Laurie Daley’s selections and use of his interchange bench have come under scrutiny after NSW was hammered 44-24 in State of Origin Game 2.
It was a bloodbath in the second half as the Maroons poured on the points to finish with their highest score in an Origin game in more than a decade.
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Meanwhile, the Blues didn’t look like scoring in the second half as Queensland’s expansive playmakers ran riot. Nine commentator Mat Thompson said the Blues were “eviscerated” in Queensland’s 36-point second half demolition.
The result means the series heads to a deciding Game 3 in Brisbane and the Maroons will be heavy favourites to clinch the Origin shield at home.
The heavy defeat saw Daley break an unwanted record, becoming the coach who has lost the most games in Origin history.
Daley passed Wayne Bennett, losing 12 Origin games in his two stints in charge as NSW coach. His only series triumph in six campaigns was the droughtbreaking victory back in 2014.
His selections have been heavily criticised, specifically the forward pack and the use, or lack thereof, of his interchange bench.
There are calls for Isaah Yeo to move to the bench so Cameron Murray can start at lock, while Warriors forward Jackson Ford could replace Fonua-Blake, who has been underwhelming.
Victor Radley gave away two penalties for high tackles and dropped the ball when NSW was deep in attack, while Addin Fonua-Blake played only 10 minutes off the bench.
Newcastle’s Dylan Lucas didn’t make a major impact on his Origin debut, but the big questions are over NSW’s interchange bench.
Api Koroisau was hailed in the lead-up to the game as NSW’ss secret weapon to unsettle Queensland, but the veteran hooker sat the entire game on the bench and wasn’t used.
Most coaches would have injected the crafty hooker into the game with half an hour remaining. It was a baffling call not to use Koroisau given starting No. 9 Reece Robson looked exhausted.
Another gripe will be the fact Ethan Strange played just 17 minutes in Game 2 after dominating his Origin debut in Game 1, while Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses struggled to create attacking opportunities.
Cleary is yet to dominate an Origin series, while Brian To’o looked vulnerable under the high ball.
The reaction from NSW supporters was swift, with many torchcing Daley for several decisions.
Sports reporter Christian Nicolussi wrote on X: “That was ugly. Should Api Koroisau played? Does Haumole Olakau’atu come back in for Dylan Lucas? Surely the plan was to never play AFB for just nine minutes.”
The League Scene posted: “Some really puzzling coaching decisions contributing to NSW’s demise.”
League Freak said: “For game 3 NSW need to bring back Strange alongside Cleary. It worked great. Bring in an actual Rugby League winger. Stop selecting AFB. Pick Ford instead.”
10 in the Bin said: “Laurie Daley doesn’t have what it takes to coach Origin.”
Andrew Johns and Cameron Smith urged NSW to make mass changes if they are to have any chance of turning the tide and winning Game 3 in enemy territory.
“If NSW want to go up to Queensland and win this series decider, they have to make four or five changes. They have to do it,” Smith said on Channel 9.
Johns said: “Cam Murray has to start, there was no real dummy half running threat tonight with Robson, they need either Blake Brailey or Api (in Game 3) to come on the bench, there’s gotta be a point of difference dummy half.
“We need to look at our attack, we need to break our structure more, we need to offload the ball.
“Game 1 we didn’t score a point until Kalyn came off and then tonight, 12 a t half time and then a couple of tries late, but we gotta look to attack more, especially around the halfway line.”
State of Origin greats repeatedly highlighted Queensland’s creativity in attack through Sam Walker, Harry Grant, Cam Munster and Kalyn Ponga, compared to NSW’s lack of spark.
Brad Fittler said: “I don’t know what happened to NSW, they just completely lost their game.
“On the other hand, Queensland are just so electric. They’ve got so much attack, we just couldn’t compete.
“Their execution … athletically they’re incredible.”
Liam Martin and Latrell Mitchell could also be in the frame for selection for Game 3 if they recover from injury in time.
“You’d have to talk to Latrell how much running is done, but when he walks into camp they go ‘the big dog’s back’, when he gets the ball all eyes are on him, the bigger the occasion the better he’ll go,” Joey said.
Phil Gould was damning in his assessment of NSW’s blunt attack.
“There is no doubt in the world that when they get good possession Queensland are far better than NSW in attacking situations,” he said.
“They’re more courageous with the ball, they’re more skillful, they’re more willing to support play, throw those passes and kick the ball on early tackles.
“They’re just more courageous with their attacking football, whereas NSW is ultra conservative, ultra structured.
“This NSW side cannot beat Queensland unless it dominates possession and field position. The second half proved that 36 points in 40 minutes of football.
“When you’ve got a chance to close the series out and send them home empty. Look, you don’t want to kick them while they’re down, but that was just terrible.
Gould stopped short of suggesting any team changes for NSW, saying: “Tonight’s not the night to be looking at selection and I’ve got some advice for them, stop listening to advice … stop taking advice.”
NSW fullback James Tedesco said: “I think we were just out-enthused tonight”, while Darren Lockyer agreed: “The first 20 minutes in the second half, you could tell which team needed to win and which team had a second chance.”
Originally published as Call for mass changes to NSW team as Laurie Daley’s selections criticised