NSW have confirmed who will take kicking duties for Wednesday night’s State of Origin decider.
With Nathan Cleary still battling a groin issue and Zac Lomax’s inaccuracy proving crucial in the Blues’ 24-26 loss to Queensland in Game 2, speculation mounted that Laurie Daley would swing a change after vision emerged of Latrell Mitchell practicing his goalkicking at training.
However, Blues assistant coach Matt King has confirmed Lomax will once again take kicking duties to start Game 3 – but that they wouldn’t be adverse to a mid-game switch.
“Zac, Latrell, Stephen Crichton, they’ve all had a red hot crack this week for us, so we’re really confident in those guys,” King told Wide World of Sports.
“Zac will have the reins, let him have first crack … but he’s got a couple of guys there to support him if we need to go in a different direction.”
Lomax missed three of five conversions in the Blues’ Game 2 loss, while also missing a late shot in their Game 1 win after taking over from an uncharacteristically inaccurate Cleary.
Zac Lomax celebrates his Game 1 try. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Hasler departure from Titans looms
Des Hasler could be calling it quits from coaching altogether at the end of the season after reportedly reaching an agreement to part ways with the Titans.
According to former NRL 360 host Paul Kent on his Kenty Blitz podcast, the veteran coach will step away from the role, rather than be sacked, after talks with Titans management.
A clause in his three-year deal means the club can punt him at the end of his second season without any financial repercussions if they don’t qualify for the playoffs and with the Titans rooted to the bottom of the ladder with a 4-11 record, they are only a faint mathematical chance of breaking their four-year drought.
Hasler replaced Justin Holbrook after he was sacked midway through 2023 with the club announcing the dual premiership winner’s signing without word leaking out about either move being in the pipeline.
But the team has failed to get out of its rut under his tenure, winning just eight matches last year to finish 14th and this season their record is even worse.
Former Broncos coach Kevin Walters is likely to be a contender for the vacancy if Hasler does move on while Sharks assistant Josh Hannay is another option for Gold Coast.
The Titans have made the playoffs just four times in their previous 18 seasons in the NRL and are in danger of collecting their third wooden spoon this year.
Hasler is just three matches away from the 500 milestone at NRL level since he started with Manly at 2004.
He won two premierships with the Sea Eagles in 2008 and 2011 before taking the Bulldogs to two grand finals in six years at the club, then enduring a turbulent four-year return to Brookvale which led to his sacking three years ago in the wake of Manly’s pride jersey debacle.
Luai saddles up for another ‘last ride’ with Cleary
It’s enough to send tingles up Jarome Luai’s spine.
Some nine months on from his “last ride” with Nathan Cleary at Penrith, Luai and his old partner in crime join forces for a chance to cement their State of Origin legacy.
Wednesday’s decider is uncharted waters for the NSW halves, who won four premierships alongside each other at Penrith but have never featured together in a victorious game-three decider.
Luai says in some respects Sydney’s first Origin decider since 2019 is bigger than a grand final.
“The rivalry I think is a lot stronger than two teams in the NRL,” said five-eighth Luai.
“You’re playing for a lot more people and for their pride, for their upbringing, for their childhood. It’s pretty massive.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“We’ve just got to do our job, put that scale aside and be present in the moment.”
Cleary and Luai had less than a week to reignite their chemistry in the lead-up to the tight Origin II loss, with the five-eighth only coming in late to replace the injured Mitch Moses.
But with a full training camp under their belt, the duo’s long-standing connection will go a long way to deciding Wednesday’s hotly-anticipated match at Accor Stadium.
“I get tingles (thinking) about it, being back with a lot of guys that I’ve had a lot of success with,” Luai said.
“But I think it’s all about putting that away now and focusing on what we can do next.”
It’s a frightening prospect for Queensland that the always confident Luai is expecting the halves’ self-belief will rise following a full camp spent together.
“Everyone would say the more prep you have, the more reps you get in the bank, the more confidence you have from your training. Basically it’s just more confidence in the bank,” he said.
Cleary will enter rarefied air running onto Accor Stadium, passing Mitchell Pearce and Andrew Johns to become NSW’s most-capped halfback.
The Panthers co-captain would almost certainly have reached the 17-game milestone sooner had injury not precluded him from selection in five of the six Origin games played in 2023 and 2024.
“It’s a big achievement obviously,” said Panthers coach and father Ivan Cleary.
“But he’d be more interested in just playing well. Let’s hope he does.”
NSW great Brett Kimmorley said for Cleary and Luai’s four-time NRL premiership-winning combination to flourish, their teammates needed to lift for Origin III.
The Blues were left to rue conceding eight unanswered penalties falling behind 26-6 at half-time of the two-point loss in Origin II.
“For the halves to be able to control the game and build some pressure, it certainly comes from a high completion rate and a low penalty count against you,” former Blues half and DrinkWise ambassador Kimmorley told AAP.
“I would expect game three will be a lot better, a lot more desperation, they’ll be looking forward to having a bigger game.”
with AAP
