Queensland’s lacklustre attack under the microscope leading into Perth State of Origin

In 160 minutes of Origin football, the Maroons have scored just one try. If they don’t make changes, another series will slip through their fingers. How can coach Billy Slater turn things around?

Tough night to be a Queenslander.

But it’ll be a tougher flight home from Perth on June 18 if they don’t figure out how to score points.

In the past 160 minutes of football Queensland has scored just one try, and if they don’t make changes to the attack, another series will slip through their fingers.

Wednesday night’s 18-6 loss to the Blues was a disaster for the Maroons in front of their home fans and has left Billy Slater with plenty of questions to answer ahead of game two.

Namely, where on earth are the points going to come from?

The Maroons have a huge task ahead to turn the State of Origin series around. Picture: Getty Images

Hooker Harry Grant had one of his roughest nights in a Queensland jersey, and now the Maroons are 0-4 when he is the starting No.9.

Cameron Munster’s return didn’t have the impact anyone expected and too many passes went to ground, while halfback Daly Cherry-Evans couldn’t kick his way out of trouble either.

Fullback Kalyn Ponga, usually one of the game’s most dynamic players, was completely nullified by the Blues defence.

Together, the Maroons cobbled together 11 errors, 44 per cent of territory, seven offloads (less than half of the Blues’ 15) and just one linebreak.

Val Holmes is monstered into touch

If not for Jeremiah Nanai whacking the ball loose from Zac Lomax’s grip, Queensland may never have scored.

“We never looked like we were going to score. Second half we got an even share of the ball. But our only try came from that spilt ball,” said Queensland legend Darren Lockyer on Channel 9 coverage.

“So our attack didn’t really worry the NSW defence. Give them credit for their defence, But we need to find a way to find some opportunities.”

MAROONS’ MISSED CHANCES

Opportunities were few and far between, and that’s the problem.

But in good territory points went begging.

Midway through the first half the Blues defence was tested for the first time after Brian To’o knocked on in a contest for the ball.

Queensland started their set from 20 metres out, but couldn’t find a way through Nanai and Ponga, while Grant tried to burrow over on the last tackle.

Their best chance came and went with Coates in contest with To’o in the air, but the ball was spilt and another four points went begging, although the two-point penalty helped.

And then for the next 10 minutes the Blues were a man down, and while they scored off the error, the set prior Munster threw the ball at Val Holmes’ feet off a scrum, giving him no space or time to do anything but be bundled over the sideline.

Tom Dearden came on for the last 27 minutes, but he was immediately put to work in defence.

His long pass for Holmes in the dying minutes was exactly the kind of slick ball work Queensland needed, only it was about five metres forward.

OPTIONS FOR CHANGE

Queensland are better with Ben Hunt starting behind the ruck and Harry Grant coming from the bench.

The Broncos star is expected to be sidelined for another few weeks, and while a hamstring tear is not the kind of injury you can rush back, he was rated an outside chance to return for game two a fortnight ago.

Dearden also showed enough with the ball that he should be considered for a starting spot, while Reece Walsh’s return for the Broncos this week will put pressure on Ponga.

With the series on the line nothing can be off the table.

“You see a bloke like Dearden come on and he’s bouncing around and doing some really good things and you think, gee whiz, it could have been a difference if he was out there earlier,” said Phil Gould.

“You put him out there earlier and NSW, pile 30 tackles into him in the first 25 minutes. He’s not getting out there and bouncing around. So what he did from the bench was effective.

“What you’ve got to do is find a better way to start so he can be more effective next time.

“I think Harry Grant at this level too. He’s always been great coming off the bench for Queensland and Ben Hunt’s been starting, gets through the work. Then Harry Grant just comes out and does his thing.

Another chance goes begging for the Maroons

“Harry Grant’s out there in the first 20 minutes and he’s tackling everything. They’re running at him every time.

“He just didn’t have the sprightliness he had out of dummy half, and the effect that he usually does.

“So they’ve got to find some better starters to get them into the contest, and then those players coming from the bench might be able to create something for them.”

Originally published as Queensland’s lacklustre attack under the microscope leading into Perth State of Origin