Adelaide loss haunts Saifiti as NSW eye fast start

If you ask Daniel Saifiti where last year's State of Origin series slipped through the fingers for NSW, he'll take you back to where it all began.

In Adelaide, Origin I, and more specifically in 15 minutes of madness the Blues prop had little control over. 

The Blues led 10-0 at half-time before conceding three tries to Queensland in the second half to surrender the game.

Saifiti watched on from the bench for two of those tries before taking the field just minutes before Cameron Munster ran in Queensland's third of the evening.

"Most of the boys will probably tell you that's where we lost the series last year," Saifiti told NRL.com.

"We bounced back in Sydney but going up to Queensland for game three was always going to be a big ask regardless of the situation.

"This year it's similar. We don't want to be going back up to Queensland down 1-0 in the second game. That's why the first is so important."

The statistics in State of Origin history tell a similar story.

Since the three-game concept started in 1982, only nine teams have come back from being 1-0 down in the series early.

The Blues were aiming to make it back-to-back in that area in 2020 but fell short on their previous heroics 18 months earlier.

"We were expected to win and had a good team so it was disappointing and still hurts a lot of the boys," Saifiti said.

"We spent five weeks together, bonded well and it felt like it was all for nothing. It's why it's important to play well in this first one this year."

Saifiti, who will play his sixth game for NSW on Wednesday, has gone from a bolter in Brad Fittler's line-up in 2019 to a near-automatic selection after strong performances in sky blue over the past two years.

He averaged 141 metres per Origin game last year, which included 225 post-contact metres in total over three games.

"It all doesn't mean a lot of it you can't get the win for the state," the honest prop replied.

"I'm here to do a job for Freddie and the boys. We want to get that shield back and with the team he's picked I think we've got a good balance."

Saifiti was particularly looking forward to playing alongside former Knights teammate Tariq Sims after the pair managed one game together in 2019.

Sims' selection has raised eyebrows from some but Saifiti believes he'll help accommodate the loss of veteran Tyson Frizell in the back row.

"Taz was huge for me when he was at the Knights in 2016 and I think he's been the Dragons' best player this year," Saifiti said.

"Losing Friz (Frizell) isn't ideal but Taz and Cam Murray are quality players and will step into that role."

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