State of Origin 2021: Queensland Maroons v NSW Blues, Nathan Cleary, Christian Welch, Jai Arrow, Cameron Munster

One of the gambles Queensland coach Paul Green took coming into Origin I was the use of Jai Arrow on the Maroons’ left-edge as a back-rower.

Arrow has typically been used as a lock, prop or – at club level with Souths to great effect – as an impact forward from the bench.

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But an edge back-rower? The signs weren’t promising early on when Josh Addo-Carr opened the scoring for NSW.

With Cameron Munster caught up at the ruck, Arrow was too focused on what was happening inside him – rather than what was coming out wide.

“Jai Arrow is defending out wide where Munster would be and Arrow’s defence gets pulled apart,” said Andrew Johns on Channel 9.

Jai Arrow is tackled by the BluesSource: Getty Images

“Munster is there at marker and you can see it on the shot how tight Jai Arrow was to Andrew McCullough.

“It is such a specialised position to defend. You control that edge of the field as the five-eighth or the halfback in how far they go up, when they stop, whether they come aggressively or whether they hold and slide.

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“Unfortunately for Queensland and Jai Arrow, he was out of position defensively.”

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Arrow eventually moved back into the middle but by then the damage was far too great for Queensland to overcome.

MONKEY OFF CLEARY’S BACK

Finally, Nathan Cleary has done it. On two fronts.

Much has been made about how Storm forward Christian Welch has his number.

And even more has been made about Cleary’s record at Suncorp Stadium in Origin.

Cleary lost all three games he had previously played in Brisbane while donning the NSW jersey. In 2018 it was an 18-12 loss, in 2019 an 18-14 defeat and in last year’s series the Maroons sealed victory at their spiritual home.

Welch more specifically has been one of the most effective players at both Origin and NRL level of closing Cleary’s kicking game down, limiting his space and option.

Nathan Cleary looks to get the ball awaySource: Getty Images Christian Welch looks to offloadSource: News Corp Australia

The NSW halfback was shut down with ease in the 2020 grand final along with two of the end-of-season Origin games.

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In fact the only Origin game Cleary had won with Welch on the field was in Townsville when the Storm’s ‘White Rhino’ went off early in the first half.

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But Cleary got the monkey off his back as he kicked for 382m and offered a threat with his running game, talking himself into dethroning Daly Cherry-Evans as the Australian Test halfback.

“There’s going to be a big debate about that halfback position with Cherry-Evans,” Johns added.

CLUNKY QUEENSLAND EXPOSED

In game one the concern was how badly Queensland defended. In game two it was all about their attack.

And once again, it was all for the wrong reasons. The Maroons looked like strangers at times. When they wanted to hit short, someone was screaming out the back.

When someone wanted the ball up in the air, it went on the ground.

The spine of hooker Andrew McCullough, five-eighth Munster, halfback Daly Cherry-Evans and fullback Valentine Holmes failed to click but for a few brief moments in the second half.

Daly Cherry-Evans looks to passSource: Getty Images

“McCullough, Cherry-Evans and Munster must get on the same page,” said Billy Slater on Channel 9.

“They need to combine as three players. It’s a tough question to answer right now. At the moment this series is 76-6 the score line in the first two games.

“Queensland aren’t flush with depth at the minute, especially in key positions.

“They need to find their attack. I think they held it with NSW early, but they just got shown up with the footy in hand and not everyone is on the same page. They need to find their attack somehow.”