Channel Nine’s Phil Gould, who also serves as the Bulldogs’ boss, initially remained reserved after the first Origin match. However, he has now broken his silence with some concerning insights for New South Wales supporters.
Gould expressed his apprehension, stating, “I noticed warning signs in the first game. Before the series began, I felt that this NSW team appeared quite susceptible if they couldn’t secure their share of possession. The ball was crucial for them. I simply couldn’t envision them winning without it.”
He continued, “There’s no question that when Queensland controls the ball, they outperform New South Wales in offensive scenarios. They exhibit more bravery, skill, and willingness to support each other, taking risks with passes and making early tackles with kicks. They show a greater boldness with the ball.”
Gould criticized New South Wales for being excessively cautious and overly structured. “While they showed some improved ball movement in the first half, especially from their own end, ultimately, this NSW team is incapable of defeating Queensland without dominating possession and controlling field position.”
“The second half made that clear,” he concluded. “Queensland scored 36 points in just 40 minutes of play, during a crucial opportunity for NSW to clinch the series and leave Queensland empty-handed. You don’t want to criticize too harshly, but that performance was simply dreadful.”