NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley to resist pulling selection trigger for State of Origin decider

After winning game one of a series, the Blues have won just two of nine series that have gone to deciders. But NSW coach Laurie Daley will remain steadfast in the face of the shocking statistic.

A defiant Laurie Daley will resist making changes to his NSW team despite history being against the Blues hopes of sealing the State of Origin series in Sydney.

Only injuries or suspension are likely to force the Blues coach into adjusting his line-up against Queensland for a game three decider at Accor Stadium on July 9.

With the series squared at 1-1-all following the Maroons two-point win in Perth, the Blues must overcome a shocking statistic to achieve back-to-back series wins.

After winning game one of a series, the Blues have won just two of nine series that have gone to deciders.

Daley confirmed he had no thought of dropping players in the wake of a poor first-half of errors and ill-discipline, which provided the platform for Queensland to race out to a 26-6 lead at halftime.

“I’ve got so much belief in these blokes because I know what I’ve seen at training,’’ Daley said.

“We didn’t complete our sets, we probably pushed it instead of playing patiently.

“That’s what we spoke about at halftime. Don’t try and score in the first minute, be patient and do what we spoke about and points will come.’’

Laurie Daley will resist making any changes to his squad for the decider. Picture: NRL

NSW halfback Nathan Cleary echoed Daley’s belief in the squad that they will bounce back in Sydney, where it is on the verge of being sold-out.

“There’s a lot of lessons to learn from tonight, obviously with the first-half,’’ Cleary said.

“We can take confidence and have faith in the comeback we put on, but obviously we’ve got to do a lot better also.

“The way we performed in the second-half gives me confidence and I think we just shot ourselves in the foot way too often.’’

Cleary’s combination with five-eighth Jarome Luai in the first-half was reflective of the Blues performance; clunky and impatient.

“We worked it out in the second-half and as you said, it was (clunky) like a lot of the team,’’ Cleary said.

“We definitely have a lot to build on.’’

Blues winger Brian To’o, who scored a hat-trick of tries, said the Blues’ confidence in claiming the Origin shield remained resolute.

“Whether we stick with the same team or if anyone else wants to come in, we’re always going to believe in each other, that’s what our state is about,’’ To’o said.

“We started a bit slow, but hopefully in the next game we’ll be a lot better.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to have the chance to seal the series in Sydney.’’

TEAMMATES DEFEND OFF-TARGET LOMAX

NSW players have come out swinging in support of goal-kicking winger Zac Lomax, who cut a forlorn figure inside the Blues dressing rooms on Wednesday night.

Lomax was promoted to first-choice goalkicking duties for NSW after Nathan Cleary picked-up a groin injury 24-hours before kick-off.

On a rough night, played in driving rain at Optus Stadium, Lomax managed two from five conversions, including one attempt that struck the upright.

Opposing goal-kicker, Queensland centre Valentine Holmes landed five from five.

Lomax, who boasts a 78.3 per cent goal-kicking strike rate in the NRL, declined to be interviewed after the 26-24 loss to Queensland with the Eels star unable to mask his disappointment as he mingled with his closest friends and family.

Zac Lomax missed three crucial conversions. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“Any of the punters that are looking at Zac need to go and have a look at the first-half,’’ NSW backrower Angus Crichton said.

“It was on all of us there.

“It’s a team game. That first-half is on all of us. We leaked 24-points and that’s not a defensive Origin team.

“We pride ourselves on our defence and it was non-existent in the first-half.

“We’ve got that (defensive mentality) in us, we’ve shown that we can do that, we’ve proved that before and we’ll be making sure we’re ready to go in Sydney.’’

Blues enforcer Payne Haas laughed at any assertion that Lomax’s boot was to blame for the Origin II defeat.

Nathan Cleary didn't kick for goal before Origin II.

“It’s not just on Zac, it’s on all of us. We missed the jump in the first-half and we let each other down,’’ Haas said.

“If we got that first half right, we wouldn’t have been in that position.’’

Haas added that he wasn’t willing to blame a shocking 8-0 nil penalty count at halftime against the Blues.

“It is what it is, we can’t control that. The ref see something and we just have to be better,’’ Haas said.

“Ill-discipline and errors hurt us and we beat ourselves.

Originally published as NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley to resist pulling selection trigger for State of Origin decider