Laurie Daley is facing renewed demands to revamp his New South Wales side as the battered Blues seek to recover from a heavy defeat in State of Origin game two against Queensland. The 44-24 loss at the MCG saw NSW surrender a 1-0 series lead for the second consecutive year, after leading 12-8 at halftime.
Daley Urged to Make Changes
Daley, however, is hesitant to rush into decisions about his team composition following the demoralising defeat that sets up a series decider. "I think you've just got to analyse the game first and foremost, and then see how the players play over the next couple of weeks and see who's playing," Daley said. "It is what it is. We'll assess and look at the game and see where we can go and do better."
Queensland legend Cameron Smith claimed the Blues need to make "four or five changes" in the post-game analysis on the Nine Network. NSW great Andrew Johns accused Daley's side of being too structured and predictable, urging the coach to consider starting Cameron Murray and calling for more creativity from dummy-half after Api Koroisau remained an unused interchange player while starting hooker Reece Robson toiled.
Potential Inclusions
Johns also suggested considering Latrell Mitchell, who has been sidelined for a month with a back injury, due to the fear he could strike into the Maroons. "When he (Mitchell) walks into camp, they go 'the big dog's back' but when he gets the ball all eyes are on him and the bigger the occasion the better he'd go," Johns said.
Daley's decision to drop Haumole Olakau'atu for the ineffective Dylan Lucas is expected to be a key part of any revamped Blues side. The NSW coach confirmed he only took five-eighth Mitch Moses off in the dying stages of Wednesday's game as a precaution. Moses missed game one with a hamstring issue, but both he and Nathan Cleary struggled to make their mark in Melbourne.
Ethan Strange, who was the star in the Blues' game one win, was only introduced at the MCG when the result was already decided. The Blues must defy history to become just the second NSW team in the last 20 years to clinch a series at Suncorp Stadium in Origin III on July 8.
