They may have kept the series alive with a narrow game two victory, but there’s still plenty of room to improve for the Maroons according to Darren Lockyer.
After a dismal performance in the series opener, Queensland bounced back with a 26-24 win last Wednesday night in rain-affected conditions in Perth.
Billy Slater‘s men bounced out to a massive lead at the break before hanging on in the dying stages against a fast-finishing Blues outfit.
READ MORE: West Indies hero sparks Aussie collapse in first Test
READ MORE: ‘Absolutely hate it’: Joey erupts over ‘cheap shot’ tackles
READ MORE: Graphic Warning: Runner’s nightmare ‘equipment failure’
NSW ended up scoring five tries to Queensland’s four, but fell short due to Zac Lomax’s goalkicking woes, with the star winger successful with just two conversions.
Zac Lomax reacts after NSW’s loss. Getty
While the result did level the series at one win apiece, setting up a decider in Sydney next month, it was a far from perfect 80-minute display from the Maroons.
The decision to drop Daly Cherry-Evans from his role as both halfback and captain did pay off in the end, but there were certain elements of his game that Queensland missed, Lockyer admitted.
The Queensland selector conceded the new-look halves pairing of Tom Dearden and Cameron Munster failed to ice some crucial moments – which made for a “nerve-wracking” final 10 minutes.
“The tone of the people calling the game and the tone of people in the stadium on the night at half-time just thought the game was over – but I knew that wasn’t the case,” he said on Wide World of Sports’ QLDER.
“We came out after half time and I could see it, they dropped their intensity.
“Not having the experience of someone like Daly Cherry-Evans out there, I knew that was going to be a potential problem.
Daly Cherry-Evans during game one. Getty
“From a game management perspective, Tom is still learning his craft.
“We’re 20 points in front, but you still need someone to take control of that game … I felt like we were guilty of looking at the scoreboard and taking the foot off the pedal.
“Full credit to NSW, I always felt like they would come back into the game – but that last 10 minutes was nerve-wracking.”
Watch the 2025 State of Origin series exclusively live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Dearden finished with a try assist, 26 tackles without missing and three kicks for 101 metres, while partner Munster was the star of the show for Queensland, running for a team-high 130 run metres and one linebreak in a Man of the Match effort.
However, with the series still hanging in the balance, Lockyer wants to see the two main playmakers play high-percentage football if they hit the lead again.
Cameron Munster during game two Getty
“I think coming out at half time and being up by 20 points, we should get to play three and hook the ball down the other end of the field and just keep doing that,” he said.
“The scoreboard pressure will eventually tell on the opposition. When you’re in front it’s probably one of the best things to do, but I didn’t see enough of that in the second half.”
Queensland aren’t expected to make any changes for the decider at Accor Stadium on July 9, while there is conjecture over the Blues’ front-row rotation after the inclusion of Stefano Utoikamanu did little to spur the side on.
Keaon Koloamatangi and Terrell May are the names who have been floated as potential replacements on the bench ahead of game three.
