New South snails: Blues seek to stop slow Origin starts

Hudson Young says the NSW Blues are looking to put their sluggish starts behind them. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

NSW back-rower Hudson Young says the Blues must kick the habit of starting slowly, after escaping from the series opener by conjuring the biggest comeback in State of Origin history.

Trailing 20-6 at halftime before winning 22-20, the game-one victory in Sydney - sparked by Kalyn Ponga's controversial second-half send-off - papered over the Blues' cracks.

In Laurie Daley's four games in charge of his second stint as NSW coach, the Blues have leaked 68 first-half points while scoring just 26 in the same period.

Blues coach Laurie Daley is looking for a brighter start for his side in the second Origin game. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

NSW have trailed at halftime in the past three Origin matches, and Young is aware the Blues can't afford to rely on leg-ups from Queensland if they start in sluggish fashion at the MCG in Origin II next Wednesday.

"I think if you look at the start they scored 20 points in the first 15 minutes, that's not a great thing, but in hindsight they didn't score another point after that," Young said.

"We'll reflect on that and make sure our starts are a lot better, and as players individually we need to take ownership of that as well.

"But (to come from behind and win) it also shows the fight and belief we have in the jersey and the state of NSW.

"I don't think it's our aggression, it's probably more around detail and executing a role at a higher level and to the standard of the NSW jersey. We probably missed the jump in game one."

The Blues head to Melbourne in the knowledge the Victorian capital has been a happy hunting ground, NSW having won the past four Origin games at the MCG.

Those victories include Nathan Cleary's debut match for NSW in 2018.

Cleary's kicking game was instrumental to the Blues' fightback in game one and the NSW halfback has brushed off concerns about adapting to an oval field.

Nathan Cleary's kicking played a key role in the Blues' victory in the Origin series opener. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

"I don't find it too different, to be honest," Cleary said.

"Because there's signage around the field, it keeps it rectangular, and pretty much every year now we play at an oval field for Origin."

DALEY'S SLOW-GO BLUES

Game one, 2025 (Brisbane): halftime lead 14-2, fulltime 18-6 (win)

Game two, 2025 (Perth): halftime trail 26-6, fulltime 26-24 (loss)

Game three, 2025 (Sydney): halftime trail 20-0, fulltime 24-12 (loss)

Game one, 2026 (Sydney): halftime trail 20-6, fulltime 22-20 (win)