State of Origin game 3: Brad Fittler’s Baby Blues target clean sweep at Suncorp Stadium
THE last time NSW claimed a State of Origin series clean sweep, Nathan Cleary was only just out of nappies. Now Brad Fittler’s boys in blue want to prove they’re the men to officially end Queensland’s era of dominance.
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THE last time NSW claimed an Origin series clean sweep, Nathan Cleary was three and only just out of nappies.
The year was 2000 and current coach Brad Fittler captained NSW to a dominant three-peat over Queensland.
Flash forward 17 years and the Baby Blues led by Cleary are poised to go from toddlers to members of the fourth NSW side to sweep the Maroons.
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“This is a big opportunity for us to create history,” Cleary told The Daily Telegraph.
“It is pretty amazing that I was so young last time it (a sweep) happened for NSW.
“It just shows how long ago it was, but it would be special and we are really looking forward to the challenge.”
Cleary said the Baby Blues will spend the week racking coach Fittler’s mind about his memories from the successful 2000 sweep.
After winning the opening two games that year, NSW charged a comprehensive 56-16 win over Queensland in Origin III at the then Stadium Australia to finish the series in style.
“So we might have to draw some inspiration from Freddie,” he said.
“He has been so good the whole camp. He understands what Origin is about and I think that is what makes him such a good coach.”
According to star centre Latrell Mitchell, who was four when NSW won 3-0 in 2000, the next generation Blues don’t fear Queensland like past teams did during the Maroons’ decade of dominance.
“In the years beforehand the boys were mentally scarred going into these games and had succumbed to losing,” Mitchell said.
“But the boys now are pretty fresh and have nothing to worry about other than to go out and play footy and enjoy it.
“That is what we did in the first two games and I think that is what we are going to do in the last game.
“Now it is a big role for us and a bit of motivation to go out and sweep the series.”
NSW may have the Origin shield in their keeping, but winger Tom Trbojevic says the Blues are far from satisfied.
“It was great to wrap the series up in the last game, but we’ve got another job to do,” Trbojevic said.
“We’ve got to go up to Queensland and try and take out a clean sweep. It is going to be tough up there, but I can’t wait to go and rip in.”
Ryan Girdler, a member of NSW’s clean sweep side in 2000, has urged the current crop to finish the Maroons off in Origin III next Wednesday.
“It’s a really good opportunity to put the foot on the throat and go on with the job,” Girdler said.
“It has been a long stretch of loses for NSW, but to win a series 3-0 will allow us to stamp our authority on the series.
“They also present the shield up in Queensland, so I guess it takes a bit of an edge off winning the series if you don’t do the job in the last game.
“But it won’t be easy, because Queensland will have plenty to play for with it being Billy Slater’s last game.”
Originally published as State of Origin game 3: Brad Fittler’s Baby Blues target clean sweep at Suncorp Stadium
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