Darren Lockyer delivers brutal NSW truth bomb as another Origin series slips through their fingers
Heading into Wednesday night's decider, Blues fans had a sense of arrogant confidence that they were about to dominate the Origin arena for several years.
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Despite Queensland's unlikely Game 2 win in Perth, that match was largely written off because of ref errors, bad calls and missed kicks.
And the Blues cauldron for the decider was widely thought to be too much to handle for a relatively inexperienced Maroons side.
But as has happened time and time again in recent decades, Queensland reminded NSW that Origin is not won by having the best team on paper, or the best talent.
It is won by the team that as a squad plays the best and most consistent footy.
And on Wednesday night they did that again, with their high completion rate and cohesive footy too much for the star-studded Blues as they reclaimed the Shield with a comprehensive 24-12 win in the decider.
Much of the immediate talk after the game was on the poor showing of NSW halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, as well as the pressure being heaped on Laurie Daley, who has now won just one of six series in charge.
But Maroons great Lockyer believes NSW's issues lie way beyond a personnel issue.
He says the Blues simply cannot handle the pressure of expectation and being favourites.
'I don't think they handled favouritism too well down there,' Lockyer said on Nine.
'You know they went to Suncorp where everyone probably thought they could win that game, but they won convincingly and then they go to Perth.
'Everyone just assumed that was made up. Here. We come out and blitz them in the first half and then tonight when they're playing at home and they've got the personnel to win, but the attitude just wasn't there tonight.'
Phil Gould agreed with the Queensland legend stating Queensland year after year win the mental battle.
'You talk about NSW, don't handle favouritism. Queensland handles being underdogs so well. So it was a double-edged sword,' Gould added.
'Queensland handled that tag and being written off so, so well.
'And look that's the commentary around origin that serves the game best, isn't it. Queensland are written off and NSW are favourites.
'This is like been like this for 45 years. It has.'
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News.com.au
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News.com.au
an hour ago
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Scone, Moruya best bets, inside mail for Friday, July 11, 2025
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ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
AFL, MCG and Magpies ban Collingwood member after Michael Voss death threats
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