This State of Origin series will be NSW Blues star Mitchell Pearce’s time to reign

MATTHEW JOHNS: Mitchell Pearce tends to be NSW’s favourite scapegoat during State of Origin. But this series will belong to the Blues halfback.

CONTRARY to popular belief it’s not the forwards who win State of Origin matches, it’s the creative players.

It’s why Queensland have dominated the decade, their key creative men make better decisions.

Cameron Smith jumping out of dummy-half and thumping a left-foot kick 70 metres downfield to turn the contest.

Johnathan Thurston sprinting down on a kick chase and trapping us in-goal.

Cooper Cronk holding his nerve to nail a late field goal.

It’s a recurring theme, I mean nightmare.

The 2017 Queensland pack look vulnerable, Kevvy Walters has picked on trust and loyalty, I have no doubt the Blues will win the yardage battle but it won’t matter unless our halves make the right decisions under pressure.

Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney, that’s where the result lies.

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James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce have to steer the ship for NSW. Picture: AAP

Pearce tends to be NSW’s favourite scapegoat. In this series he’s copping criticism before he even pulls a jersey on.

Fair enough I suppose. Winners get the praise, losers the big stick. But this series will be Pearce’s.

Everything about him is different in 2017, he’s made some important lifestyle decisions and it’s working for him.

In the not too distant past, a Pearce interview would see him fidgeting nervously, eyes darting left and right, answering in rapid fire, scattergun sentences.

And he would play that way as well, unable to control his own game tempo, no brakes.

Blues adviser Peter Stirling speaks with Mitchell Pearce during NSW training at Cudgen. Picture: AAP

In 2017 that’s changed dramatically. When interviewed, Pearce looks relaxed, he speaks clearly and succinctly, eyes focused and set.

He’s playing that way — measured. He has time, he controls the contest, at times he plays slow, other times he explodes at the defence.

His new-found focus can be seen through his kicking — it is no longer an afterthought. On the last play you see him settle, take a few deep breaths, knowing where he’s going to put the ball before it enters his hands.

The ability to control a contest through your kicking and last-play options is the sign of a mature playmaker, in peak form. That’s Pearce right now. He is going to have an outstanding series.

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Peering over the fence at our opponents, there’s some interesting things to note. Criticising our own isn’t a trait exclusive to NSW after all.

Sections of the Queensland media have been savage with the Maroons selections. Questioning why selectors have opted to stay loyal with certain players but leave out Billy Slater.

As a Blue, I’m more than happy to see Slater’s name absent from the Queensland team list.

Darius Boyd is in peak form and has beautiful pass selection out the back of block plays, but the absence of Slater’s running threat and combination with Smith and Cronk is a huge bonus for NSW.

Milford has to step up now Thurston has been ruled out. (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Anthony Milford at No.6 will be intriguing. While he fully deserves selection, his combination with Cronk is untried, and at this level halves take time to gel and develop understanding when under pressure.

Even Thurston and Cronk took time to build an understanding where they could play their best football with one another.

Again, a new Queensland halves combination is a bonus for the Blues.

As for the Blues, like most people, I think they’ve picked a terrific side.

Paul Vaughan can count himself extremely unlucky and I would’ve had Wade Graham as a starting backrower, working in combination with James Maloney.

But the balance of the side is good.

NSW fullback James Tedesco needs to bring his running game to Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Brett Costello

NSW can terrorise Queensland by using their outside backs through the middle field.

Blake Ferguson, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Morris and Josh Dugan are enormously difficult to contain when they venture infield and attack the middle defenders.

The Blues need to avoid attacking in a rigid, structured manner. If James Tedesco constantly receives the ball on “block” shapes, he will be easily contained.

Tedesco should sit inside Pearce and Maloney, and off the shoulders of the backrowers all night.

I want to see Tedesco in a “running” frame of mind, not “passing”.

Crucially though, with this match in Brisbane, the Blues need to be emotionally charged and ready for everything Queensland will throw at them early.

You can have the best game plan in the world but if you don’t match Queensland emotionally, you’re gonna be hammered, both physically and on the scoreboard.

No Matt Scott, no Greg Inglis and no Thurston.

NSW can’t miss this opportunity.

The Blues by eight!