NSW have got their Origin blueprint backwards. This is how they fix it

July 2, 2026 — 5:00am

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NSW simply have to change their attack if they’re going to spring an Origin upset at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday.

The biggest change and the first thing the Blues need to fix?

Getting their best attacking players up in support of their big men. Which sounds simple given it’s what James Tedesco does so well at club level. But NSW need more of it from their No.7, No.6 and No.1.

For example, if Payne Haas is taking the ball up, he’s naturally attracting multiple defenders as the best front-rower in the game. Tedesco needs to be sitting on his inside to keep the marker honest, so that first defender can’t rush out and chop Haas’ legs out from the inside.

Then on his outside, it’s on Nathan Cleary, Mitchell Moses and the NSW back-rowers to be pushing up in support again. If that support play is genuine, it’ll keep the extra defender from piling into Payne.

Eventually, he’ll get a one-on-one and a quick play-the-ball. Because it’s Payne Haas, he can get a quick play-the-ball with two defenders hanging off him.

The last time NSW won at Suncorp, in Origin I last year, Haas and captain Isaah Yeo were their two best forwards, and Payne was man of the match after barely training with a quad injury all week.

With Moses and Cleary handling the ball playing and game management, Yeo just ran, and he dominated the Maroons through the middle.

Supporting quality ball runners – that is how you build your ruck speed, create a snowball........

© The Sydney Morning Herald