Experience has taught NSW coach Laurie Daley not to get too excited about a Blues State of Origin win.
And the imminent return of Queensland’s Johnathan Thurston and possibly Billy Slater ensured Daley did not change his tune despite a record 28-4 game one triumph in Brisbane on Wednesday night.
Daley would have been forgiven for getting excited about a second series win in 12 years after the five-tries-to one romp, which was NSW’s biggest Origin victory at Suncorp Stadium.
An Andrew Fifita-inspired Blues outfit showed no mercy to a Queensland side missing more than 100 Origin games’ worth of experience without Thurston, Slater, Matt Scott, Corey Parker and Greg Inglis.
But Daley knew better to talk up his chances against the never say die Maroons.
He has endured several false dawns as Queensland rumbled along to claim 10 of the last 11 Origin series.
Thurston’s likely return from a shoulder injury for Origin II in Sydney on June 21 and speculation Slater may join him already has Daley wary of another Maroons ambush.
“We caught Queensland on an off night,” said Daley, in his fifth year as NSW coach.
“The game comes down to critical moments and we hadn’t been winning those but we did tonight.
“But that can change pretty quickly.
“Queensland will have Thurston back and I don’t know what they are going to do with Billy but if they come back they are a different team.”
Champion five-eighth Thurston is hoping to return from injury in North Queensland’s next NRL clash against Parramatta on June 10.
Slater’s Origin comeback may also gain momentum again after NSW No.1 James Tedesco outplayed Queensland’s Test fullback Darius Boyd.
Slater was controversially overlooked for game one despite making a successful comeback from a second shoulder reconstruction.
“Queensland are at their dangerous best when they hit adversity,” Daley said.
“Losing JT obviously disrupted them but they will come back harder and our guys need to be ready for that.”
Daley said NSW would be keeping a lid on expectations despite the rare chance to seal a series win at home.
“Origin is completely different to clubland,” he said.
“If you clock off for one moment you get found out.
“And we have so much respect for this great Queensland team.”
NSW captain Boyd Cordner said there were encouraging signs the Blues would hold out another Queensland comeback.
“I think the most pleasing thing was being up 28-4 and the guys still defended our line and kept turning up for each other,” he said.
“It showed how much this jersey means to them.”
Not everything went to plan for NSW.
Mitchell Pearce had his promising return at halfback cut short in the 50th minute when concussed by a late hit from Will Chambers.
Melbourne centre Chambers was slapped with a careless high tackle charge and faces a one-match ban.
Queensland coach Kevin Walters may need to ditch the loyalty card after the ageing Maroons pack was dominated by NSW.
Veteran prop Nate Myles’ Origin future may be in danger after suffering an elbow injury.
Jacob Lillyman, Aidan Guerra and centre Justin O’Neill may also come under scrutiny before game two.
