In the recent State of Origin II clash, NSW captain Isaah Yeo showcased his tactical awareness with a prompt and successful captain’s challenge early in the match. This occurred in the seventh minute when Nathan Cleary was penalised for a strip on Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, positioned 20 metres from Queensland’s try line. The Blues quickly opted to challenge the call, which proved beneficial, as the Bunker overturned the penalty, ruling that Fa’asuamaleaui had knocked the ball on.
Following this pivotal moment, Andrew Johns remarked on Queensland’s shaky performance, suggesting they seemed “a little bit wobbly”. Fueled by the momentum shift, the Blues launched a striking attack, orchestrated by Jarome Luai, who played a crucial role in setting up the first try. Despite earlier missteps, including kicking the ball out on the full, Luai displayed his creativity on the third tackle by executing a grubber kick. With no Queensland player able to react in time, Angus Crichton seized the opportunity, setting up Brian To’o to score the opening try.
Johns lauded Luai’s initiative, noting that his daring approach was characteristic of the player’s mentality. However, not all were pleased with the performance of Queensland’s new halfback, Tom Dearden. NSW coach Brad Fittler took Dearden to task for his defensive efforts, emphasising the importance of applying pressure under slippery conditions. He highlighted that Dearden failed to engage effectively with the ball handler, which allowed the Blues to capitalise on the situation.
This match early on demonstrated strategic acumen from Yeo and the Blues, as well as areas for Queensland to address moving forward.