State of Origin 2017: Why were the Blues forwards so good in Origin I?

NSW blew Queensland off the park in Origin I because of their powerful forward pack. But just what makes them so effective?

Andrew Fifita of the NSW Blues (top) tackles Josh McGuire of the Queensland Maroons during Game one of the State of Origin series at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Wednesday, May 31, 2017. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

YOU don’t need to be Jack Gibson to recognise where the Blues won Origin I.

Anyone with the slightest bit of rugby league knowledge could recognise New South Wales’ path to victory lead right up the middle, and the 28-4 triumph was built on the kind of forward domination rarely seen at the game’s highest level.

Andrew Fifita led the way but Aaron Woods, Tyson Frizell, David Klemmer and Jake Trbojevic all played their part, rampaging through the heart of the Queensland defence like a herd of wildebeests.

According to Woods, the secret behind the success is variety.

For years, the Blues relied on sheer size, picking as many big units as possible in an attempt to roll over the top of the Maroons.

The Blues greatest strength has long been their forward pack.

Now, they’ve embraced many kinds of middle forward.

“We’re all different. The way we play, we’re all different and I think that’s the best thing about our team — the different styles,” Woods told The Daily Telegraph.

“I can’t do some of the things Fifita does, I haven’t got that leg speed like he has. He’s just a very awkward guy to tackle.

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“It’s even better when you have your bench come on and lay another platform, which means we have to lift again when we come back on.

The dynamic, game-breaking quality of Fifita, the more traditional up-and-down style of Woods and Trbojevic, the aggression of Klemmer and the athleticism of Frizell transforms the New South Wales pack into a hydra — cut off one head, and two more can take their place.

Woods was an underrated contributor in Game I.

“I thought Laurie did a really good job with the subbies, when he brought people off,” said Woods.

“It’s a trigger to get the best out of you, and that’s what Loz does.”

Forwards creating space for backs is a concept as old as rugby league itself, but there’s a reason it's the most well-worn cliche in the game.

If the Blues can recreate that energy and sustained intensity from Game I the series is as good as theirs — but Woods is expecting a renewed vigour from the reshuffled Queensland side.

“I don’t think we’ll change too much from how we played in Game I, we’ve just got to play with a lot of energy around the ruck and if us big boys can lay the platform early it lets blokes like Mitchell (Pearce), Jimmy Maloney and (James) Tedesco to play off the back off that.”

Andrew Fifita finishes all over Josh McGuire. Picture: AAP I

“It (the changes) happens in every team. If you lose, you try and find a way to sort it out.

“They’re going to come back very hard, they’re going to be firing. That’s what we’ve got to control this week.”

Most would expect the Blues confidence to be at an highest following the thumping victory last month, but Woods says the team has long had the self-belief to win the series.

“You always want to be confident going into a game.

“We didn’t think we’d win 28-4, but you always go into every Origin thinking you’re going to win, be it by one point or whatever.

“The biggest thing for us is just to worry about ourselves, worry about the game we play and the style of footy we want to play.”