'I actually saw signs': Madge opens up on Blues' 'special' dressing ...
It was always going to be hard to draw any serious conclusions from the first game of this year’s State of Origin series.
Seven minutes were all you really had to go off. Once Joseph Suaalii was sent off for a high shot on Reece Walsh, Michael Maguire had to virtually throw his game plan out the window.
But as hard as it would be for most people to draw many positives from that 38-10 loss to the Maroons at Accor Stadium, there was one period in the game that stuck with Maguire.
It was the minutes leading up to and after halftime, where New South Wales held Queensland scoreless and actually scored through Zac Lomax to get within 10 points of the Maroons.
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit.
The only place to watch every game of every round LIVE with no ad-breaks during play is Fox League, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
Madge marvels at one of the 'best ever' | 15:34
They were “signs”, Maguire said on Wednesday night after wrapping up the series, of a playing group that was willing to fight “really hard for each other”.
Signs that if the Blues had an even share of possession and their full complement on the field, they were capable of producing something special, even if it had to be in enemy territory.
So, when New South Wales stunned Queensland 14-4 at Suncorp Stadium on the way to the series victory, Maguire took a moment after the game to address his squad.
“A special moment,” as the Blues coach described it in his post-game press conference, to recognise their “incredible” achievement and just how far the team has come since that series opener.
'Let me hear ya!' - NSW unveil new song | 00:53
A performance which “will go down in history”, as Maguire put it, with the Blues becoming just the third team to win an Origin decider at Suncorp.
“We had a chat about where we started to where we are now,” Maguire said.
“I guess in Sydney we planned to have a result there and after six or seven minutes the game sort of went sideways... and to see the players back up from that and then go down to Melbourne and play the way they did and then have to fight like they did today, I have a very special group of players.”
MORE ORIGIN NEWS
NSW RATINGS: Luai’s ‘coming of age’ moment; Madge‘s huge selection call vindicated
QLD RATINGS: Dearden’s statement in brutal loss; veteran’s baffling one-run outing
Proud Billy grilled over Ponga selection | 11:32
Maguire had put an emphasis on another special group of players, and one Blues legend especially, from the moment he took over as Blues coach.
The Class of 1985 were invited by Maguire as special guests at this year’s True Blues dinner before the series opener, with the NSW coach drawing on the inspiration and spirit of then skipper Steve ‘Turvey’ Mortimer.
With that in mind, Maguire made sure not to simply let that be an afterthought on Wednesday night as he addressed the playing group.
“It’s just probably the journey we’ve been on,” Maguire said.
“That first game didn’t turn out the way we thought it may have. You’re in Sydney, you’ve got all your fans. Obviously (with the) circumstances there you could feel the whole stadium probably sit down a little bit and think, ‘You know what, this is an Origin. This is going to be really tough’, and I actually saw signs leading into halftime and after halftime of how they fought really hard for each other and that’s what I’ve felt ever since I’ve been with the group. “They’ve created a bond amongst themselves and we’ve spoken about the past and what Steve Mortimer, Turvey, did in ‘85 and I think that really resonated with this group and they jumped on board.
MORE ORIGIN NEWS
BYE BYE: Luai’s cheeky act as Blues star turns from NSW scapegoat to hero
‘HIS BOSS WILL REVIEW HIS GAME’: Slater takes shot at Klein, slams officials
Luai waves goodbye to Maroons fans | 00:52
“... That moment we had there in the change room was I guess (so) they understand all the hard work they’ve done to achieve that but also I suppose what they call the brotherhood of the team and the little areas they did for each other. They are the special things and the players, they are the ones that know that. They feel that out on the field.”
The Blues coach also revealed he drew inspiration, not just from Turvey, but from a few cricket legends too in the lead-up to the series decider.
Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh and ex-Test fast bowler Mike Whitney were both called on to share their story with the playing group at a special presentation earlier in the week.
