Westpac NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley is considering a major pre-game change for next week’s State of Origin decider in order to prevent a repeat of their slow start in Game Two.
Rather than using the underground tunnel that connects the NSWRL Centre of Excellence to Accor Stadium, the side is likely to complete a traditional warm up and enter to the field via the western tunnel.
The Blues produced a lacklustre first half at Optus Stadium to trail 26-6 at half-time. While they came roaring back in the second 40, it was ultimately too little too late and Queensland held on to set up a decider next Wednesday night.
The performance triggered a detailed review by the NSW coaching staff and prompted Daley to look into adjusting the side’s pre-game routine.
The Blues have warmed up at the adjacent NSWRL Centre of Excellence before entering Accor Stadium via an underground tunnel for the past six years.
The four-minute walk to the ground was one of the most spectacular entrances in Australian sport and led to scenes reminiscent of US college football as the tension built before the side ran on to the field in front of more than 80,000 screaming Blues fans.
Daley, however, is eager to simplify the pre-game schedule and the unique arrival is unlikely to be used next Wednesday night.
The Blues are now set to travel straight from the team hotel to the ground and complete their warmup inside the dressing sheds at Accor Stadium before entering through the standard tunnel.
The change was first floated prior to the start of the series and Daley hopes it helps the players focus purely on their preparation.
“We just want to get over there and be a part of it instead of walking over there [after the warmup],” Daley told NRL.com. “I like getting on a bus and going to a game rather than walking to a game.
“That’s what it is. I’d rather jump on a bus, leave the hotel and go from there and hopefully it’s a smoother preparation.”
The Blues entered the second game of the series as heavy favourites, however they were blown off the park early by Queensland.
While Brian To’o opened the scoring in the sixth minute, the Maroons went on to score four straight tries to take a 20-point lead heading into half-time.
NSW made seven errors and conceded eight penalties in a 40-minute performance that ultimately cost them the game.
Back-rower Angus Crichton conceded Queensland got the jump on the Blues at Optus Stadium and declared it won’t happen again next week.
“That was where we lacked in that last game,” Crichton said. “We need to make sure we’re ready to go and we need to be more emotional. We need to be more aggressive in that first half.”
Crichton played a key role in the Blues’ drought-breaking victory in last year’s decider at Suncorp Stadium, however, much has changed since that win.
Daley has returned for his second stint in charge after Michael Maguire left to join the Broncos.
While he won two deciders as a player, the Blues legend lost all three deciders during his initial five-year tenure as coach, and he is under plenty of pressure heading into next week’s game.
Daley acknowledges there is a lot riding on the result but is focused on ensuring the team peaks on Wednesday night.
“I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t nervous, but it’s more excitement than nerves,” Daley said. “Probably anxious is the right word.
“You’re just hoping that you’ve nailed your prep for the week which we’re about to do, and that’s all we can do is nail what we can control, which is the preparation. If we do that then we’ll give ourselves every chance to win a game of footy.
“Because it’s a big build up, you’ve got to be careful that you don’t play the game before you get there. You don’t want to be sky high today or tomorrow – you want to gradually increase the build up and increase the intensity of everything you do.
“The first couple of days for us is about trying to stay calm, have a bit of fun and to get that camaraderie going again, and then we start to build into the week.”
Source: NRL.com