State of Origin 2016: NSW’s errors handed the series to Queensland, says Matthew Johns

QUEENSLAND were there to be beaten, but NSW buried themselves in errors. MATTHEW JOHNS analyses how the Blues blew themselves up.

QUEENSLAND were there to be beaten, but NSW buried themselves in errors.

NSW’s first half was a mix of the terrific and the awful.

The Blues clearly won the yardage battle, but because of fundamental errors, were unable to finish off opportunities or maintain any pressure.

In that mixed bag of a first half, everything Queensland had was a direct result of a Blues error.

Adam Reynolds wasn’t alone in feeling the pressure at Suncorp Stadium.

1 MIN 40 SEC: RUN

Adam Reynolds decides to run it in the last tackle and with Dylan Walker concerned, he puts in a desperate kick, which rolls dead and gives Queensland a seven tackle set.

The Maroons march down the field, get repeat set after repeat set and finally decide to take a penalty conversion and go to 2-0.

But NSW shrugs that off and totally dominate the next period of the game. Queensland look vulnerable in defence, and the Blues energised.

We draw penalties out of Queensland and in this period kick two penalty conversions to lead 4-2.

‘I THOUGHT I HAD HIM’: FRIZELL

BLUE FURY BASHES SUNCORP SHEDS

16TH MIN: PENALTY

Queensland are really struggling. They can’t get forward and lots of the Maroons are standing with hands on hips, as the Blues have them pinned on their own 30 metre line with only one tackle remaining.

However Dylan Walker is penalised for “crowding” Corey Oates while he attempts to play the ball.

It’s a soft penalty and one that allows Queensland to regroup, refocus and attack the Blues for three consecutive sets until they take another penalty goal to make it 4-4.

Yet once again the Blues own the next 15 minutes. We are creating a greater attacking threat, the forwards are dominating and James Maloney picks up a repeat set, you feel NSW are way up top.

27TH MIN: POOR KICK

When Queensland build pressure, they convert it into points. Later in the contest when Queensland generated repeat sets, they scored soon after.

James Maloney, as I stated previously, picked up a repeat set — it’s important we do something with it. But in the following set Adam Reynolds takes the ball, grubbers through and once again the ball rolls dead.

Pressure relieved, seven tackles Queensland, it’s a huge let-off.

But credit to the Blues, we continue to dominate, our attack is vastly different to Game 1. Less structured, less of those predictable block plays. They look dangerous, but we can’t turn dominance into points

Every single time, just as Queensland look at their most vulnerable, the Blues come up with a basic fundamental handling error.

Greg Bird protests his knock-on — but the replays couldn’t hide it.

29TH MIN: ERROR

This error really deflates the Blues players. Again, the Maroons are barely hanging on, and with the Blues looking like at last they’ll take advantage of their dominance, Greg Bird fumbles the ball ever so slightly, and you see some Blues heads go down.

THE MAROONS’ TRY

It’s only fitting that the only try of the first half comes from a Blues gift.

NSW shift the ball to the left and Michael Jennings forces an unnecessary pass which Josh Mansour can’t handle but Dane Gaigai can, and he races down field to put Queensland ahead 10-4.

We handed Queensland all 10 points.

It was a first half laced with errors.

Michael Jenning’s fingers become public enemy No.1. Or 5.

THE SECOND HALF

The second half effort from the Blues was superb, they fought hard and earned themselves a chance to win the game.

With just 10 minutes to go it looked as though the Blues were about to hit it the front.

Maloney grubbers, Queensland fumble and with Michael Jennings desperately reaching out to ground the ball, his index finger feathers the football, if the finger misses Tyson Frizell scores, and the Blues would have levelled with a conversion to come.

In the final few moments Thurston does what Thurston does best, with the game on the line, he finds the right play at the right time and gets his side home.

Bottom line? Queensland maximise their opportunities, NSW don’t.

It was our first half that cost us the game. We not only failed to maximise our opportunities, but we handed Queensland theirs.

The one positive for Blues fans is a glimpse of a brighter future.

GAME 3

We need to pick a side which is about Game 1 2017. It’s time to usher in the next generation.

Our best Wednesday night was Tyson Frizell, a young player who demonstrated a fearlessness and optimism in everything he did. Likewise, Jack Bird worried Queensland in the fashion we had hoped.

The Blues need more of this.

Bryce Cartwright, Wade Graham, James Tedesco need to enter the squad, among others who now deserve consideration.

Their time has arrived.