Queensland too quick, too strong for fast finishing Blues
Roar Pro By Gabriel Knowles, 4 Jun 2009 Gabriel Knowles is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Craig Bellamy, Craig Wing, Jarryd Hayne, NSW Blues, Queensland Maroons, Rugby League, State Of Origin
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Johnathon Thurston of Queensland scores a try during the Queensland v New South Wales State of Origin Rugby League game at the Ethiad Stadium in Melbourne, Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009. AAP Image/Martin Philbey
After eighteen minutes, it looked as if the Maroons were going to run away with it, chugging along at a point a minute. You could have forgiven them for thinking it was all too easy. That’s because it had been.
The Blues had only threatened their line once, through Jarryd Hayne’s contentious yet correctly ruled out try, and when they did finish their sets, a quality kick was missing.
But after 25 minutes, the Blues finally managed to put some back to back sets together and the pressure soon told, with Ben Creagh diving on Hayne’s suspicious looking infield pass.
It might have evened things up following the winger’s earlier disallowed try, but if ever there was an example of why video referees should be able to rule on forward passes, that was it. It won’t guarantee they’ll get it right, but you’d hope the obvious ones would get picked up.
In any case, Gidley missed the conversion and the Blues were unable to make any more of their dominance count late in the half. As they trotted off at half time, the Maroons’ twelve point lead still looked safe.
Gidley may have made some more noticeable errors in the second half, but he might well look back on that missed conversion ruefully. Keeping the Maroons under two converted tries in front would have helped the inexperienced Blues’ mindsets.
As it was, the second half started similarly to the first, with Inlgis barging over and Thurston slotting from out wide to put his side three converted tries, and too far ahead of the Blues, even at that early stage.
The Blues might have tightened things up with a try to Craig Wing seconds after he was introduced to the game, probably too late, but the Maroons looked comfortable defending their line, even if they were giving up territory a little easily.
You have to wonder if Bellamy’s habit of keeping game-breaking players on the bench until well into the second half of Origin matches is the right tactic. In past games we’ve seen Brett Stewart go largely unused and last night it was Wing.
HIs introduction gave NSW the spark they needed up the middle and took the pressure to make things happen off his very quiet and possibly overawed halves pairing.
Both Terry Campese and, more so, Peter Wallace, had poor games with the boot, which never allowed their side to truly build momentum. Although it’s arguable that Billy Slater’s superb reading of the game made most of their kicks look ordinary.
His defensive play last night showed just why he’s the best player in the world right now.
In the end, a late try to the Maroons flattered them on the scoreboard and didn’t reflect the effort of the fast finishing Blues.
Game two will be an interesting affair. The Blues will be heartened by how they clawed their way back into it, while the Maroons will feel they’ve still got plenty in the tank.
It’ll be a tight one.
June 4th 2009 @ 7:43am
macavity said | June 4th 2009 @ 7:43am | Report comment
you forgot
“too favoured by the refs”
June 4th 2009 @ 7:44am
macavity said | June 4th 2009 @ 7:44am | Report comment
oh, and I will add the blues halves were terrible. Wallace or Campese (I would lean to Wallace but I don’t care) must make way for Mullen for game 2.
June 4th 2009 @ 8:01am
sledgeross said | June 4th 2009 @ 8:01am | Report comment
It just shows how tough the game is. Bill Harrigan convinced himself that Hayne trod on the line by looking at replays over and over again. It was early, but the Blues were on top. If, according to the rules of the game which the video ref appears not to follow, Hayne scores, its a completely different game. Queensland are a quality side, and showed that all they need is half a chance to punish you, which they did severely. Quality team.
Im not going to hang Wallace out to dry, because the forwards were not all that dominant, and the service from dummy half was quite poor sometimes on the 5th tackle. Im a Campese fan, but he showed absolutely nothing to suggest he is a Rep player. At least Wallace put his hand up and had a go, even though he didnt impress.
I would tweak a bit next game. Think about Gidley at 5/8 and move Hayne to fullback, because he roams around the field when he plays on the wing anyway. Bring Monaghan in, and I expect Gallen to come back in for Laffranchi or Lewis.
How good is Greg Inliss though, size and blistering speed. The best player NSW has produced in ages.
June 4th 2009 @ 8:15am
LK said | June 4th 2009 @ 8:15am | Report comment
Why don’t NSW bring Wing on 10mins before the end of each half, to run from dummy half at the tiring Qld forwards? It has worked in the past. NSW should also run at Lockyer and Thurston in attack. The Blues also have to fix the right hand side defence. Those two second half Qld tries were soft, bad reads from McManus and Lyon. What is it with Jamie Lyon anyway? The “form centre” of the NRL did nothing, rugby league’s equivalent to a flat-track bully.
June 4th 2009 @ 8:19am
sledgeross said | June 4th 2009 @ 8:19am | Report comment
I actually thought Lyon did ok last night, at least in limited attacking time.
June 4th 2009 @ 8:20am
Skull said | June 4th 2009 @ 8:20am | Report comment
Harrigan had to make himself relevant somehow at least he will get some publicity for himself and perhaps another Lowes commercial will follow.
Wallace looks good playing for Broncos with Lockyer outside him
June 4th 2009 @ 8:31am
JohnB said | June 4th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
Bit puzzled to read that running about 50m outpacing the opposition winger and putting a brilliant in and away on the opposing fullback before scoring now counts as “barging over”. Didn’t see the Hayne no try so can’t comment on it (or on whether Inglis’ first try actually may have been from barging over). Some other random comments – surprisingly little being made of all 3 NSW tries having strong elements of luck about them – with all the territory they had in the second half you’d like to think they could score a couple without relying on kicks being deflected (or on kicks at all for that matter); Gidley did pretty well for much of the game but 2 howling and largely unforced errors in the critical final minutes from your captain do not look good; maybe Wing’s attempted tackle on Inglis in the last try gives some explanation for how much he gets used on field; and Daley’s comments on some of the Qld players looking long in the tooth may have been ill-advised, but look a bit accurate for all that (re some of the forwards anyway).
June 4th 2009 @ 8:38am
The Link said | June 4th 2009 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Inglis was a phenomenon once more, what an amazing turn of speed he has, as well as brute strength, i’m getting the sense he’s already turining into one of the greats of all time
June 4th 2009 @ 8:52am
Bill said | June 4th 2009 @ 8:52am | Report comment
The best thing to come out of last nights game for NSW was Hayne’s performance. Yes I have blue tinted glasses but he should have been given the benefit of the doubt for that fantastic sideline run try especially when you consider how long the video ref took to make the decision.
I thought the NSW pack edged the QLD pack but in the halves NSW was totally outplayed….
June 4th 2009 @ 9:11am
Jameswm said | June 4th 2009 @ 9:11am | Report comment
1. the Hayne non-try. From behind his heel didn’t touch the ground
2. the penalty for the supposed interference with Folau on a kick chase, because a player complained and Mal Meninga had geed the refs up beforehand
3. Slater’s try having one rushed replay before being awarded. I thought it touched the dead ball line as it was grounded.
Bang, bang, bang, and game over. Three 50/50 calls in a row going Qld’s way, wiithin about 5 minutes.
Fortunately Spicks and Specks came after that.
As someone who rarely watches league, I find the lack of contest for possession very frustrating – more like tip footy. You have a few goes, then we’ll have a few goes. It’d drive me nuts watching that every week.