Rugby League: Gallen's teammates slam-dunk Gould sledge

NSW coach Laurie Daley was happy to pick Paul Gallen. Photo / Getty Images

New South Wales players say Blues coaching great Phil Gould's criticism that skipper Paul Gallen is too old for State of Origin is plain wrong.

Gould has repeatedly asserted that 33-year-old Gallen's time as an Origin player is "done" and that he can't understand the need to rush the Cronulla captain back for Game Two, after missing Game One amid a long injury layoff.

Gould is well placed to comment, as NSW's most successful coach, leading the Blues to six series wins and one draw over nine years.

The two-time premiership winner's criticism centres on his concern about Gallen's lateral movement in defence, which Queensland are expected to target at the MCG next week.

But Blues fullback Josh Dugan was miffed when asked about Gould's comments at the Blues' Coffs Harbour base on Wednesday.

"I think he [Gallen] will prove how old he is next week, he'll probably be one of our best players like he is nearly every Origin," Dugan said.

"He'll go for as long as he can and as long as he's playing great footy and putting the performances on the board, I don't see why he can't be there."

NSW winger Will Hopoate said Gallen's return was vital to the Blues' cause after their Game One loss last month in Sydney. "Gal is our skipper and I have been fortunate enough to play with Gal in an Origin match before," Hopoate said.

"He is an inspirational leader and captain, and I am grateful he is a part of our team again."

NSW coach Laurie Daley will organise a special "clutch" meeting in Coffs Harbour to ensure his team doesn't falter at the final hurdle, as it did in Game One.

The Blues were heavily criticised for choking at the death in the series opener last month, when they failed to come up with the match-winning play when it was presented.

NSW ran the ball twice in the same set when offered opportunities to pot a field goal with 10 minutes left.

Instead, Queensland's ice-man Cooper Cronk expertly slotted the decisive field goal in the 74th minute to steal the Maroons an 11-10 win at ANZ Stadium.

The Blues had one final chance to level the game in the closing moments, however hooker Robbie Farah admitted he flung the ball to the wrong man in Dugan, whose ad lib attempt sailed wide.

Daley said that he would spend part of their preparation at their base this week trying to improve on their decision-making in money time ahead of Game Two.

"We'll definitely discuss it. It's just about how we manage the game and what we're thinking," Daley said.

"The easy way for that to happen is when they go back to their clubs, and when they're in those situations to think about it and start preparing.

"We'll certainly discuss the second half and what we have to do late in the game, depending on what the situation is."

The Blues led 10-6 at halftime in Origin One, but spent most of the second half camped on their own tryline and defending a Maroons team that piled on attacking set after attacking set.

Daley said he was excited at the prospect of making adjustments to ensure a second-half onslaught did not happen again.

"It's hard in an Origin to score points from coming off your tryline," he said. "You've got to spend a bit of time down the other end. I think it was 20 minutes without playing the ball inside their 20. It was a difficult one, but one we need to get better at it and we will be better at it.

"It's exciting, because I know what this group can do."

- AAP