Queensland’s coach, Billy Slater, is focused on addressing the trend of comebacks in the NRL after assessing the transformations made to his team between the first and second games of State of Origin. Following the loss in Origin I, Slater instigated significant changes, notably dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans and bringing in Kurt Capewell in place of Beau Fermor.
On his podcast, Slater explained that rather than dwelling on player changes, the emphasis should be on performance on the field. He noted improvements in discipline during the first half of the second match, which reduced unnecessary pressure. “In game one, we gave away three penalties in the first 10 minutes, making it hard to play catch-up,” he remarked, adding that discipline in adhering to game rules improved significantly in Origin II.
Despite a strong first half where Queensland led, the Blues rallied dramatically post-break, closing a 20-point gap to fall just two points shy of victory. Reflecting on this, Slater acknowledged that poor discipline in the second half, characterised by 15 errors, contributed to the strain. “We were fundamentally worse than the opposition in maintaining discipline,” he stated, highlighting that the slippery conditions were not an excuse for their shortcomings.
This tendency of teams to mount comebacks is increasingly evident in the league, as seen in recent NRL matches where teams like the Raiders and Sharks lost substantial leads. Slater believes players must remain disciplined to halt momentum shifts in games. “Whenever a team gains a lead, it seems the opposition always finds a way to come back,” he observed.
He emphasised the necessity for the team to control the game better, pointing out that Queensland was forced to defend 48 tackles inside their own 20-metre area, compared to just 27 offensive opportunities. Slater’s reflections underline the importance of maintaining discipline and minimising errors to enhance their performance moving forward.
In summary, while Slater acknowledges the modern game’s trends, he urges his players to uphold their composure to secure leads and transform performances in the upcoming games of the series.