Why Kevin Walters should keep his job regardless of the result in the Origin decider

Some people say Kevin Walters will come under pressure if Queensland go down in the decider - but if you believe that you’re missing the point writes GORDEN TALLIS.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 05: Coach Kevin Walters watches on during a Queensland Maroons State of Origin training session at Langlands Park on July 05, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: big games are won in the middle.

Even though you won’t read about it, forwards win matches.

And for Queensland to win next Wednesday night, our forward pack needs a bit of an attitude adjustment.

There was that set of six in Game One in Brisbane where NSW hardly made 10 metres because of our forwards’ defence and it set the crowd alight.

I was sitting there with my kids and it was amazing.

You watch that and think to yourself where does that come from?

It doesn’t come from ability, it doesn’t come from coaching.

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It comes from the attitude. It comes from the will. It comes from the want. It comes from you, deep down inside yourself, to push yourself to a place you’ve never reached before.

So all this nonsense of Kevvie Walters in doubt or at risk of losing his job, I say those people have no idea.

I’m not going to stick up for Kevvie because Kevvie can stick up for himself but he has come in to coach Queensland during their most difficult time since I can remember after losing so many stars of the game.

That’s a massive transition.

Next Wednesday’s game will come down to the players – not the coach – as to whether they’ve got the burning desire to win and be prepared to put in so much effort, that their lungs are burning and dragging their butt around.

That attitude was maybe missing in Game Two.

Apparently Jai Arrow said after Game I he felt as if he had coughed up blood and in Origin, that’s what you get to at some stage.

Walters is still the best choice to coach Queensland. Picture by Adam Head.

In 200 club games, I reckon twice I coughed up blood.

In Origin, you get it every time.

At some part of the game, you are dragging and thinking to yourself, I’ve got to stop.

There’s one guy on your shoulder telling you to stop but there’s another guy going, don’t you even dare.

That’s what this game is going to come down to.

I’ve always believed NSW have had more talent to pick from and yes we’ve had Thurston and yes in a period of Origin, we’ve had some of the greatest players of all time, but NSW as a state has had more talent.

Our state has been on effort.

I’m telling you now. The effort that Queensland need to find, needs to be above and beyond.

Origin is the reason you play the game.

Could Walters lose two series in a row? Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

For one, it’s about not letting yourself down but it’s the bloke beside you.

Believe it or not, for me in Origin, it was the guy on the left and the right. If everybody looks to the left and right of them, and looks them in the eye, that’s the most important person to play for.

My emotions came out the other night when Kevvie presented his son Billy with his NRL debut jersey, and I didn’t want them to come out, but now I’m proud that I wear my heart on my sleeve and Kevvie is the same.

His coaching does the talking.

Is Kevvie Walters under the pump for this?

I say no, because there’s no one better to coach us at this moment.