Behind Blue Eyes: Blocker Roach previews Origin III

Steve Roach | rugbyleaguelive.com | 01/07/08 | 0

VIDEO - Andrew Moore's Origin III preview

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AUDIO - Andrew Johns previews Origin III

VIDEO - Craig Bellamy with the latest from NSW camp

It's 1.16pm on Origin eve, and kick-off is now just under 31 hours away.

I'm scribbling my notes down but it's tough to write on a moving bus.

The squad is slowly winding its way towards our Origin III battleground... the bus deafeningly silent as we approach the Parramatta hotel in which our final preparations will take place.

It's been an action packed week, so I'll remove myself from the nervous tension of the bus and let you all in on some of the juiciest goss from the Blues camp.

As you know, I'm a passionate man - but this all-or-nothing decider will come down to tactics. Cold, hard game plans which will steer us to a series win - or see the cane-toads up north grind out their third series on the trot.

In Game I, we ambushed the Maroons. We lingered in the ruck and around their tackled players, we slowed down the play the ball and our outside backs rushed up and put that star-studded Queensland backline under a world of pressure.

It worked a treat. 18-10 to the good guys.

In Game II, the Maroons got smart. Before the clash and anticipating our game plan, they complained to the referee about slow play the balls.

Now I'm not saying any dodgy dealings were going on, but it clearly must have influenced Tony Archer.

At half-time in Game I, the penalty count was 1-1. At the same time in Game II, it was a massive 6-5.

Same players. Same contest. More than five times the penalties.

But beside's getting in Archer's ear, they came up with some ploys of their own.

They knew we would try to cut down Thurston's time, so he kicked from behind the ruck. They knew our outside backs would rush up, so they kicked high and deep behind our wingers.

So here we are - Game III - and everything is on the line.

Origin is like a game of chess, and tactics will be crucial.

Of course - most is this stuff is seriously under wraps, but I can assure you of some basics.

Craig Bellamy is a smart man and he knows we have to nullify Queensland’s strengths. Despite all the hype about the Maroon backline, it's their powerhouse front row which did the damage in Origin II.

Petero Civoniceva  and Steve Price were churning through 12 metres each hit-up and setting a solid platform for their halves. We have to slow the roll-on, we have to upset the first two runs of each of their sets.

Win the ground, win the game.

So, to answer the question on everyone's lips... can we turn it around?

Yes.

I read the papers, and so do the players. You don't need to tell them they were embarrassed by their 30-0 thrashing in Game II. They've felt the pain more than anyone.

Rugby league players are a proud bunch, and these guys have vowed to turn it around. Footy players are good at that. They take their trade seriously.

Sure, they want to make amends for their families and friends... for the state of New South Wales.

But most of all, they want this for themselves.

Forget the history and the hype... this is 34 champions, two try-lines and 80 minutes.

This is Origin football.

Forget the history and the hype... this is 34 champions, two try-lines and 80 minutes... Blues coaching assistant Steve 'Blocker' Roach