‘Makes me so angry’: NSW coach is fuming over Origin claim

One commentator’s damning accusation against NSW has been met with a scathing response following Queensland’s Origin triumph.

Blues coach Brad Fittler. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

NSW assistant coach Greg Alexander has hit out at suggestions the Blues lost the State of Origin series decider because they were not as desperate as their opponents.

The myth about Queensland players being more passionate about playing for their state has been brought back to life following the Maroons’ upset victory in the decider at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday.

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Fox League NRL 360 co-host Paul Kent stirred the pot on Thursday night saying the Maroon jersey just means more to Queenslanders than the light blue does to NSW players.

Blues legend Alexander joined the debate on Friday morning.

“Anyone who says Queensland cares more about the jersey is talking absolute garbage,” the Panthers great said on SEN Breakfast.

“It’s disrespectful to even say it. The comment makes me so angry as they have no idea what goes on inside camp.”

Nathan Cleary, Brad Fittler and Greg Alexander. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

Alexander said nobody had anything to say to break up the silence in the NSW sheds after full time.

“It was tough,” he said.

“Origin is like nothing else. It’s almost a different game to club footy. The disappointment is greater when you do lose. It was a very flat dressing room. Nothing was said. It was deathly quiet in there for at least half an hour. There’s nothing to say.”

He said a series of “unforgivable” errors, including Daniel Tupou’s momentum changing kick fumble before half time, were the reason the Blues lost.

Kent earlier said: “You can sit here and crap on about all that other stuff, but the fact is every time Origin comes up every year and someone like myself or Buzz bring up the fact about Queensland passion.

“You blokes (Braith Anasta and Michael Ennis) as ex-players and I say this respectfully, get your backs up about NSW being as passionate about our jerseys as what they are.

“No way in the world.

“We have got a bloke who gets knocked on his door by Billy Slater who says, mate you are playing five-eighth because Munster is out. He tears up and he says, ‘I won’t let Queensland down’.

“The other No. 6 in the other jersey can’t wait to play for Samoa, so don’t tell me the passion is equal.”

Blues half Jarome Luai and winger Brian To’o have reportedly committed to playing for Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup at the end of the season.

Nathan Cleary looks on at a group of Queenslanders. Pics Adam Head

Blues half Nathan Cleary was also slammed for his post match interview where he said “Yeah it sucks”, just minutes after his chip kick was caught by Ben Hunt for the match sealing try.

His opposite number Daly Cherry-Evans was nearly in tears at the win, with a commenter saying: “DCE was nearly in tears after managing to pull the win out, he would’ve been inconsolable if they had lost.”

But in reply to Kent, Braith Anasta asked if he was as passionate a support as the Maroons fans are.

“No, I am not because if someone flew in from Mars today and said, ‘there is two teams here you have got to support one of them’,” Kent said.

“This team is always the underdog but they win more often than not. This team is always the favourite, but they lose more often than they win. This team over here they always stick loyal and pick each other. This team over here they swap and change. Who would you support?”

Michael Ennis, who played eight Origins for just two wins disagreed.

“It is easy to sit there and say that after Queensland get the result and play the way they did, but you can’t tell us how we feel pulling on a jersey,” Ennis said.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield broke it down, saying the Maroons were playing for the jersey, while the NSW players can play for the prestige of being Origin players.

“You can say there is a perception and a look that is the case,” Rothfield said.

“I look at Queensland players like they want to play for the Maroons Queensland jersey.

“And I look at NSW players that they want to play Origin and not necessarily that light Blues jersey.

“It is very easy to sit behind a keyboard and say that, but it is the impression that I get.”