State of Origin 2016: NSW will do everything to win game two for the fans, says Laurie Daley

THERE are plenty of reasons why the Blues want to win Origin III — but none more than for Paul Gallen and the people of NSW, writes LAURIE DALEY.

THERE are plenty of reasons why the Blues want to win Wednesday night’s final State of Origin game but none more than for inspirational people of NSW.

They have been whacked about for the past decade or so but have remained staunchly loyal.

Yes, everyone has an opinion on team selections and I can’t pick sides based on what the fans want.

But once our sides have been chosen, NSW fans have stepped straight in behind our side and given the team unconditional support.

Blues fans will be hoping to send skipper Paul Gallen off in style.

We are expecting 65,000 fans at ANZ Stadium. That comes after 80,000 in game one. And that’s not to mention the wonderful television ratings.

The players are so appreciative to the 145,000 who have poured through the gates at ANZ Stadium this series. Our fans deserved a series win and we are truly disappointed we couldn’t deliver it to them. But, believe me, it wasn’t through a lack of trying.

We have given everything in both games and we will do so again tonight. A bit of luck here and there and we could have already sealed the series.

The fans get behind us year after year. We have won just one series in the past 11 series. Fans are entitled to walk away from us. But they haven’t.

NSW coach Laurie Daley knows just what the fans’ support means.

I get sick and tired of hearing how passionate Queensland fans are.

Fans show their true colours when times are tough. It’s bloody easy been a loyal fan when you are winning every year.

But for NSW supporters to keep turning up when we aren’t winning, I cannot speak highly of them. That shows their real character.

And they will be there again tonight, in their thousands, cheering the Blues.

I know when times get tough on the field, fans are important for players. They get a lift from vocal fans — and that lift can be decisive.

Gallen will lead the Blues out for the last time on Wednesday night.

Paul Gallen leaves us here. What a warrior he has been for NSW since 2006. He gives 110 per cent every time he has played for NSW.

His legacy will be a player who was tough, resilient, fiery with an amazing will-to-win.

It was just sad that ‘Gal’ was around during such a dominant era for Queensland. He deserved a better playing record.

We haven’t spoken about it a lot this week but every player in our side wants to send Gal out a winner. He deserves that.

I can’t guarantee a win for Gal this evening but I can tell you each player will be doing everything in his power — physically and mentally — to overcome Queensland and let Gal walk out of the Origin arena as a winner.

Daley wants Blues fans — however many — to cheer them to victory.

We can’t win the series but we will man-up and show up. In my eyes, there isn’t any such thing as a dead rubber. It is an Origin game and both sides will go into battle. It will be fierce and tough.

Quite obviously we don’t want to lose 3-0. We are a proud side and a team that believes in each other.

This is hopefully the start of a new era for NSW. We will blood two more players in this game, making it eight debutants for this series. The future looks bright for NSW. We know the tide will turn.

And there waiting for us at the other end, as always, will be our fans. NSW fans deserve to back a winning side. They are dedicated, they are true, they are fiercely loyal.

They absolutely inspire us.