Maroons take 2016 series with 26-16 win over Blues: Five things we learned

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED: It’s time for coach Laurie Daley to give players like Bryce Cartwright, Joey Leilua and James Tedesco a NSW jumper.

Dylan Walker’s selection had raised many eyebrows.

SOME times you just have to say they were too good. But let’s not kid ourselves anymore.

It is time for change. And it has to happen for the dead rubber in Sydney on July 13.

There were plenty of questions being asked about some of Laurie Daley’s selections going into Wednesday’s game.

Did he stick solid with the wrong blokes?

Would NSW muster enough points to beat Queensland at Suncorp Stadium?

NSW got most things right. Unfortunately, the scoreboard still went Queensland’s way.

And that’s another series gone. Here are five things we learned from Wednesday night’s 26-16 defeat.

1. NO MORE EXCUSES

Peter Sterling summed it up perfectly before the game even kicked off.

After Daley’s post match blow up in Sydney Sterling said the Blues had to stop finding excuses and “find a way”.

Yet despite having all the momentum early and dominating the ruck it was Queensland who came up with the first try against the run of play when Dane Gagai snatched a last-play intercept and raced 80 metres.

NSW coach Laurie Daley must stop making excuses for his side. Picture: Gregg Porteous

It set the tone for the match.

From 4-all Queensland went to the break 10-4 up and the Blues were always chasing their tails.

NSW showed incredible resilience to fight back like they did.

But in the end it was Queensland’s wealth of experience that got them home.

2. MISSED OPPORTUNITY

Let’s go back to the first half. NSW found open space often but failed to come up

with the necessary points.

Despite their dominance they still couldn’t land a try.

Queensland did.

To their credit NSW never gave up.

They chased and they chased but continually came up short.

They had no luck.

Two tries disallowed because of unfortunate knock-ons was the difference in the end.

But was that the only difference?

Michael Jennings knocks the ball forward as he tries to score a try.

Maybe the Blues will look back on that first half failure to seize the advantage.

Maybe the will look back on the failure to make the changes that were called for before the start of the series.

It is hard to be critical after such a brilliant game.

But after losing 10 of the last 11 series we have to be critical.

Like Joey Johns said after Wednesday night’s game, “the ball doesn’t go to the creative players enough”.

3. GAL’S FAREWELL

Paul Gallen is not the blame for the loss. But it is time for NSW to give the ownership of this team to the new generation.

There were seven players from the Blues team playing their first Origin at Suncorp Stadium and they tried their hearts out.

This is about changing a mentality and mindset.

In his first game Tyson Frizell was amazing, Jack Bird was terrific when he came on.

Adam Reynolds tried his heart out before he was forced off with injury.

Johnathan Thurston celebrates victory as he yells at Paul Gallen.

He won’t be available for game three.

But Bryce Cartwright will.

Before the series the likes of the Johns brothers were calling for his inclusion.

Play him at five-eighth and move James Maloney to halfback.

And bring in the like of Joey Leilua and James Tedesco. And in the forwards the likes of Ryan James, Nathan Peats, Trent Merrin along with Wade Graham who was ruled out through injury.

Start the future now. What have we got to lose?

4. JT’S RECORD

On Wednesday was Johnathan Thurston’s 35th consecutive Origin appearance for Queensland.

He is the most consistent champion in Queensland’s history. He is 33 years of age.

What a player.

NSW went out to hammer Thurston. They smashed him late and often but he continued to bounce up and get on with the game.

His goal kicking was superb, as it was his general play. Wally Lewis described it as the best he’s seen at Origin level.

Johnathan Thurston is tackled as he tries to run the ball. Pic Darren England.

And when Queensland needed the points he came up with the magic.

The greatest player ever is again up for debate.

We don’t have a Thurston or a Smith or a Cronk to call on.

But we can’t keep waiting until they are all in wheelchairs.

5. THAIDAY ON REPORT

Not that he would care too much today but Sam Thaiday can book himself a weekend off after his dangerous lifting tackle on Paul Gallen.

It looked ugly and it will mean the Broncos will be without Thaiday when they take on the Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Paul Gallen is spear tackled by Queensland's Sam Thaiday.