Blues ignore history but must take lessons from past

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Blues ignore history but must take lessons from past

Jarome Luai is adamant history means nothing when it comes to State of Origin.

And for the sake of NSW, he knows that statement needs to be correct come Wednesday night.

In 13 attempts to clinch a series in Brisbane in Origin III, NSW have won just two.

Their last such victory there came in 2005, with six ******* trips north for deciders since.

NSW have lost just about every single way possible in the past 19 years.

A Cooper Cronk field goal, concussions, first-half blowouts and Ben Hunt charge down just to name a few.

But as far as Luai is concerned, that is all completely irrelevant come kick off.

“A lot of people are talking about the history and what the stats have been going up to Suncorp,” Luai said.

“But that’s in the past.

“We’re not going to let the past dictate what we have to do up there …”

History does, however, suggest there are lessons to be learned for NSW.

The first is they must embrace the Suncorp Stadium vitriol.

Blues coach Michael Maguire wanted his team to drive down Caxton Street before kick off on Wednesday, only for those plans to be knocked back for safety.

It’s an approach past winners in Queensland approve of.

“They wouldn’t let us go either, and we were filthy about it” Anthony Minichiello, who played fullback for NSW in the 2005 decider, told AAP.

“But you have to embrace it. I really enjoyed going up there because you’re hated.

“This team they have a bit of that gritty attitude. I like it.

“That’s what you need in Origin footy. To go up there you definitely need that mindset of going up there to take it on.”

The second key is NSW must start well. Not so much in *******, but in defence.

When they last won a decider at Suncorp Stadium in 2005, the Blues repelled five straight Queensland sets on their line before rebounding to win 32-10.

“I took that with me for the rest of my career,” NSW’s 2005 captain Danny Buderus said.

“That opening to that game and that feeling. Yes, you can go out and play well in *******.

“But when you defend, the trust and energy that creates when you’re absorbing all pressure, that builds something.

“It’s a mindset, it creates a belief.

“If you jag an early try it can out you into a false pre-tense. But when you have to stand firm over and over again, it breeds and breathes belief into your team.”

Thirdly, NSW must silence the crowd.

And like everything else at Suncorp Stadium, that doesn’t come easily.

Data from league historian David Middleton showed last week that of the 60 Origin matches played in Brisbane, NSW have won the penalty count just nine times.

“It vibrates, it’s hot. Everything around that stadium is different,” Buderus said.

“The amount of energy it gives off. You feel it as soon as Queensland runs out.

“Nothing is given. You have to earn everything. That’s field position, that’s decisions.”

And lastly, the Blues must take their opportunities.

It’s what NSW did after the early onslaught in 2005, and how they landed the early blows via two intercepts in 1994.

Buderus and Minichiello, like the class of 1994 that was led by Laurie Daley, barely realised the significance of their victory at the time.

But in the years since, it has become clear.

And the pair are desperate to no longer be part of the last NSW side to win a decider in Brisbane, adamant the class of 2024 can join them.

“Silencing their fans and holding the trophy up as they left the stadium, was very satisfying,” Minichiello said.

“That part you take in and savour. But the enormity of a decider we didn’t realise until years later.

“When you think about it, it’s crazy. It’s been 19 years.

“But I think they can do it this year.”

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Blues #ignore #history #lessons

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up