Up-tempo Preparation Will Fall Flat Unless Blues' Kick-chase Hits The Mark

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday May 23, 2007

Roy Masters

WHEN NSW coach Graham Murray assembled his Origin squad in January, players involved in the previous year's failure demanded a more intense preparation. After all, they led 14-4 in the deciding match at Telstra Dome before Queensland's "great escape", cheered on by Beaconsfield miner Brant Webb.

Murray responded, giving the Blues pages of preparation, up-tempo training and insightful video analysis for tonight's match.

Last year's loss may not have been due to inadequate preparation and its corollary, poor concentration and panic. Players find excuses quicker than a short-cut around witch's hats. But their demand for a detailed game plan made it easier for Murray, who probably believed the 2006 Blues needed a change from past mentors such as the micro-managing Ricky Stuart and the sleepless Phil Gould.

Unless Murray has found a way of improving the Blues' kick-chase game, NSW will be in trouble again. The Blues were behind in last year's Origin series after the first 20 minutes, mainly because they failed in the territory game. Queensland has a three-booted kick game via half Johnathan Thurston's right foot, five-eighth Darren Lockyer's left and the left boot of hooker Cameron Smith. These three play positions where it is usual for them to link up.

With Smith poised to pass to Thurston and Lockyer outside him, which one will kick? NSW have a two-pronged kick attack via the left foot of halfback Jarrod Mullen and the right foot of five-eighth Braith Anasta. Mullen can kick the ball a fair distance for a little fellow but Anasta takes more time to wind up than a rusty windmill. Also, the Maroons have the best charge-down man in the NRL: tall prop Steve Price.

Murray is aware of this and needs to find someone to match Smith's kicks from dummy half, which have produced three 40-20s this season.

On the other hand, the kick-return game is the other half of the battle and NSW are superior through fullback Anthony Minichiello, who has carried the ball the length of a freeway this season, averaging 163.8m a game.

The Blues missed him last year when the thin Brett Hodgson and frail Ben Hornby played there. Queensland's best kick return man is Justin Hodges but he has been chosen in the centres and won't pose a deep threat unless he swaps positions with fullback Karmichael Hunt.

The Maroons' backline, which resembles the Australian backline, is more settled, with most players in their club positions.

Melbourne's Greg Inglis plays five-eighth for his club and has been chosen on the Queensland wing but he will be on the left-hand side of the field, where his fend is powerful.

Steve Bell, a right centre, will be forced to swap sides but this won't impede him, playing inside Inglis and outside Thurston, who lines up on the left for the Cowboys.

On the right is the Broncos duo of Brent Tate and Hodges, with the other standard Brisbane pairing inside them - Lockyer and his constant protector, second-rower Toni Carroll, the best Origin player for one-on-one tackles. NSW, however, will be forced to switch Melbourne's Matt King from his standard left side to allow rookie winger Jarryd Hayne his usual flank.

Centre Matt Cooper is a left-side player with the Dragons and will partner Hayne, leaving Jamie Lyon, a left centre at Manly, to switch to the right, linking up with King. But the Lyon-King realignment won't cause any rumbles in the jungle. King scored a host of tries for NSW on the right wing in 2005 and Lyon demonstrated at Parramatta this is his natural side. These changes would set up two thrilling confrontations between club men: Melbourne's King and Inglis attempting to outleap each other and Manly's Lyon seeking to outmanoeuvre Bell.

Mullen and Anasta are not as anchored to a side as their Queensland counterparts. Maybe they will link up more often than in the NRL, where an invisible line is drawn down the field and halves must stay either side because coaches fear they will be targets for rampaging ball carriers if caught together.

Yet Anasta is big enough to play lock and Mullen tackles like Joey Johns, minus a little body armour.

Let's hope Murray allows them to link up like yesteryear.

After all, Brisbane is the appropriate place for it.

smh.com.au for Masters's video preview

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home