Paul Gallen and Brent Read Call for Changes Ahead of State of Origin Game 2
Paul Gallen, a legendary figure in the New South Wales (NSW) team, and reporter Brent Read have both urged coach Laurie Daley to consider changes as the Blues prepare for State of Origin Game 2. Their comments come after a controversial moment in Game 1 that helped mask some of the team’s underlying issues.
In the opening match, Queensland looked set to take a 1-0 lead after a strong performance. However, the game took a dramatic turn when Kalyn Ponga was controversially sent off for a high tackle on Tolu Koula. At that point, Nathan Cleary and his teammates were struggling to gain control of the game, with Queensland leading 20-6. But the extra man advantage proved crucial, allowing the Blues to mount a remarkable comeback.
Cleary and Ethan Strange seized the momentum, leading the Blues to a famous 22-20 victory in Game 1.
Despite the win, Gallen believes the team’s shortcomings should not be overlooked. He pointed out that heading into the 56th minute, Queensland had been dominating the Blues, with players like Ponga, Cameron Munster, and Harry Grant causing significant trouble. The Maroons’ line speed was a major challenge for the Blues until the numerical advantage became too much for Queensland to handle.
Gallen emphasized that while the win gives the Blues a chance to wrap up the series in Melbourne, the performance was still not good enough. Speaking after the game, he said: “I’ve got to be honest… I think the coaching staff of NSW need to go back and have a really good look at that game. Think about the team, think about any changes they may need to make.”
He added: “The Blues have done a fantastic job in coming back, but we have to keep a lid on it. If we really evaluate that game, the Blues don’t win that game unless Ponga gets sent off. They don’t. I can’t say they were nowhere near it, but overall they weren’t really in the game. I think the send-off really helped them, obviously, but I think they have to keep a lid on it and go and evaluate the game and come up with a team for Game 2 that can wrap the series up. Because you don’t want to be going up to Queensland for a decider.”
Reporter Brent Read Warns About Potential Mistakes
Gallen wasn’t the only one to highlight the difference when Queensland was at full strength. Reporter Brent Read also warned that it would be a mistake for Daley to ignore the first 60 minutes of play. He argued that the Blues’ strong finish masked an otherwise ordinary performance.
“I think the greatest mistake Laurie can make is to ignore that opening 40 minutes and just stick with the side he had tonight,” Read said on Code Sports. “The comeback masked an ordinary 40 minutes. And ordinary 50 minutes, really. The worst thing they can do is just go, ‘Oh well, we won the footy game, let’s just keep the same side.’ Because if they do that, there is every chance they go to Melbourne and get flogged.”
Key Considerations for Game 2
The Blues might be forced to make one change ahead of Game 2, as Tolu Koula is out for 11 days following a failed Head Injury Assessment (HIA) after a collision with Ponga. Koula is expected to miss Manly’s next two games, leaving Daley with a tough decision regarding the selection for Game 2.
Controversially, Ponga is free to play this weekend after being hit with a Grade 2 charge, which carries a fine in State of Origin. This adds another layer of complexity to the upcoming match.
