Blues coach Laurie Daley accepts blame for State of Origin II loss to Maroons
NSW coach Laurie Daley has taken the blame for the Blues' poor first half in their 26-24 loss to Queensland in State of Origin II.
The Maroons levelled the series 1-1 in Perth on Wednesday night after holding off the fast-finishing Blues, who trailed 26-6 at half-time.
Although the Blues scored the first try of the match, they were blown off the park for the rest of the first half.
They gave away eight penalties in the opening half alone, completed their sets at 56 per cent and had their defence pulled apart with 22 missed tackles.
They then scored four unanswered tries in the second half as they threatened to pull off what would have been the greatest comeback in State of Origin history.
But, ultimately, Zac Lomax's three missed conversions and the team's lazy first half were left to haunt them, with a series decider now set up in Sydney on July 9.
"I've got to take responsibility, because we started well [with the first try] but the first half wasn't great," Daley told reporters after the match.
"So I've got to look at what I've done, because something isn't right."
Daley was protective of his players when asked if he was confident in his current squad or would need to make changes for Origin III.
"Well, I was confident at half-time," Daley said.
"I know what this group is capable of, and that's the thing you get disappointed with, because they never gave themselves that opportunity.
"You can't play a half of football like that against quality opposition and expect to be close.
"So for us, it's a good lesson. We'll go back to the drawing board.
"It's 1-1. That's what Origin is all about, and it creates theatre and it creates headlines.
"I'm sure everyone wants a decider, and they've got it now."
The other issue for the Blues is Nathan Cleary's fitness.
Cleary was not used as a goal-kicker, even after Lomax began missing his conversion attempts.
The Panthers star only took up general-play kicking in the second half as the Blues attempted to fight their way back into the match.
With Mitch Moses out for six weeks with a calf tear, the Blues desperately need Cleary back fit for Origin III and firing on all cylinders.
Daley confirmed Cleary had experienced groin tightness, but insisted he was never in any doubt for the match.
"He just felt a bit tight in his groin, so we wanted to limit the amount of force he put in there," Daley said.
"He is a tough kid, Nathan. We know what a quality player he is, but he is tough. His groin was tight but he got through OK."
AAP
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