SHOCKING: Only three of Brad Fittler’s ‘new generation’ of Blues will take the field for NSW in Game 2 in 2024.

NSW Blues supporters are once again hopeful that their team can bounce back from a Game 1 loss as they prepare for a crucial Origin showdown in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Queensland has dominated State of Origin series after series for almost ten years, and every year, supporters of NSW flock in the hopes of beginning a run of domination over their opponent.

The MCG has not hosted an Origin match in six years, but clips from the previous match at the iconic Melbourne field have been doing the rounds as Michael Maguire’s Blues prepare to play there. Additionally, it demonstrates how the NSW side has changed by 2024. Brad Fittler’s new crop of Blues, who were meant to be NSW’s answer to 11 long years of Queensland State of Origin domination, never quite worked out, as the Blues team photo from that evening reveals.

Very few of Fittler’s rookies from NSW’s previous trip to the MCG six years ago will be returning to Melbourne this time. For NSW, the 2018 series may seem like a lifetime ago, but the Blues were expected to usher in a new era under rookie coach and legendary NRL player Fittler with the opening game of that season.

At the MCG, eleven players made their debuts as NSW, fielding their least-experienced Origin team since 1983, triumphed 22–12 to seal the series in Game 2. Although Queensland won three series in the five years that followed, many thought it was a sign of an overdue run of NSW series victories.

And with NSW ushering in the new Maguire era, not much remains of those rookies who made such big promises early in Fittler’s rule. Only Angus Crichton and Latrell Mitchell, two of the eleven men who played their first Origin in Melbourne on June 6, 2018, will be on the field on Wednesday night. However, the only other Fittler first team member included in Maguire’s starting lineup for Game 1 is Jake Trbojevic.

But if he was healthy, Nathan Cleary, who has been NSW’s starting halfback since his debut in 2018, would almost definitely be in the starting lineup. If he had been available, Manly star Tom Trbojevic also probably would have had a spot on the team.

Most, though, have fallen off quickly; James Roberts is possibly the most of them. As for Paul Vaughan, another player who joined the Blues with high hopes, he’s currently in the Super League, while Roberts plays in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League.

The 2018 NSW Origin squad for Game 1:

1. Tedesco James 2. James Roberts 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Josh Addo-Carr 5. Trbojevic Tom 6. James Maloney 7. The Cleary, Nathan 8. Campbell-Gillard Reagan David Klemmer 10. Damien Cook 9. 11. Cordner Boyd 12. Frizell Tyson Paul Vaughan, Jack De Belin, Jack Trbojevic, and Jake Trbojevic 16. Tyrone Peachey 17. Angus Crichton

NSW Origin squad for 2024’s second game:

1. Stephen Crichton; 2. Brian To’o; and 3. Dylan Edwards 4. Mitchell Latrell 5. Zac Lomax 6. Mitch Moses 7. Jake Trbojevic 8. Jarome Luai 10. Payne Haas 11. Liam Martin 12. Angus Crichton 9. Reece Robson 10. 13. Cameron Murray 14. Connor Watson 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Haumole Olakau’atu 17. Isaah Yeo

NSW players said they feel like the team is starting a new chapter under Maguire’s direction. Nearly all of Fittler’s backroom and coaching staff, as well as players, have left the camp. Maguire has furthered his influence by moving the team’s training camp from Sydney to the Blue Mountains.

Prop Payne Haas, who participated in every Fittler series after 2019, remarked, “It is a new era.” “I’m not depriving Freddy of anything. It’s simply unique.

“Madge’s approach is his own. It’s great to be outside in the Blue Mountains, and I’m really loving it. It has been really easygoing.I believe that one of the primary (differences) has been our strong bond with the older brothers.

The Blues will need to defy history if they hope to turn things around and prevent Queensland from winning an Origin series for a third time in a row. In 31 of the 42 State of Origin series, the team that wins Game 1 has prevailed; the Blues have only ever come back from a 1-0 deficit three times in their history.

To make matters worse, NSW’s chances of winning the series will depend on their performance in the following two away games in Melbourne and Brisbane. The NSW team in 1994 was the only side in history to win the next two games away from home after falling behind 1-0. In addition, the Blues have lost their last six championship games at Suncorp Stadium, even if they do draw even at 1-1 in Melbourne.

Even though history is not on their side, Maguire remains optimistic that the Blues can make a comeback. “I’ve been in this circumstance before, so I know exactly what we’ll do,” he stated.

Of course, I’ll speak with the players. The entire game changes when there are thirteen people present. I have a lot of faith in the direction the players are taking our work.”