As we boarded the flight from Sydney to Brisbane for the opening State of Origin match on Wednesday night, my overwhelming feeling was that Ill be disappointed if what we started last year isnt built on over the next six weeks.
Our footy needs to be better than it was last year when we won the series 2-1.
'We need to be better': NSW players hold up the shield after winning the 2018 Origin series.Credit:AAP
Because we havent done winning well over the years. We won the series in 2014 and didnt build on it.
I was part of the 2014 side as the water boy, which I loved every minute of. It came after years of Queensland domination. The Blues players were so relieved to finally win it, after years of heartache, that they struggled for their respective NRL clubs for the rest of the season.
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Souths won the comp that year. They had no players who had played for NSW during the three matches. Queensland had three: Greg Inglis, Ben Teo and Chris McQueen. It's telling.
Id hate to think that our hunger has diminished because we won last year. Im not scared thats the case. There have been no indications in the past eight or so days since we came into camp to suggest it has. I haven't had a quiet word to any player because I haven't had the need.
Theres a belief that Queensland is a 10-point better team at Suncorp Stadium. I dont know about that. The ground doesnt have any magical powers.
But the challenge remains for our blokes to keep improving.
Thats why I am not worried about Queensland at all. There are a few things they can do really well, of course. They have players who are dangerous, we all know that.
But the focus is on us and our improvement and keeping the line on the graph on an upwards trajectory. Queensland might have to improve because they lost last year — but we have to improve a hell of a lot as well.
Theres a belief that Queensland is a 10-point better team at Suncorp Stadium. I dont know about that.
The ground doesnt have any magical powers. All the players in our side played there last month in Magic Round. It hasnt changed since then.
Its not Suncorp thats a factor — its Origin and the atmosphere, energy and feel that comes with it.
The players who love that atmosphere, who aren't intimidated by it, are the ones who shine at this level. Weve touched on that and we will touch on that much closer to the game.
Youll remember that last year we had 11 players making their debut for NSW. Pretty much our whole team hadnt played an Origin at Suncorp. They will be better for the experience.
This year, there are another five players on debut for us.
Undaunted: NSW Blues debutants Payne Haas, Nick Cotric, Cody Walker, Cameron Murray and Jack Wighton.Credit: AAP
One of those players is five-eighth Cody Walker, who a lot of the other pRead More – Source
As we boarded the flight from Sydney to Brisbane for the opening State of Origin match on Wednesday night, my overwhelming feeling was that Ill be disappointed if what we started last year isnt built on over the next six weeks.
Our footy needs to be better than it was last year when we won the series 2-1.
'We need to be better': NSW players hold up the shield after winning the 2018 Origin series.Credit:AAP
Because we havent done winning well over the years. We won the series in 2014 and didnt build on it.
I was part of the 2014 side as the water boy, which I loved every minute of. It came after years of Queensland domination. The Blues players were so relieved to finally win it, after years of heartache, that they struggled for their respective NRL clubs for the rest of the season.
Advertisement
Souths won the comp that year. They had no players who had played for NSW during the three matches. Queensland had three: Greg Inglis, Ben Teo and Chris McQueen. It's telling.
Id hate to think that our hunger has diminished because we won last year. Im not scared thats the case. There have been no indications in the past eight or so days since we came into camp to suggest it has. I haven't had a quiet word to any player because I haven't had the need.
Theres a belief that Queensland is a 10-point better team at Suncorp Stadium. I dont know about that. The ground doesnt have any magical powers.
But the challenge remains for our blokes to keep improving.
Thats why I am not worried about Queensland at all. There are a few things they can do really well, of course. They have players who are dangerous, we all know that.
But the focus is on us and our improvement and keeping the line on the graph on an upwards trajectory. Queensland might have to improve because they lost last year — but we have to improve a hell of a lot as well.
Theres a belief that Queensland is a 10-point better team at Suncorp Stadium. I dont know about that.
The ground doesnt have any magical powers. All the players in our side played there last month in Magic Round. It hasnt changed since then.
Its not Suncorp thats a factor — its Origin and the atmosphere, energy and feel that comes with it.
The players who love that atmosphere, who aren't intimidated by it, are the ones who shine at this level. Weve touched on that and we will touch on that much closer to the game.
Youll remember that last year we had 11 players making their debut for NSW. Pretty much our whole team hadnt played an Origin at Suncorp. They will be better for the experience.
This year, there are another five players on debut for us.
Undaunted: NSW Blues debutants Payne Haas, Nick Cotric, Cody Walker, Cameron Murray and Jack Wighton.Credit: AAP
One of those players is five-eighth Cody Walker, who a lot of the other pRead More – Source
