'Men against boys': Gould slams Maroons' 'soft mentality', Lockyer 'in shock' as Origin record smashed

The New South Wales Blues romped to a record first half score in an astonishing second State of Origin game at the MCG, scoring six tries and leaving former Blues coach Phil Gould to crow it’s “men against boys.”

Gould accused the Maroons of turning up not prepared for a battle after winning the opening game in Sydney – on the back of an early Blues red card to Joseph Suaalii.

The 34-0 halftime lead was a record but Queensland were able to scrape some semblance of respectability, narrowing the margin to 20 points at the end of a 38-18 loss.

Sitting beside a clearly stunned Queensland legend Darren Lockyer, Gould unloaded on the terribale Maroons.

“We witnessed men against boys,” said Gould.

More League

League

“This was over very early. I got the feeling right from the time Stephen Crichton first touched the ball and ran over his opponent down the right hand side that physically New South Wales were superior here tonight.”

Blues coach Michael Maguire had changed his half back after the opening game defeat and Mitchell Moses was brilliant on his return to the big stage.

“It all comes on the back of the halves, the seven and the six, their leadership and their confidence, their direction and their delivery -their kicking game – it’s just driven Queensland mad.

“Everyone else in a blue jersey just has to run hard because they’re putting you in the right places running at the right holes and Queensland have had absolutely no answer whatsoever.”

Maroons assistant coach Johnathan Thurston can’t believe what he’s seeing. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Lockyer was rattled by the margin.

“I’m in shock. New South Wales were just on the front foot the whole first 40 and we were on the back foot so you’ve got to turn that around .

“At this point in time you’ve also got to start thinking about building some confidence for game three. This hole is enormous, it’s massive. I don’t know what we where we go then from here.”

Gould said he saw the Queensland dip coming.

“We have seen this before. I said it in the lead up to this game that Queensland, when they’re one up in the series and particularly when they know they’ve got a Queensland [home] game up their sleeve in game three, can be soft in game two and I think they came here with a soft mentality.

“I think they came here knowing they’re one up in the series and the decider was still to come and you aim that up with an improvement from the New South Wales side which looked a much better team on paper tonight.

Liam Martin (L) of the Blues celebrates scoring a try with Stephen Crichton. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“The Panther group have been absolutely outstanding and everyone else has just followed suit. Mitchell Moses – absolutely stellar. He’s come of age on the representative team here this evening he’s run the whole show.”