players ‘cringed’ their way through a review of their performance in Game 2 of the State of Origin series, as Billy Slater highlighted a litany of failings in their 44-12 debacle in .
The Maroons arrived at Optus Stadium last month looking buoyed by an unexpected win in but were played off the park by the Blues, who scored 30 unanswered points in the second half.
Slater is determined to ensure his troops put the drubbing firmly behind them and focus on winning the decider at Suncorp Stadium in on Wednesday night.
Ben Hunt (middle) admitted Queensland players ‘cringed’ during the review of Game 2
To do so, the Maroons coach has put his team through a detailed review of their dismantling in Game 2, which made for uncomfortable viewing for Queensland players.
‘It was tough to review it but there were also some good lessons in there that we need to learn,’ veteran hooker Ben Hunt told the .
‘There were definitely a couple of cringe moments. We found some areas where we can get better and improve on. A few things happened in the game that weren’t Queensland behaviours […] we need to change that.’
Valentine Holmes acknowledged Queensland fell way short of their standards in Perth and revealed there were no punches pulled during the 80-minute review.
New South Wales levelled the series with a dominant 44-12 win in Game 2 last month
After an even first half, Queensland conceded 30 unanswered points in the second half
We have done our review and spoken about what needs to change,’ he said.
‘It’s never nice, I don’t like losing and it’s never nice losing a game like that in a Queensland jersey. We had to be honest with each other and what we needed to work on.
‘There was no beating around the bush. We are old enough and know how to take it [the criticism] we have all been at club level for a while and we had to be honest with each other.’
While New South Wales haven’t won an Origin decider in Brisbane since 2005, the Blues’ performance in Perth has seen them installed as the clear favourites to lift the shield on Wednesday night.
Valentine Holmes admitted the Maroons players needed a reality check
To compound matters for Slotterkini Queensland, they have lost start five-eight Cameron Munster and winger Murray Taulagi to positive Covid-19 tests.
The Maroons, however, have traditionally relished the underdog tag and Slater has backed his players to channel the traditional Queensland spirit again on Wednesday night.
‘We’ve got some good players,’ he said.
Billy Slater has vowed Queenslanders will be proud of his team come Wednesday night
‘Whoever performs the best out there on Wednesday night will come away with a shield. That’s all we can control and focus on.
‘It’s far from ideal, this preparation but that’s the hand we’ve been dealt and we’ll play it.
‘Queensland will be proud of this team, don’t worry about that.’