Blues coach Brad Fittler reveals the word that is spurring NSW on to level State of Origin series
Under-fire Blues coach Brad Fittler calls the one word NSW should put on to make up for game one shocker as they try to salvage series against Maroons
- NSW was embarrassed after losing the Origin series opener
- Need a win at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Wednesday
- Blues coach Brad Fittler has supported his troops in responding
NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler says the ’embarrassment’ of horror on his part in the final few minutes in the State of Origin series opener could be the driving force in helping them overcome one of the greatest setbacks of all time. cause in Brisbane on Wednesday night.
NSW led 18-16 in Adelaide on 31 May with eight minutes remaining against a Maroons side reduced to 12 men after Tom Flegler was sent to the sin bin.
Injuries forced other players to take up unfamiliar positions.
But as they have done many times before, Queensland found a way to take off and scored two late tries to steal the game 26-18 and put all the pressure on Fittler and his players.
Things are even tougher for the Blues now with halfback Nathan Cleary and hooker Api Koroisau ruled out, while Latrell Mitchell will sit again after failing to recover from a calf injury.
NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler says the ’embarrassment’ of throwing out the Origin series opener could be the driving force behind his team silencing Queensland in game two on Wednesday
Queensland players celebrate Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s try in game one in Adelaide on May 31
Winning in Brisbane is non-negotiable, and Fittler says the pain of losing in Adelaide should motivate his players to reverse the result, even as the bookmakers have written off NSW.
‘I hope so. It burns me, but you’d have to ask them individually,” he said.
“It was pretty disappointing and a little embarrassing towards the end. Sometimes shame is a pretty good motivator.
“We were in a really good position and we relaxed and I don’t know why.
“We can’t have that.”
The Blues have history on their side, with NSW winning all five game twos under Fittler, though only one of those was at Suncorp Stadium.
No South of the Border side have gone 1-0 to Queensland in the series and then won the next two games, but the current crop of Blues have no choice but to rewrite history with a big future on the line.
Maroons prop Lindsay Collins (pictured right) flew over the top of James Tedesco and then went to Cameron Munster to put the result beyond doubt in game one on May 31 in Adelaide
Skipper James Tedesco is particularly motivated to turn the script after Roosters teammate Lindsay Collins outsmarted him to set up Cameron Munster for the try that sealed the result at the Adelaide Oval.
He had a busy play in the opener, but was criticized for some poor options in attack, and has a chance to make amends alongside good friend Mitchell Moses who comes on for Cleary in the halves.
“It certainly motivates,” he said.
“We’re learning our lessons and we know that’s what Origin games are won on, in big moments.
“We can’t just keep our fingers crossed and hope we get the win, we have to create it as a team and do everything we can together.”