland is about to lose Origin relevance, they come back to bite you in the backside.
A COVID-reduced Adelaide crowd of 25,218 attended the first-ever Origin match in South Australia, thousands decked out in the traditional sky blue of NSW and maroon of Queensland.
Given this is AFL heartland, the crowd was noisy, lively and bustling. They even threw up the ‘Queenslander, Queenslander’ chant.
Disjointed in the first half, Queensland flourished in the second 40 minutes and looked dangerous each time in possession.
FRUSTRATED FREDDY
NSW coach Brad Fittler must somehow pick up the broken pieces.
He only has seven days to transform a gutted NSW side into an Origin force for a do-or-die match in front of their Sydney home crowd.
Fittler sat sideline for the match – watching his side fall away from close range. How he reinvigorates his side will be Fittler’s greatest test.
MARAUDING MAROONS
Here how it unfolded.
50 mins: Kurt Capewell breaks through, kicks ahead, AJ Brimson scores. NSW 10-6.
54 mins: Dane Gagai breaks away and sends Xavier Coates over. Queensland 12-10.
66 mins: Cam Munster toes through a loose NSW pass to score. Qld 18-10.
It was an Adelaide nightmare for NSW. Capewell and Gagai were superb while Queensland hooker Jake Fried made 52 tackles.
ANTHEM ANTICS
The Adelaide crowd sang Advance Australia Fair loud and proud – as did nearly every Queensland player. Most NSW players sang other than Daniel Tupou, Cody Walker and Addo-Carr.
State of Origin returned last night after a 483-day absence – the longest break in the series’ 40-year history.
Originally published as Origin 2020: Andrew Johns calls for Luke Keary to be sacked for Sydney showdown