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Cameron Murray detail in Blues beatdown sends Origin fans mad

Brad Fittler continued to make puzzling decisions the Blues were battered.

riley morgan
Sports Reporter
·5-min read
Cameron Murray looks on during Origin and Murray helps a teammate up.
New South Wales fans were left fuming after Cameron Murray didn't feature in Game II, despite the Blues down 16-0, until around the 50th minute. (Images Getty Images/AAP)

Brad Fittler has been called out for leaving dynamic forward Cameron Murray on the bench for nearly 50 minutes of Origin Game II as the Blues were thoroughly outplayed in the Maroons' 32-6 demolition. The Blues' dismal display against Billy Slater's men have all but sealed Fittler's coaching fate ahead of Game III after a third series loss in four years to the mighty Maroons.

Fittler has been under heavy scrutiny for weeks having failed to use his bench properly in Game I with Nicho Hynes sitting around for 70 minutes before being introduced. Murray and Liam Martin were arguably the Blues' best in Adelaide when they were introduced.

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But in staggering circumstances, Murray was left on the bench until 10 minutes into the second half in Queensland, while the Blues trailed and looked helpless. Cameras panned to the bench after half-time to show the Rabbitohs lock waiting patiently to be introduced to a team that was desperate for energy and vigour.

To make matters more staggering, Murray could have also come on and played at centre instead of Damien Cook. The Blues were always going to be up against it at Suncorp Stadium but a game-ending pectoral injury to star centre Tom Trbojevic after just three minutes made the task even more difficult.

However, despite calls for Murray to fill the gap, he opted for the No.9 Cook. Fittler's decision to leave Murray on the bench left New South Wales fans absolutely outraged.

Murray entered Game II having not played for three weeks due to a groin injury and was only deemed fit 48 hours before the clash. However, Blues advisor Greg Alexander and Murray himself admitted he wasn't in danger of missing the showdown.

This leaves Fittler with little excuse to why the dynamic forward spent so long on the bench again when the Blues were 14-0 down with 30 minutes to go.

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Fittler had several back-row options he could have used to cover Trbojevic, with the versatile Murray left on the bench and Cook thrust into an unfamiliar position on the edge. It meant the Blues' dual dummy half game plan was out the window, with Reece Robson forced to play a full 80 minutes at hooker and Cook unable to effect the game though the middle of the ruck as originally intended.

Blues coach Brad Fittler looks on during State of Origin Game II.
Blues coach Brad Fittler (pictured) may have coached his last game of Origin. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Commentators and fans noted that Murray even had experience playing in the centres at Australian schoolboy level, with many suggesting that an edge forward such as Hudson Young would have been a better option at centre. As it turned out, Cook was inevitably exposed out of position by the ruthless Maroons, despite scoring a sensational try for his side's only four-pointer of the night.

Fittler will know his fate could have been sealed after the 32-6 obliteration at the hands of Queensland as the Blues look to introduce a new direction to an underperforming group.

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