State of Origin: Blues’ number one priority after Game Two massacre

With one game of this year’s State of Origin series remaining, there’s still one massive box the Blues players want to tick.

NSW wants a 3-0 State of Origin series whitewash. Picture: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

The NSW Blues have warned that the “job is not done” and have vowed to put the Maroons to the sword again in game three after a record-breaking 26-0 shutout of Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.

NSW kept Queensland to zero for the first time ever in Brisbane at Queensland’s spiritual home to take an unassailable lead in the State of Origin series and intends to keep the foot on the throat and emulate the Brad Fittler-captained side of 2000, the last Blues outfit to win in a clean sweep.

After destroying the Maroons with a massive display in attack and defence, centre Latrell Mitchell said this year’s Blues outfit was “built different” to other NSW squads and had another gear to go to.

“We have wrapped the series up, yes, but the job is not done. We go to game three and we will switch on and get the job done,” Mitchell said.

“There is a hunger there. Obviously NSW had lost for a very long time; as if you could beat the team that Queensland had for that period of nine years.

“As a NSW supporter, you could see we were never going to win and it was a credit to the NSW men that battled every year, but this year is different.

“We are built different and the team is built different. I can’t wait to go out and build the combination even better.

“I reckon we can go to another level. I have got good vibes around the team. It is the best team I have been involved in.”

The Blues have wrapped up the 2021 State of Origin series with a game to go. Picture: Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

Hooker Damien Cook echoed Mitchell’s desire and said there was yet more to achieve for the Blues side.

NSW did not take its foot off the pedal after its record-breaking 50-6 win in game one and is aiming for a repeat performance for game three.

“You want to win every game in this Blues jersey and something all of us haven’t done is to win three games in a series,” Cook said.

“Once we get back in to camp we will put this game behind us like we did in the first game. We will treat it on its own merit and hopefully go out and win all three.

“The biggest part for us is that the six Penrith players are winning week-in and week-out and playing with a lot of confidence. Guys like Jarome (Luai] and Brian (To’o) haven’t been here before and they are playing without fear. Brian is doing a remarkable job out of yardage and Jarome is picking his moments and not overplaying his hand.”

Luai had another accomplished display alongside halves partner Nathan Cleary and was already talking about a 3-nil whitewash.

“It is doable, with the team that we have,” he said.

“We will enjoy tonight but then move on.

“It is back home in front of our families, so that will be a big motivation, but I don’t want us to be that team that shows complacency. We have still have one more job to do.

“I’m going to embrace this. It is something that hasn’t been done before, to keep them to zero in Brisbane, so it is a pretty good achievement.”