Ricky still ruffles Mal's feathers

WATCH a team go on a long winning run and slowly watch their football deteriorate.

WATCH a team go on a long winning run and slowly watch their football deteriorate.

Many factors negatively affect a winning team, complacency creeps in and along with it an unhealthy arrogance.

They no longer have the same attention to detail. Injuries play a part, as does the hunger and desire of the opposition.

This Queensland team, the squad of 30 or so players used over the last seven years, is not only the greatest Origin team in history - but one of the greatest teams the game has seen, full stop.

Their iconic coach Mal Meninga has done an incredible job. Forget who delivers the half-time speeches, or who comes up with the fancy trick shots.

It's Meninga who lifts this team and gets them to find something extra series after series.

But Queensland's football has deteriorated. There were signs in Origin I and there were signs last year.

NSW, however, haven't had the self belief to take advantage of it. That was the only thing separating both teams in Origin I.

NSW picked a team built on mobility, a fast-moving pack with superior speed and footwork to Queensland's size and power.

The game plan complemented the side selected beautifully and for long periods in the first half, NSW were winning the yardage battle and punching holes where intended. Then disaster struck - well, it wasn't disaster, but when a side is lacking real self belief, a little adversity turns into a death sentence.

NSW looked measured and in control until Michael Jennings was sinbinned.

Then Queensland didn't so much make NSW pay as the Blues made the Blues pay.

Handling errors, poor kicks, not putting a ball out from a penalty, defensive misreads.

Yes, that's football.

But when it occurs after facing your first piece of adversity, that's self belief, or lack of.

Tonight Billy Slater will improve on his below par Origin I performance, as will Todd Carney.

Queensland will miss Sam Thaiday and NSW Tony Williams.

Cameron Smith will be more energised after shaking off the flu and Anthony Watmough will have a point to prove and so on and so on.

But forget all that, the Blues have the right team and they have the right tactics.

Blog: Join us from 10am till kick-off to talk all things Origin

Video: Hoops and Kenty preview Origin II

Video: NSW captains past and present explain what it means to lead the Blues

Origin special section: Keep up to date with all the news

Click here for Boo Bailey's bios of the NSW team

The biggest factor in tonight's contest is whether the Blues believe they will win. Not believe they can, but believe they will. Self belief, a collective belief.

Many experts believe the Blues will win but they are only guessing. I'm guessing, you're guessing, the bookies are guessing, even coach Ricky Stuart is guessing.

The only ones who really know are the players. We wish them well.

I've loved the verbal sparring between the two coaches in the build up. Meninga and Stuart shared many great achievements together at club and national level, but no one gets under Mal's skin quite like Ricky.

Remember last year when Mal thought Ricky was behind an article that questioned Mal's role as coach of his history-making side?

Ricky was innocent of the charge, but the fact that Mal thought otherwise says a lot about the relationship between the two former teammates.

Mal and Ricky are at opposite ends of the coaching spectrum - they were as players as well. Meninga is about aura, Stuart about science.

Some of the greatest coaches of all time have sat at either end of this spectrum as well - some, like Meninga, are great man managers and mentors, while others, like Stuart, view the game more analytically.

The scientific coaches very often don't rate the man managers while the man managers think the rugby league scientists over-complicate and "just don't get it".

Maybe that's why Mal and Ricky irritate one another so much

I remember the first time I played against the Canberra Raiders, the Green Machine, in their prime. I was in awe of Meninga, he had a God-like stature in the game.

You stood there saying to yourself, "Shit, I can't believe I'm playing against Mal Meninga."

Meninga transformed the Canberra Raiders as a club and his standing there was without equal.

He was the captain and the dominant voice.

Meanwhile, Stuart was the on-field general and, like all great halfbacks, a control freak. I was in awe of his brilliance, his control of the game.

I remember early in that first game against them, we gave away a penalty in front of the sticks.

Ricky grabbed the ball and wanted a quick tap, Mal grabbed the ball and pointed to the posts to take the two points.

Ricky questioned Mal, Mal put Ricky in his place. Ricky questioned again, Mal put him in his place.

It was the general questioning the authority of the leader and it continued for most of the night.

You see halfbacks, particularly the great ones, believe they are the kings of the rugby league jungle.

That never changes.

Go to a rugby league reunion and it will be the halfbacks telling the yarns, making the jokes and stirring the pot.

Twenty years on, Ricky is still testing his old captain's authority, pushing Mal's buttons.

And Mal is still trying to put him in his place.

Let's hope Mal isn't able to tonight.

Follow @Telegraph_Sport on Twitter and like Telegraph Sport on Facebook