Blues setting sights of Origin whitewash

Fresh from sealing a first State of Origin series win in nine years, Laurie Daley and his NSW backroom staff will begin plotting a first whitewash over Queensland since 2000.

Daley became only the second man after Wayne Pearce to captain and coach the Blues to a series victory with Wednesday’s 6-4 win in a bad-tempered contest in front of more than 84,000 fans at ANZ Stadium.

The 44-year-old insisted he was determined to enjoy the moment of ending the Maroons’ nine-year stranglehold, but said he would start focusing on game three later in the week.

“I’m not even going there yet,” Daley said after the game.

“Our guys deserve to enjoy the moment. I am so happy for these blokes to get to experience what so many people have for NSW.

“This team will always be remembered as the team that stopped this great Queensland team.”

Skipper Paul Gallen will be the first NSW skipper since Andrew Johns in 2005 to lift the Origin shield in game three at Suncorp Stadium on July 9.

Gallen, who was named man of the match, is public enemy No.1 north of the Tweed following his punch to the head on Myles in last year’s series and claimed recently he doesn’t even go on holiday in Queensland any more.

And he admitted he’s not overly excited at the prospect of lifting the shield in front of a partisan home crowd at Suncorp Stadium.

“Thinking about it now I don’t think it’s going to be real good,” Gallen said.

“I don’t expect many cheers, but it will feel good for me.”

Daley looks set to lose experienced back-rower Anthony Watmough when he names his side for game three on July 1 after he was slugged with a grade two dangerous throw for his challenge on Nate Myles just after halftime.

Due to carryover points, Watmough will sit out three weeks, including Origin game three, if he takes the early guilty plea.

He’ll miss four weeks if he fights the charge at the judiciary on Thursday night and is found guilty.

Parramatta centre Will Hopoate could also be in doubt after damaging his shoulder late in the first half.

“Hoppa had a couple of needles at halftime but it was not good,” Daley said.

“He showed great courage to stay on – it was just like the Morris boys did in game one.”

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