NSW Blues shattered but will rise again in State of Origin, says Wade Graham

AFTER collapsing in a heap big time in the biggest State of Origin game in history, the Blues returned home sick, sore, sorry and shattered.

AFTER collapsing in a heap big time in the biggest State of Origin game in history, the Blues returned home sick, sore, sorry and shattered.

NSW forward Wade Graham said they produced their “worst team performance of all” under the suffocating pressure, resulting in the 22-6 loss on the scoreboard and another flat, gut-wrenching and devastating end to an Origin series.

“It was very disappointing. It’s hard to process right now, there is a lot of emotion,” Graham said.

Blues Brett Morris and Tyson Frizell wait for their luggage at Sydney airport. Picture: Jenny Evans

“You get beat, you get burnt, that’s how you learn. It’s such a big stage and you want to have success on big stages.

“It probably slipped away there in Sydney (game two) and Wednesday was probably our worst team performance of all.”

Graham and teammates were refusing to blame anyone but themselves for their capitulation.

“We have to stick solid as a group and as a state. We will stick together. Tomorrow is another day,” he said.

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Mitchell Pearce and Wade Graham after the Blues lose the 2017 Origin series. Picture: Brett Costello

“As disappointing as it is, the sun will come up tomorrow. Life goes on, you have to keep moving forward, keep progressing and keep moving on.

“The effort and energy was there but the execution wasn’t there, they were just better than us.

“It just shows at this level you have to be 100 per cent on. If you are off just a little bit, it won’t be good enough.

“It shows that the margin of error is small at this level. That showed in all three games. It’s not a massive area we need to improve.

Blues captain Boyd Cordner at Sydney airport. Picture: Jenny Evans

“Where to now? Go back to clubland and put our best foot forward and try to make sure we are better next year.

“There are still 12 months to go. Let’s digest the series — there is a lot of water under the bridge before then. You have to constantly learn.”

NSW produced a poor first half against a Queensland side that was simply flawless over the opening 40 minutes.

“Sixty-five per cent completion in the first half and only a couple of big efforts saved that first half,” Graham said.

Will Chambers clashes with Wade Graham.

“We were lucky not to be behind that bit further. Sixty-five per cent isn’t good enough and it caught up with us in the end.

“Their back three were catching the ball on the full and bringing it back and starting their sets off. It was hard to turn that momentum on the back of our completion rate.”

Graham said NSW must review the series thoroughly to avoid making any rash decisions.

“We need to look at the game, look at all three games and find out where we weren’t quite at our best and where that margin of error was and improve on that,” he said.

Asked was this the team to push NSW forward, Graham said: “Definitely. Not just the group but the guys who were in camp. Jack de Belin, Jordan McLean, Tom Trbojevic. Dale Finucane came in for game three. There’s a core group there of 20, 21, 22 players who are good enough to get the job done.”