State of Origin Tackle | NSW Blues’ horror decider record; will Maroons send desperate SOS?

Sorry to burst your bubble Blues fans, but this stat will send NSW crashing back to earth very quickly on Thursday morning. State of Origin likes and dislikes from Game Two.

Fatima Kdouh reveals her State of Origin II likes and dislikes from NSW Blues’ record-breaking victory over Queensland Maroons in Melbourne.

ORIGIN II DISLIKES

NSW DECIDER STAT

Sorry to burst your bubble Blues fans, but this stat will send NSW crashing back to earth very quickly on Thursday morning.

The Queensland Maroons are decider specialists and have won nine (2006, 2008, 2011-13, 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2022) from the last 10.

The only decider the Blues have won in that time was in 2019.

That record isn’t any better when you take into account deciders in Queensland.

From the last 13 deciders played in Queensland, the Maroons have taken home the series 10 times and the Blues only twice (1994, 2005).

In a silver lining for the Blues, both of those victories came after NSW salvaged the series in game two.

After Wednesday’s performance, this columnist would be made to write-off the Blues in game three but the decider stats are a timely reality check of what is waiting for NSW at Suncorp Stadium.

The Blues have a horror record in deciders since 2006. Picture: Mark Stewart

FIFITA SOS?

Can Queensland coach Billy Slater afford to ignore Titans powerhouse David Fifita for the decider?

Whatever Fifita has done to be in Slater’s bad books, it’s probably time to flip the page and pick up the phone.

Fifita was huge against the Warriors, running for 195 metres and making 10 tackle busts. The Maroons needed his power runs and intimidation factor, which was missing from the Queensland pack at the MCG.

Neither Jaydn Su’A or Jeremiah Nanai set the world on fire at the MCG. If Fifita fires again against the Sharks on the eve of Origin selection, Slater will be hard pressed to ignore him again.

Yes, the weight of possession was mostly in favour of NSW but there wasn’t a player out there for Queensland that looked capable of turning momentum in favour of the Maroons.

Fifita is that guy who can come up with a devastating run or play to swing momentum and quick.

Will Billy Slater send David Fifita an SOS. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

HEAD RUB SIN BIN

So referee Ashley Klein did warn the players not to escalate moments before he sin-binned Pat Carrigan and Liam Martin for their respective role in a melee. But did we hear correct when Klein said ‘Liam starts it by rubbing the head there’?

In a game that featured everything from head high shots that were only met with penalties, tackles that resembled grappling and even tackles that entered spear tackle territory, to have Martin sin-binned for rubbing Jaydn Su’A hair is bordering on soft.

‘PEOPLE HATE ME’

NSW Blues star Latrell Mitchell has revealed the heartbreaking toll of social media trolls, revealing ‘a lot of people hate me for being the villain’.

Mitchell, dubbed as the Blues ‘saviour’, as NSW desperately attempt to save the Origin series at the MCG, has 80 minutes to silence his detractors, at least those in his home state.

“I just feel like a lot of people hate me and they don’t know me,” he told Channel 9.

“I think a lot of people hate me for being the villain all the time so they shut the door on me for who I am as a person.

“I’ve learned a lot from situations being young and being taken advantage of.

“The way I act on the field is a bit of frustration coming from off the field.

“These short acts of anger build up. If people just shut up and let me play, I’d probably be amazing.”

Latrell Mitchell made the shock admission before Origin II. Picture: David Smith.

Michael Maguire called Mitchell into the side to replace Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in centre, where the South Sydney star is expected to play an influential role on the outcome.

It’s hard to believe that moment could never have happened had Mitchell walked away from the NRL this year, which he also shockingly revealed was a serious outcome of racially-motivated incidents.

Now Mitchell, a proud Indigenous man, is carrying the hopes of NSW on his broad shoulders but is being cheered on by the entire state.

“I was probably giving it up this year to be honest,” he said. “I didn’t want to go through another year of heartbreak.

“All I’ve ever done is stuck up for my people and stuck up for my family.”

ORIGIN II LIKES

TRIUMPHANT TRELL

To think, Latrell Mitchell’s triumphant Origin return almost never happened.

That his try that sent NSW into a frenzy late in the first half, as he clutched onto the Blues emblem that sits on his chest, almost never happened.

Mitchell revealed pre-game just how close he came to walking away from the NRL this year on the back of relentless social media trolling, and the feeling of being hated by rugby league fans.

“I was probably giving it up this year to be honest,” he said on Channel 9 “I didn’t want to go through another year of heartbreak.

On Wednesday night, Mitchell entered the MCG as one of the most polarising figures in the game and left a hero, at least for NSW.

HAAS SILENCES CRITICS

On Wednesday night, Payne Haas came of age as an Origin forward.

There had been much criticism over Haas’ inability to dominate on the biggest stage.

At the MCG, Haas stood up and led from the front.

His workmanlike was still there, but what we haven’t seen before was the mongrel in his running and his defence.

It was obvious carrying the ball wasn’t enough for Haas on Wednesday night, he wanted to hurt the Maroons.

After averaging just 111 metres in Origin so far, Haas churned out 110 metres in the first 31 minutes - and finished with 158 metres and game-high 31 tackles.

Haas has arrived as a bona fide Origin player, and it could not have come at a better time for the Blues.

Payne Haas put in his best Origin shift at the MCG. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

SIXES AND SEVENS

Latrell Mitchell was labelled as the Blues’ saviour but the redemption of NSW in this series was always going to be in the hands of Mitchell Moses.

And his boot, of course.

Moses played the game of his life and showed no sign of being overwhelmed under the pressure of the state’s expectations.

There was no greater endorsement for Moses than that which came from Immortal Andrew Johns, the game’s greatest ever halfback.

“This is the best game I’ve seen Mitchell Moses ever play,” Johns declared.

Mitchell had what Nicho Hynes didn’t in game one, confidence. He played like he owned the no.7 jumper and not like a man warming a place in the Blues side - which has been his role in this Blues side until Wednesday night.

Moses was in complete control, organising, kicking, managing and setting up tries - four in total. He combined perfectly with Jarome Luai, who was at his menacing best as he forced three dropouts.

Originally published as State of Origin Tackle | NSW Blues’ horror decider record; will Maroons send desperate SOS?