The Blues’ hierarchy took a risk.
After Michael Maguire’s success as coach last year, his appointment at the Broncos meant he was one and done.
NSWRL boss Dave Trodden and his board decided it was out with the new, in with the old, and dusted off Laurie Daley – who has inhabited breakfast sports radio since his dumping as Blues coach in 2017.
Daley was at the helm for five seasons against the might of the great Maroons dynasty and finished with a win-loss record of 6-9 for one series win in 2014.
It was an acceptable return considering the strength of Queensland at the time, but his axing was acrimonious.
For Daley and Trodden, an unabashed Daley supporter and friend, failure in this series is not an option. A loss would put a bunsen burner on both their backsides.
Payne Haas charges at the Queensland defence.Credit: Getty Images
Last night Daley passed the first test brilliantly. His supremely coached side outmuscled, out-enthused and outplayed the Maroons at Suncorp Stadium for an 18-6 win. Things got tight in the second half after a 14-2 Blues lead at the break, but NSW were always in control.
Considering Queensland were at home, and are notoriously fast starters having won five of the past six series openers including the past three straight, it was a supreme victory.
The Blues were both organised and brutal and gave the Maroons nothing until Brian To’o was sin-binned in the final seconds of the first half.
While he was off the field for the first nine minutes of the second half, the teams traded mistakes until Jeremiah Nanai flew out of the line and smashed Latrell Mitchell one-on-one.
Harry Grant of the Maroons looks dejected after game one.Credit: Getty Images
Mitchell spilled the ball and 20-year-old debutant Robert Toia threw a deft flick pass to Xavier Coates who found his way over in the corner to make it 14-6.
Nanai, dropped for lack of effort and defensive deficiencies early in the season by his North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten, was arguably the Maroons’ best. He charged out of the line, chased kicks and wreaked havoc, having clearly learnt from the error of his ways up north.
On the Blues side, Payne Haas was superman. He had 18 carries for 154 metres and not one missed tackle from 40 attempts. If the Broncos fail to win a premiership with him at prop, they should be ashamed of themselves as a club.
Still only 25, he’s on his way to being the best forward of the NRL era, possibly the best since Beetson. Possibly better than Beetson. He won the man-of-the-match by a Winx-like margin.
Zac Lomax – the best winger in the game – celebrates one of his two tries.Credit: Getty Images
It was off the back of a typical Haas surge that the Blues sealed the match in the 72nd minute with a Dylan Edwards try.
Haas took in three defenders and got away a quick play-the-ball a few metres out. Eventually, amid scrambling defence, a mini-bomb was taken by Zac Lomax, who found Connor Watson. Watson delivered a miracle ball to Edwards to crash over to make it 18-6.
The only off part of the Blues’ night was the goalkicking. Nathan Cleary kicked one from four and, in a career-first, was dumped from the role, only for Lomax to make his worst shot at goal for the season when attempting to convert the Edwards try.
Despite the shocking kick, Lomax – who insists he’s a centre yet is the best winger in the game – had a big night, scoring two tries and had a hand in a third.
This Blues outfit is a supreme football side. With five members of the four-time premiership-winning Panthers supported by Latrell Mitchell, the unstoppable Crichtons, Stephen and Angus, as well as Haas and Lomax, Queensland face an enormous task to win this series.
The next two matches are in Perth and Sydney. It would be a comeback for the ages from Queensland.
Maroons coach Billy Slater, Queensland’s favourite son, burst on to the Origin coaching scene with back-to-back series wins in 2022-23. The shock loss last year after a comfortable win in game one hurt him, but last night’s loss truly showed what he’s up against.
And he was let down by some of his most reliable performers.
Cam Munster tried but nothing came off, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow did not feature at all, Reuben Cotter is wholehearted but too small against the likes of Haas, and Harry Grant had a shocker.
Most of the Blues’ 14-2 half-time lead was thanks to Grant, who had the worst 40-minutes of his career in the first half.
There was a poor kick which resulted in a seven-tackle set; a dropped ball which led to the opening try of the match to Lomax and an ill-disciplined boot in a play the ball which handed possession over and, eventually gifted Lomax his second several sets later.
Daley is after redemption. He’s halfway there and it would be the sweetest victory of all.
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