‘They lost the game’: Former Origin players clash as Blues slammed

As Queensland pulled off another famous backs to the wall win, NSW were once again slammed from all directions for another unthinkable loss.

Do the Blues need to make some changes? Photo: Fox Sports

As Queensland celebrate another famous victory, NSW have been once again left to pick up the pieces after a brutal loss as the 2023 series already hangs by a thread.

To keep the series alive, the Blues will need to travel to Suncorp Stadium and face what will undoubtedly be a one-sided Queensland crowd.

Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

So while the Maroons celebrate, questions have already arisen about the Blues’ performance.

In the first half, the Blues had 55 per cent of possession but trailed 10-6 at the break.

While the side hit the lead twice in the second half, the Maroons immediately responded, before twice scoring with 12 men on the field after Tom Flegler was sin binned.

In the wrap up on Fox League, former Origin stars Corey Parker and Michael Ennis went head-to-head in a tense debate over the Blues’ side.

For a clearly pleased Parker, he said it was yet another example of the Queensland spirit.

“NSW, they had the game in the position where they could have sewn it up,” he said. “(Queensland) were down a man, two wingers off the field, but that Queensland spirit, the catch phrase that anyone south of the border will hate tonight but the Queenslanders weren’t willing to say no. Did not accept no for an answer.

“It was an incredible victory, will go down as one of the best victories in a Queensland jersey and Billy Slater and his troops, after the back of what we saw last year in game three, to back up that performance tonight was outstanding.”

And it was crushing once again for the Blues. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

But when the attention turned to Ennis and Blues’ performance, Parker came in hot, questioning if the NSW spine of fullback James Tedesco, five-eighth Jarome Luai, halfback Nathan Cleary and hooker Api Koroisau were the right combination.

Before the game, there was a perceived three-way battle for the No. 6 jersey between Jarome Luai, Nicho Hynes and Cody Walker while Matt Burton was also a consideration as a bench utility.

Api Koroisau also won the battle over Damien Cook for the No. 9 jersey, while Dylan Edwards was even mentioned by some as a potential replacement for James Tedesco.

“When you’re playing a team like NSW — Tedesco, Cleary, Trbojevic — they are littered with stars,” Parker said.

“Queensland were up against it. They’d lost both wingers and a player in the bin for 10 minutes. That’s the reality of the game that they were faced with.”

Ennis said that the Blues attack was “clunky” with Trbojevic going into first receiver at times.

Asked about whether suggestions from coach Brad Fittler the Blues looked “shell-shocked” and “disorganised” pointed toward the need for a change from the Blues, Ennis denied that NSW should make any moves.

“It was a great game of footy and with 10 minutes to go we were ahead 18-16,” Ennis said.

“To Queensland’s credit, they found a way through.

“Look, it’s game one. That combination between Koroisau, Cleary and Luai’s won two premierships in the last two years so I don’t think we need to make changes.

“The attack can certainly improve, there’s no doubt about that.”

Michael Ennis was not too pleased. Photo: Fox Sports

Corey Parker was on the attack. Photo: Fox Sports

But Parker hit out at the comments.

“So what conversations do you have?” he started. “You’ve got the combinations across the park. They were down two wingers and player Queensland and yet they couldn’t get the job done and they were in front. Surely there’s a conversation that needs to be had.”

Ennis replied: “I think they just go back and look at their attack in the build up to game two.”

But Parker wasn’t leaving it alone.

“Luai, Cleary, Api — they all played together for long periods of time,” he said.

Ennis said the Blues had lost 16-10 last year before scoring 44 points in game two.

Parker: “But you’ve got to comment on what’s in front of you and what you’ve just seen.”

Ennis: “So you want to change out Luai and Cleary?

Parker: “I’m asking you? Well Nicho Hynes was wasted out there in the centres, was he not?”

Ennis: “He came on and did a job because Tom Trbojevic left the field, that was his role tonight. That was his role yeah, to come on and play anywhere? That’s what he was there for. So do you want to change Cleary and Luai? That’s what I’m asking.”

Parker: “They lost the game.”

Ennis: “They lost the game?”

Parker: “NSW lost the game.”

Ennis: “So you change your halves?”

Parker: “I’m asking the question. So where does Nicho Hynes go next time? That's the reality. Tom Gilbert left the field with a dislocated shoulder, two wingers couldn’t finish the game and they had 10 in the bin Queensland. Just unpack that for a moment.”

Ennis: “I wouldn’t be making any changes. I’m really comfortable with NSW’s spine. I thought Tedesco had some really good moments — he’d be disappointed with Collins jumping over him, no doubt about that. Thought he had some great great involvements.

“And I thought Nathan and Jarome looked really good together.

“Can they do things better? Of course.”

Back to the drawing board for the Blues. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Cooper Cronk agreed that the Blues shouldn’t make any changes and said NSW needed to “play more straight and direct”.

But Blues coach Brad Fittler refused to commit to the same 17 in his post-match press conference admitting the team “didn’t look that smooth”.

“It’s a fair way away,” Fittler said of his potential game two side.

“Realistically, Turbo’s out for 11 days. So he got an HIA, I think a few blokes came off injured.

“So we’ll see what happens in a couple of weeks, we’ll go from there.”