Winning isn’t something that has been associated with the NSW State of Origin side for over a decade.
But coach Laurie Daley has quietly compiled a team of winners capable of finally breaking Queensland’s era of dominance.
In the likes of Andrew Fifita, Mitchell Pearce, Jarryd Hayne and James Maloney, Daley has assembled a side with a self-belief and swagger that has been missing for the past 11 series.
“It’s devastating for myself. I hate losing at everything,” Cronulla prop Fifita said.
“If we play cards with the boys then I’m devastated if I lose. I just soak it in for the whole night.”
After a career held back by off-field issues, Fifita stamped himself as a bona fide winner by scoring the winning try in the Sharks’ grand final victory last year.
He was a key component of Cronulla’s drought-breaking premiership victory along with Maloney, who joined an elite club of players to have won a grand final with two different clubs after guiding the Sydney Roosters to their 2013 win.
While Pearce is often derided for having won just four games from his 15 Origin appearances, he looks a new man in 2017.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson observed there had been a key change in the No.7’s game this year and his performances in the final 20 minutes were the best of his career.
Pearce went through a stretch of missing 18 field goals, however, has been a cool, calm and collected performer in the clutch in 2017.
He snapped a one-pointer to beat St George Illawarra in an Anzac Day classic last month before coming up with the winning try against Canterbury.
Meanwhile, Hayne could be the missing piece of the puzzle for the Blues.
He was the deciding factor in the 2014 Origin series win and almost single-handedly carried Parramatta to glory in the 2009 grand final.
Winning back the Origin shield remains the last frontier for the group and there is a sense Queensland are vulnerable given the raft of injuries and retirements – including Johnathan Thurston – which have sapped them of experience.
“I was out injured in 2014 and it’s the last thing on my bucket list,” Fifita said.
“I’ve won a premiership, played for Australia, won a World Cup, played for the Blues but I’ve never won a series.
“For myself, I really want to do it and if I have 16 others around me who really want to do it, the sky’s the limit.”
FEELING BLUE
State of Origin record since 2006
* Series wins: Qld 11 – NSW 1
* Game wins: Qld 22 – NSW 11
* Points scored: Qld 634 – NSW 451
* New South Wales have scored 20-plus points just five times since 2006, while Queensland have scored 20-plus points 14 times.
