- Phil Gould and Darren Lockyer destroy Queensland Maroons
- Came after NSW took a 34-0 lead in Origin game two at the MCG
- Gould said Billy Slater’s men had a ‘soft mentality’
Footy experts Phil Gould and Darren Lockyer have torched the Queensland Maroons after one of the worst first-half games in Origin history.
Commenting for Channel 9, Gould called the Blues’ scintillating performance ‘men against boys’ as they went into the sheds at the MCG on a 34-0 scoreline.
“What we’ve seen is just extraordinary, it’s really men against boys,” the Bulldogs supremo told viewers.
“It’s coming from the back of the NSW halves, the 6 and the 7 (Jarome Luai and Mitch Moses) have been excellent… their direction and kicking game have made Queensland crazy, they have no answers.”
Queensland great Lockyer – who has represented his state in 36 interstate matches – was visibly stunned.
“It’s a huge hole, I’m still in shock,” he responded to Gould during the half-time analysis.
“Full credit to NSW, they were up front in the first 40.
“We need to get a good chase and do what NSW did to us in the first half.
Footballers Phil Gould and Darren Lockyer defeated the Queensland Maroons after one of the worst first halves in Origin history
Gould called the Blues’ scintillating performance ‘men against boys’ as they entered the sheds at the MCG 34-0 up (pictured left, skipper Daly Cherry-Evans reacts after a NSW try)
“This is a huge gap, we also need to build some confidence for the third game.
“I don’t know where we’re going.”
Gould then accused Billy Slater’s men of having a ‘soft mentality’ after they won the series opener in Sydney earlier this month – and will host the decider at Suncorp Stadium on July 17.
“If you take that together with the improvement of the NSW team… that has been crucial,” he said.
‘And the Panther group was dominant (Luai, Brian To’o, Liam Martin, Dylan Edwards plus former teammate Stephen Crichton)….Mitch Moses has also matured in the representative scene, he has been great.’