NSW coach Laurie Daley has hit back at Blues legend Brad Fittler's claims this year's team lack the killer instinct to put Queensland to the sword and win the State of Origin series.
Fittler became the second former NSW star to call out the Blues following last week's heartbreaking game two collapse that has swung the series back in Queensland's favour.
The former Blues captain said the players needed to find the final blow, however Daley insists his men have already shown their own the mettle to step up when it matters.
"We've certainly got it," Daley said on Fox Sports' NRL360 on Monday.
"Whether we displayed it the other night, that's Freddie's opinion and he's entitled to it. We certainly showed a killer attitude in game one, and we did it in the first 40 minutes in game two."
Daley said the Blues simply lost momentum for too long a stretch in the second half, and would need to address their negative approach to the second half in camp next week.
"We probably got negative and tried to hang on, rather that just going flat chat at it. And I'll talk to some of those guys when we go back into camp," he said.
Daley refused to rule out making changes to the line-up for the June 12 finale at Suncorp Stadium, but insisted he would also be comfortable with sticking to the same squad of 17.
The game three team gets named on Monday, and plenty of focus will surround the health of captain Boyd Cordner after he picked up a calf injury in game two.
He failed to back up for Sydney Roosters in Saturday's NRL win over Melbourne.
"I'm comfortable with the squad that we've got. I'm very comfortable. That's not to say that if we felt that to win, and we can improve our side, we wouldn't tinker with it," Daley said.
"I can't imagine massive changes, but I'm very confident in that 17 guys going up to do the job."
Share
