Our attack is not the issue, say Blues - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Our attack is not the issue, say Blues

By David Beniuk 27/05/2010 06:09:06 PM Comments (0)

NSW insist attack is not the problem, despite three of their four tries in Wednesday night's State of Origin loss to Queensland coming from kicks.

To most observers the Blues were flattered by the 28-24 scoreline, although Craig Bellamy's men are adamant their 24 points should have been enough for a victory.

Even lock Anthony Watmough turned bomber for the Blues, uncharacteristically laying on their first four-pointer with a towering kick at ANZ Stadium as NSW looked to exploit the greasy conditions.

But it was their inability to exploit much else until five-eighth Jamie Lyon laid on a 73rd minute try for Jamal Idris that will have selectors pondering their options.

The Blues have pleaded to be given another chance while coach Craig Bellamy has also backed the squad's talent, but their lack of sparkle in the halves and backs could be a cause for concern.

"We did score 24 points so it's not the attack," superstar winger Jarryd Hayne said.

"The attacking side of things was fine, 24 points, you should be able to keep a team, if you win a game, below 20.

"(It's) defence and those little areas.

"We scored plenty of points, they just scored more."

Hayne again looked NSW's most likely attacking weapon and his move to fullback, where he plays in the NRL for Parramatta, is starting to look like a no-brainer for success-starved NSW fans.

The 22-year-old has been, with Queensland's Billy Slater, the stand-out No.1 in the NRL and his shift into the position last year ultimately resulted in the Dally M medal.

"Obviously I've played fullback a bit more lately than I have wing," he said.

"(But) I've played wing for the majority of my career so it felt good.

"I'd (just) be happy to make the team ... there's a couple of mistakes I made and things I can obviously pick up on if selected in the next game."

Hayne dead-batted questions he needs more ball but did concede Queensland were more successful in finding their danger men out wide.

"They obviously didn't have trouble getting the ball to GI (Greg Inglis) and moving it around, so they had opportunities and they took them," he said.

"They're just a class of themselves.

"Their team's been together for a long time and they've got some great players in there so it's obviously hard to compete against.

"We need to just look back and see where we went wrong."

Halfback Brett Kimmorley, whose commitment could never be questioned but whose spark could come under scrutiny as Mitchell Pearce makes his comeback from injury for the Sydney Roosters, also defended the side's attack.

"The last 15 minutes I thought we played some good footy, we chanced our arm and played some footy," he said.

"I think the fact that we never gave up was great.

"We obviously showed that we've got a lot of spirit in the side.

"We have to fix some areas when it gets tough and when it gets tough we sort of fell away a bit."

Prospective Blues will have two NRL rounds to press their claims with the Origin II side to be announced on June 7.

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