Job not done say victorious NSW Blues

Job done in game one but NSW insist their mission is not complete as they head to Brisbane later this month where they will bid to become the first Blues side to win a State of Origin series since 2005.

Wednesday’s 14-6 win over Queensland in front of a record crowd of 80,380 at ANZ Stadium gave coach Laurie Daley a win in his first game in charge of NSW.

Skipper Paul Gallen said the team would celebrate the victory but then start planning for the June 26 showdown at Suncorp Stadium.

“Tonight we are going to enjoy this moment in front of 80,000 people but we have to keep it in check,” said Gallen.

“We’re going to go up there and everyone is going to hate us and they’re going to want to rip our heads off.

“We’ve won but we’ve got a long way to go.”

Daley saluted the desire his players showed and declared Gallen’s brawl with Nate Myles that earned him a grade two striking charge, which will see him sit out one NRL game with an early guilty plea, as one of the great Origin moments.

“Never question the passion these players show in these jerseys,” Daley said.

“My overwhelming feeling is that I want the players to enjoy it but if I am being really negative we did some things not so well.

“Gal hasn’t played for four or five weeks and his effort tonight was enormous, leading the state in the way he did.

“These guys have been pushed around and done it tough for a long period and they were good.”

Three of the four Blues debutants all did well with James Maloney, Blake Ferguson and Andrew Fifita impressing, however Josh Reynolds was unfortunate not to come onto the field.

“They were all outstanding,” Daley said.

“I went up to Josh and told him he’ll be in the team for game two, it’s always a difficult situation having someone on the bench you don’t use.

“But we told him that from get go, I just couldn’t get him into the game.”

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