How savage post-Origin I spray from Phil Gould came back to haunt NSW in Game 3 debacle

It didn’t take long for two greats to turn on the Blues in the wake of their Game 3 disaster – and it’s words from champion NSW coach Phil Gould in particular which have come back to haunt them.

The bumbling Blues have turned on themselves yet again with NSW legends Phil Gould and Andrew Johns lashing Laurie Daley’s troops in the wake of Queensland’s Homebush ambush on Wednesday night.

NSW’s greatest coach Gould lamented the Blues’ lack of “connection” in their 24-12 loss in the Sydney decider, while NRL Immortal Johns slammed their one-dimensional play, saying: “They didn’t have a Plan B.”

The recriminations will begin south of the border after NSW choked on the Origin stage yet again, blowing another series after being in the box seat following their victory in Game One at Suncorp Stadium.

The hard work was seemingly done, but the Blues sensationally imploded, losing 26-24 in Game Two in Perth before another capitulation before their 80,000 home fans on Sydney soil.

Queensland celebrate Tom Dearden’s match-sealing try. Picture: Getty

No Maroons team in Origin’s 45-year history had previously managed back-to-back victories on the road after losing the series opener in Queensland.

Gould applauded Queensland’s braveheart spirit and turned the blowtorch on Daley’s NSW troops, claiming the Blues lacked the connection of the Maroons’ team spirit.

“I can’t really remember a moment where NSW saved a moment. They got ‘Out-Origin-ed’ (by Queensland), they really did,” Channel 9 expert Gould said.

“Queensland were really connected as a group, they rushed NSW in defence.

“NSW didn’t have that connection.

“In what I saw in the opening 40 minutes of this game, we didn’t have a scenario where we were winning, we were at the mercy of the way Queensland were playing.

“We talk about NSW not being able to handle favouritism, well Queensland handle being underdogs so well, so it’s a double-edged sword.

Recalled hero Josh Papali'i is chaired off the ground by his jubilant teammates. Picture: Getty

“Queensland handle that tag and being written off so well and that’s the commentary around Origin that serves the game best.

“It’s been like this for 45 years and every time you say NSW must win, they are too good, too talented, in the back of my mind I respect Origin history to know that’s not going to happen and Queensland will come out with something else.

“NSW missed their chance. They missed their chance to turn it into a series win from Game One to Game Two.

“The energy of the whole Queensland team was too much for NSW, it really overwhelmed them.

“In everything they did with the ball and without the ball, they overwhelmed NSW, they totally smothered them in all parts of the game.

“Queensland were too good for them.”

Former NSW coach and Channel 9 personality Phil Gould’s Game 1 comments have come back to bite him. Picture: Getty

Gould’s appraisal marked a dramatic shift in sentiment after he claimed the Blues had the series all-but wrapped up after their win in Origin I.

“What they’ve achieved is shattering (for) Queensland,” Gould said on May 28 at Suncorp Stadium.

“I think Queensland are really going to have some nightmares over that game.

“I don’t see any answers for them.

“In all the important parts of the game they were outpointed.

“I don’t know if they’ve got it in them to come back from that.”

Brian To'o celebrates during NSW’s stirring Game 1 victory. Picture: AAP

Former Blues halfback Johns was critical of NSW’s inability to play with variance. Blues five-eighth Jarome Luai was one of the worst players on the field and champion halfback Nathan Cleary now has a worrying 0-3 losing record in Origin deciders.

“There is no Plan B with NSW,” Johns told Channel 9.

“And when you are out on the field at this level, there has to be a Plan B and even a Plan C.

“If the plan isn’t coming off, you have to change on the run.

“We were too structured in stages, especially going to our left, we just had no Plan B.

“Tom Dearden’s first try rang alarm bells, the ball went down and everyone in the NSW defensive line stopped, Hamiso (Tabuai-Fidow) picked it up and found Tommy Dearden on the inside.

“Any 50-50 ball, it seemed like Queensland came up with it. They seemed more desperate and that’s what Origin is about.

“It would be heartbreaking for Laurie Daley. Queensland were way too good.”

Originally published as How savage post-Origin I spray from Phil Gould came back to haunt NSW in Game 3 debacle