Maybe that’s the solution for NSW when working out this State of Origin conundrum they find themselves in: just play dead rubbers.
Just as some dance like nobody is watching, the Blues should play like the result doesn’t matter.
For the first two matches of this series, their attack was so disjointed you wondered if they had trained. Because of their long injury list, which included halfback Nathan Cleary and hooker Api Koroisau, they barely had.
But in this not-so-dead rubber, they put their defensive mindset on the shelf, hammered Queensland’s left edge and — unbelievably — found themselves up 16-6 after just 23 minutes.
Winger Josh Addo-Carr’s 20th-minute try, in which he burst down the left sideline then chipped over Maroons fullback AJ Brimson, drew comparisons to Billy Slater’s miracle try for Queensland in 2004.
Three minutes later, NSW caught the Queenslanders short on the left again and this time it was rookie centre Bradman Best who cashed in, exploding through a gap to score.
Mitchell Moses and James Tedesco celebrate.Credit: Getty
It was all very exciting for most of the 75,342 souls who ventured out to Accor Stadium for no other reason than the fact they bought their tickets when the series was still alive.
Yet it prompted an obvious question: why didn’t we see this sooner? In Adelaide and Brisbane? With the series on the line?
And why didn’t Brad Fittler stick with his gut instinct before game one and pick South Sydney five-eighth Cody Walker?
The 33-year-old was among the Blues’ best on Wednesday night as they salvaged pride with a 24-10 win over Queensland.
It’s not widely known how close Walker went to replacing Jarome Luai for game one, mostly but not exclusively because of his combination with Rabbitohs teammate Latrell Mitchell.
Instead, Fittler showed loyalty to Luai as he has others. It’s among his best traits as a man but often hurts him as a coach.
Even without Mitchell, who has missed the entire series with a calf injury, Walker was lethal, pin-balling off the defensive line before finding space, using his ageless pace to slip through the gap.
It was so evident from the start this was a different NSW team to the one that fumbled its way to a series defeat, and mostly because of Walker’s “energy” — to use modern-day rugby league parlance.
Thing is, this was the same Queensland, too, even if they did look at times like a team playing a dead rubber.
Despite all the ball and field position the Blues had, the Maroons never went away.
They hung in throughout the first half mostly through young centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who batted a kick back for David Fifita to score the first try.
Just before half-time, Tabuai-Fidow scored one himself and almost scored late in the match to narrow the margin.
The Dolphins fullback’s form in this series has been something to behold. Billy Slater threw caution to the wind, bravely picking him ahead of Origin specialist Dane Gagai, and the 21-year-old repaid his faith in all three matches.
Brad Fittler with Bradman Best.Credit: Getty
This clear difference in selection philosophy is something the NSWRL board might address with Fittler before extending his contract, if that’s what it decides to do.
The Maroons knew exactly what they were doing with their teams, pulling the right levers every time. The Blues looked like they were playing fantasy football.
A greatly improved performance might save Fittler his job. Maybe.
Questions still need to be answered in the weeks that follow about what NSW do next.
The next NSWRL board meeting will be held in August but a decision on whether his contract is extended won’t be made until October.
Early indications are he’ll keep his job because there are no other genuine options, with potential candidates unwilling to shoulder the burden of taking on coaches Slater and Cameron Smith, two rugby league obsessives.
Some of Fittler’s remarks on game day about young Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu were certainly bizarre.
He told Utoikamanu he wasn’t picked for game three because he was being “rested”. After playing 12 minutes in Origin II, it was a strange thing to say and even weirder thing to do.
Nevertheless, the Blues looked great on the dance floor on Wednesday night.
And, in fairness, they made the right call with Best, the Knights centre who has been in solid but not brilliant form.
The Blues had been ridiculed for the bold selection, but he scored two tries on debut.
Everyone’s a genius when you win, even if it’s a dead rubber.
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