Matty Johns: Michael Maguire’s cutting sledge on Billy Slater; plus inside crucial Origin centre battle

The gloves are off and don’t be fooled, Michael Maguire’s “glass houses” sledge would have really irritated Queensland coach Billy Slater MATTY JOHNS has declared.

Michael Maguire is usually the “fly under the radar”, “give the opposition nothing” style of coach. But this week, the NSW mentor peeled off the gloves.

His sledge on Queensland coach Billy Slater is a T-shirt-worthy call to arms for Blues players and fans.

“You’ve got to make sure you don’t live in glass houses,” Maguire said on Monday in response to Queensland criticism over NSW’s targeting of Maroons fullback Reece Walsh.

Slater has been extremely prickly so far this series and there’s no doubt Madge’s sledge will have irritated the Maroons coach no end.

Maroons coach Billy Slater has been prickly. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Too often, the Blues allow Queensland to dictate the narrative of the series.

Well done to Madge for speaking his mind and lifting the temperature of the build-up for game two in Melbourne, where the Blues will try to square the series 1-1 and take it to a decider in Brisbane on July 17.

Blues coach Michael Maguire. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

CENTRES OF ATTENTION

Contrasting styles provide great battles.

Take boxing, the sport’s most iconic bouts have been waged between fighters of different strengths and forms. A game of chess, each avoiding the strengths and exploiting the weakness.

Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier, the pinnacle of boxing and its rivalries. Ali, the pure boxer, lightning fast of feet and hands, razor sharp wit and machine gun vocabulary. Frazier, the street fighter, heavy hands, Low centre of gravity, big of heart, few of words.

The contrasts make the fight.

ALL ALONE OUT THERE

In modern rugby league, you see few pure one-on-one battles, however the centres are an exception. Both share the same 10-metre corridor and, for the 80 minutes, battle for personal ascendancy.

The attacking centre calling to his playmaker for early possessions so he has time and space to use his attacking gifts; a step, a flick a surge.

The defensive centre, moving up fast with a slight inside or outside arc to try and put the attacker where he wants him, looking for heavy contact, hoping to discourage future raids.

Blues pair Stephen Crichton and Zac Lomax. Picture: Rohan Kelly

On Wednesday night, we are going to see the best one-on-one battle in rugby league today, Stephen Crichton versus Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

Tabuai-Fidow, the most attacking footballer in the game right now.

In game one, three tries and two try assists, a chief destroyer, as he was in last year series, as he is week to week with the Dolphins.

Stephen Crichton, the best defensive centre I have seen, big, physical, intelligent and aggressive. Crichton is a master at organising his edge defenders, but it’s his instincts, being able to recognise a playmakers intentions, which make him a ballplayer’s nightmare.

No defensive player has pulled off as many game-changing moments in big matches. His ability to pick off an intercept at a crucial moment has won Penrith competitions and taken Samoa to a World Cup final.

DEARDEN COLLATERAL DAMAGE

For Crichton, this battle will not be just be he and Tabuai-Fidow.

Queensland coach Billy Slater will be pouring over tape on the Canterbury captain as we speak, trying to recognise a tendency, a small weakness.

In game one, Slater recognised potential problems on the Blues’ right-side defence. Suaalii's want to rush outside in, and Zac Lomax’s tendency to stay out and be disconnected from his centre would provide a corridor for Tabuai-Fidow to slide through.

Maroons excitement machine Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The nature of Suaalii's send off and the damage done down the Blues right side — until Crichton was shifted across from the left — showed Slater’s theory was spot on.

Having Crichton on the right at the MCG won’t just make it a tough night for Tabuai-Fidow, but also Tom Dearden. Crichton has a huge presence. Dearden could easily find himself second-guessing, a poor pass decision will have consequences.

MITCHELL V HOLMES

But on the Blues’ left will also be an intriguing one-on-one clash with players of contrast.

Latrell Mitchell versus Valentine Holmes is all about speed, fast feet and clever run angles. For Mitchell, it’s size, power, aggression and little flashes of finesse.

Mitchell’s early touches will be vital. If he can brush past or run through Holmes early, then it could end up a nightmare 80 minutes for the Maroons centre.

Jarome Luai needs to get the ball into Mitchell’s hands with little fuss, giving him space and time to feel Holmes’ defensive movements. On the flip side, Mitchell has to be energised defensively, move up fast, be aggressive, look to exert physical dominance over his opposite.

THE VERDICT

Why do I believe NSW will win? Because we have Crichton and Mitchell and they don’t.