NSW coach Laurie Daley has warned the Blues to brace for a wounded beast in State of Origin II in Sydney on Wednesday week.
The Maroons have been accused of hitting the panic button after making seven changes to the side humiliated 28-4 on home soil in Brisbane in the series opener.
Daley, in contrast, is the first coach in 21 years to have selected the same NSW line-up for two games straight.
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But he is anything but complacent, reminding his troops — just in case they didn’t already know — that Queensland recalling superstar fullback Billy Slater and 10-times series-winning half Johnathan Thurston spells danger. “Any team that brings back two future Immortals are always a better team,” Daley said on Fox Sports’ NRL 360.
“Queensland, they weren’t at their best in game one but with these two guys around, they’ll certainly be a lot better than they were.”
Daley expects the Maroons to grow an extra leg with their champion spine reunited at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
Continuity in NSW camp0:48
NRL: The NSW Origin team has remain unchanged. Check it out here.
“When you look around the dressing room and you see Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, you know you’ve got your world’s best,” the Blues coach said.
“(Teammates) will look at it and think ‘if everyone in our team does their job, they’re the icing on the cake’.
“I also know they’ve probably got a lot more leg speed in the middle.
“So it’s a dangerous team and a team that’s a lot quicker than the first team that was selected and we face a lot more challenges, most definitely.”
Daley also suspects the Maroons’ bruised egos will be a factor as the Blues strive to clinch only their second series win since 2005.
“This Queensland team have been battered by the media and they’re far too good to be copping the criticism without being hurt,” he said.
“So we know what to expect. We know that they’re going to come at us and we’d be silly if we thought we didn’t have to change because we’ll have to be a lot better and clinical in what we do.”
WHY WALTERS DUMPED OATES
Queensland coach Kevin Walters insists loyalty is not dead but winger Corey Oates may need some convincing.
Oates will go down as one of the great State of Origin hard luck stories after Maroons selectors wielded the axe for June 21’s must win game two in Sydney. The Broncos flyer was one of the few Queensland players to leave the field with his head held high after their record 28-4 game one loss in Brisbane. Yet Oates was still one of the high profile casualties when a new-look Queensland side was unveiled with seven changes and four debutants for Origin II.
Walters: Felt need for change3:49
State of Origin: Queensland Maroons coach Kevin Walters says there was a need for change in the squad going into Game 2.
With Queensland winning 10 of the last 11 State of Origin series’ the side’s selectors have seldom had any reason not to be loyal — the game one humbling forced their hand.
Still, Walters baulked when asked if the Maroons selectors were still loyal after Oates was among a spate of axings.
“Of course. That’s always been our way at Queensland,” Walters said. “They are still part of it. The younger ones have to go back to club-land and get better.”
Corey Oates was snubbed by Kevin Walters for Origin II. Picture: Annette DewSource:News Corp Australia
Walters admitted he felt for Oates after hinting at a dramatic backline reshuffle for game two.
There was no room for Oates with Billy Slater expected to reclaim his No. 1 jersey in his first Origin in two years, shifting Darius Boyd to either the wing or left centre.
Cronulla’s Valentine Holmes — who played in last month’s trans-Tasman Test — will make his Queensland debut on the other wing.
“It was very difficult,” Walters said of dumping Oates.
Selectors slice Maroons2:31
NRL: Queensland have decided to slice and dice after their Game One hammering by NSW. Seven changes in all for Origin Two in Sydney on Wednesday week.
“He has had four really good games for Queensland but we felt the time was right for Valentine Holmes.
“He is the current Australian winger. He has played in a winning grand final for the Sharks — I don’t think he can do any more.
“No doubt Corey will get his opportunity again at this level.”
It remains to be seen when Oates gets another shot after Walters talked up why he opted for Holmes over the converted Brisbane backrower.
“Corey is a bigger body but Valentine is a genuine winger,” Walters said. “Corey has been a winger manufactured over time. The size, he is more suited for the forwards.
“We just think Valentine is a genuine speedster who deserves an opportunity at the next level.”
Originally published as Daley’s worried and Walters wanted speed
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