The message was simple: "We need to play just like they do." Discussion centred on four players – but mainly Billy Slater, who inthe Blues' eyes is allowed to get away with what he likes on the field. Their view is that Cam Smith exists in that same lawless world. Hodges got a mention too, as did Nate Myles. They are the four the Blues have had enough of. Laurie Daley will have a meeting with referees boss Tony Archer in the next 24 hours to give him a heads-up that it's "game on" in Melbourne. Daley won't cop it any more. Never the type to stir trouble, Daley knows that his nice guy image can work against him and his team; that his players will play in a similar vein to the way that Queensland played. When Slater dropped the shoulder into Josh Dugan, NSW skipper Robbie Farah was ushered away when he wanted something and told that Slater would be talked to.

The Blues are still waiting. And then there was the elbow into Josh Morris; Daley wants his players to follow that lead and attack Queensland players on the ground when they are defenceless and see if they cop the same punishment that Slater did – none. As a Blues official explained to this column, Slater has done it for years. They have not forgotten his shot on Mitchell Pearce in his previous incarnation as an Origin player. The problem for NSW is that Slater is considered a cleanskin by the powers who run the game – and it appears he can do no wrong. What would have happened if a player like Greg Bird had done what Slater did? Be sure there would have been on-field action.

But Daley will tell Archer that he is now aware of the ground rules and they will play to the standard that was set by Queensland in game one. Smith's shot on Pearce, which nearly broke his nose, has been highlighted as well. Hodges is generally despised on the field and the Myles hit on Dave Klemmer late in the game was a penalty in most other arenas. You will notice that Daley is not quoted here – there is a view from the Blues that they should not say too much in the media about Queensland and their tactics. And when I asked Morris about the Slater hit he gave me a knowing look and said: "That's Origin." Skipper Farah was aware of the incidents and said of the Klemmer shot: "Klemmer is a tough kid – most players would have stayed down after that hit."

The same goes for Pearce – but his club has a policy of not lying down. Most of the players were following the game plan of not ripping in to the Maroons – except James Tamou who played the game of his life. "I do get angry about those things, especially when it's on my teammate – that fuels it for the next game," he said. "This feeling won't go away. It's not just Billy, it's most of them and we have to fight fire with fire. I know that Queensland will target me now but that's OK, that's week-in week-out. But it's hard to go into a video session seeing what he did to my teammate. What Billy Slater did ... there was no need for it." This column attempted to contact Slater to allow him the opportunity to explain his tackles, but did not geta call back. Braveheart Farah

Robbie Farah is viewed as a 50-50 chance of playing in Origin II. And he is already aware this far out that he will have to play with painkilling injections – that's how bad his injury is. And it's why he deserves to be thought of when on-field heroics are discussed. He already has an entry in that category – the night he made 63 tackles when his 63-year-old mum was fighting for her life. Farah gave a memorable address to his troops before the kickoff where he reflected on the gutsy efforts of the Morris twins last year, when Brett made a try-saving tackle with a busted shoulder and Josh escaped from a trainer's hands to run down Greg Inglis. He told his players that no matter what, they had to stay on the field and not let their teammates down – and then he found himself in the situation he was in. "There was no way I even thought of coming off," he said. A man for Manly

As a coach who has already been through two club rebuilds, there is no question that Ivan Cleary would be well positioned to revive Manly. He is also a perfect fit on another level, given his history at the club. This column was hearing that Cleary could be the one to move on – but general manager Phil Gould says that won't be happening and has never been discussed. In fact, he says the opposite is more likely: the Panthers are about to start talks to extend Cleary's deal. Trent Barrett has been linked to an immediate switch to the Sea Eagles – but it's hard to see a wise manager like Wayne Beavis allowing that to happen. Why would Beavis place his client at a club underneath a coach who he may replace? It makes no sense at all. The other name that has been bobbing up is Cowboys assistant John Cartwright. It seems that he is the one most likely to team up with Barrett if and when a decision on Toovey is made.

Barrett has the assistant role in a comfortable situation at Penrith. Geoff Toovey wouldn't want Barrett there for a moment – and as head coach surely he has the right to pick and choose his assistants. It would appear that he does, given that he didn't want Nathan Brown at the club and he isn't there. If Manly want to spear Toovey, surely they don't want Barrett giving him help to turn the club around. Bird not in flight Talk in the Origin camp was that Greg Bird was Eagles-bound, despite having 18months to play at the Titans. Gold Coast say that they've had a heart-to-heart with Bird and they don't expect him to go anywhere. DCE Foxy move?

The round-13 rule gives players until two days after the conclusion of the round to make their call. Given Daly Cherry-Evans' deal with Fox Sports and his respect for Peter Sterling, it would stun this column if they were not pushing for an announcement from DCE on the Sterlo program. Hayne homesick Jarryd Hayne missed rugby league like never before in the build-up to Origin. He was texting his old teammates and clearly hoping for the best. He'll be back in Australia for a four-day visit from June 11 to run through some projects with his agent.