Back three give Blues big advantage over Queensland
Scott Bailey |
NSW are set to carry a significant yardage advantage into State of Origin I, with the Blues’ back three boasting a buffer of more than 110 metres a game over their Queensland rivals.
The Blues ramped up preparations for the series opener on Wednesday, hitting a wet and sloshy Blue Mountains Grammar training field for the first time.
Powerhouse prop Payne Haas was the only player to be left in cotton wool, instead donning a hoodie and joggers while watching on from the sideline.
NSW are taking a cautious approach with the Brisbane star, while still confident he will play after scans this week showed a minor tear in his left quad.
Haas will loom as crucial in the Blues’ bid to win the territorial battle at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday, giving halves Mitch Moses and Nathan Cleary good ball to attack with.
But so too will the Blues’ back three of Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o and Zac Lomax.
NRL data shows the Blues trio have averaged a combined 582 metres per game this year, with Lomax No.1 in the league in that category.
All three of the Blues average better than any Maroons back, with Kalyn Ponga, Xavier Coates and Valentine Holmes totalling 466 metres between them.
NSW won the yardage battle in all three Origins last year, with more than two-thirds of the game played in Queensland’s defensive half in the series-deciding win.
“That’s what we’re going to be priding ourselves on, myself and Bizza being able to do that and give us a bit of go-forward,” Lomax said.
“I just know it’s our mindset, and I have no doubt they are going to be trying to come after us as a back three.
“But that’s the role we need to play for the team.
“Obviously it gets a little harder in Origin, but that’s what we’re required to do, and we have to go out and do it.”
To’o has helped lead the NRL’s back-five revolution, given a decade ago the success of wingers was determined by tries scored rather than metres.
“I’ve noticed that massively,” Lomax said.
“Look at the most successful teams, their back three are really good at that.
“Or they have the balance with someone that takes a lot of yardage carries or play-two carries and have a bit of speed on the other edge.
“That’s the strength of mine and Bizza’s, and that’s what we need to do and what we’re going to be willing to do in the first game.”
The other facet for the Blues is their pack leader, Haas.
The 25-year-old stood up and owned an Origin series for the first time last year, with Lomax on Wednesday labelling him the best prop in the world.
NSW train again on Thursday and Saturday, before flying to Brisbane on Sunday ahead of the Suncorp Stadium series opener.
Haas is expected to be given until as late as possible to prove his fitness, while the Blues have Melbourne prop Stefano Utoikamanu training in his spot.
“I am pretty sure he is a year younger than me, but he is just built different that guy,” To’o said of Haas.
“His mindset and his attitude towards making sure he is doing everything he can to … be ready for the team next week, it’s pretty cool to see.”
NSW have called Adam Doueihi, Cody Ramsey, Hamish Stewart and Jacob Preston into camp as extra training bodies.
Preston was considered a back-row option before copping a four-match suspension that ruled the Canterbury forward out of the first two games of the series.
BACK-THREE METRES PER GAME IN 2025:
NEW SOUTH WALES
Dylan Edwards: 189.5
Zac Lomax: 205.5
Brian To’o: 186.6
Total: 581.6
QUEENSLAND
Kalyn Ponga: 161.2
Xavier Coates: 150
Valentine Holmes: 154.9
Total: 466.1
AAP
