By Gabriel Knowles
June 4th 2009 @ 3:23am
Related coverage
Queensland too quick, too strong for fast finishing Blues
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.
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macavity said | June 4th 2009 @ 7:43am | Report comment
you forgot
“too favoured by the refs”
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.
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.
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.
sledgeross said | June 4th 2009 @ 8:19am | Report comment
I actually thought Lyon did ok last night, at least in limited attacking time.
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
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).
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
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….
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.
Terry Kidd said | June 4th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
Gabriel, would you be a Qld supporter? The tone of your article certainly seems to point that way.
I would not say that Hayne ‘no try’ was the correct decision. The touch judge was right behind him peering at his feet and the line and had no problem. The video ref looks at it 8 times ….. it had to be a benefit of the doubt call.
Hayne penalised for taking out Folau …. a similar circumstance the previous weekend went the other way. Is there any consistency?
Creagh fairly tackled, lands on the ground, still held, quickly gets up and plays the ball, penalised. His crime? The ref is too slow to call ‘held’. What a joke.
Qld were the better side on the night but the officials were a joke.
Jameswm said | June 4th 2009 @ 9:17am | Report comment
I should add the interchange law makes the game a bit of a joke too.
Yes, the lawmakers brought it in to keep up the pace of the game over the 80 minutes and make the game more exciting. But talk about taking advantage of tiring forwards late in the first half is a bit of a joke, because half of them have just come on fresh!
sledgeross said | June 4th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
JohnB, maybe watch the game again mate, cos Queensland scored a few lucky tries as well.
Choppy said | June 4th 2009 @ 9:25am | Report comment
Gabriel
Did you actually watch the game or just the Qld edited highlights and Mal’s press conference?
Hayne’s try should ONLY have been disallowed by the touchy, it wasn’t so how could Harrigan have seen it any better?
Then poor old Hayne gets penalised for Folau running into him,
What about Creagh’s penalty for Crocker tackling him while he was playing the ball?
The Qld’ers had 15 good minutes and scored 18 points the rest of it was very even but the critical decisions were all against NSW.
Some minor tinkering with the side and they will be much better in the second game.
Searly said | June 4th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
LK, I agree with sledgeross, I thought Lyon was one of the Blues’ best. He certainly didn’t get many chances in attack, but when he did he was OK and he spent all night making last ditch tackles on blokes who were missed by his teammates.
I think Gabriel is right about Slater’s surperb reading of the game, but it not only made the NSW kickers look ordinary (with the exception of Farah), but it also made Gidley look ordinary. He looked out of position for every Qld kick last night and had to go back into his in goal to retrieve just about every one of them. You get the feeling that, as captain, he was too keen to be up encouraging his defensive line and then when they kicked he suddenly realised that he was supposed to be a fullback as well…..
Hoy said | June 4th 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment
Straight up, I am a QLD supporter.
I would have said Hayne went out. I would have thought Creagh’s penalty was a bit tough, as was Crocker’s lost ball when he stood up to play it, and was pushed out.
Anyone who runs those block lines on a kick should be penalised. I can’t understand how it has gone on so long in club games. You shouldn’t be able to block runners coming through intentionally.
I am with Gus and glad that Hayne wasn’t penalised for the hit on Billy Slater.
I am miffed that the third ref can call on offside, but not forward passes. The try by Creagh was off a forward pass that travelled three metres forward I reckon. The fact that it was back out of the hands doesn’t give me any comfort if he was facing outwards anyway.
Inglis is the best player NSW have produced in some time. Freak. I thought he had lost a lot of pace at the start of the year, but he has trimmed down looks back to his 2006, 2007 best. He can’t seem to produce for Melbourne though?
Was suprised it wasn’t a penalty one way or another after Locky’s wobbly boot for dropgoal. Whoever it was, again, went clearly out of his line to block a clearly offside Farah.
Craig Wing was much more dynamic than Farah. Campese was missing all game. Lyon was missing, and Hayne was close to the annoying best little shit he can be. Still don’t think he should qualify after playing for Fiji, and yes, I also think it is odd that Lote qualified after doing the same. Anyway, by the by…
I thought that NSW should have done a lot better. I still think they have a lot of points in that team, but they lacked a bit of direction last night. Possibly better for the second game.
Should be a cracker of an Origin series.
Terry Kidd said | June 4th 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment
I thought Gidley struggled and is not the man to be captain.
I would make a couple of changes for game 2. Drop Gidley and switch Hayne to fullback. Morris onto the wing. I would leave the pack the way it is, I thought they did ok and were more mobile than Qld. Lewis must retain his spot, he did well.
Tom said | June 4th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Correctly ruled out? The rules state if there is doubt, the benefit of the doubt must go to the attacking team. Despite Harrigan’s post game comments, considering that he needed about 10 replays to confirm it, the chances that he was ‘100% sure’ that it was out were about 9/10ths of bugger all.
As for the Creagh try, it left Hayne’s hands backwards, and then drifted forwards. Read the rules – that is a legal pass.
yeebarr said | June 4th 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Quick question – if I don’t have to be actually born in Qld to play for them, can I also decide I don’t want to supprot NSW and go for Qld? (hah – who will you hate Qld’ers if we all join your team??
Creaghs try – didn’t they say it was in goal so it didn’t matter which way the ball was pass (I don’t know the rule – that’s just what I heard)
Every SOO has controversial moments – yes NSW were screwed over by that Hayne decision but it was their lack iof experience to regather themselves quickly (not to mention chase the loose ball!) that cost them.
yeebarr said | June 4th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Oh – and I’m all for the video ref to take their time to give a ruling (I may not like it – and still think 8 replays to find a spec of grass is dogs bollocks – but I’ll accept it) but I did find it strange that the ref was then quick to call Inglis try when he was covered by three NSW defenders.
I guess the refs eyes are better than the touchies?
LeftArmSpinner said | June 4th 2009 @ 10:37am | Report comment
Selectors, dont change the squad, unless you find a second rower who isn’t a half back or a half back or a full back, and who doesn’t listen to the U10’s opinions on whether wearing John Eales like tape around your ears makes you tougher!!! Lewis’s selction takes the idea of utility to another level-ridiculous. Why wasn’t Tupou selected in the first place?
This squad played to form, inexperienced. This will come. Creagh, Farah, Lafranchi, Wallace all delivered. They benefit from having a really good club coach. O’Donnell was strong. Wing did well out of dummie half. Hayne was vey good all night. Campo was good and with Weyman, Poore and McManus, will benefit from the run.
Gidley tried too hard and made some big, costly mistakes. I can live with this. Is he the best goal kicker?
Jennings was out of position and didnt get any one on one opportunities. Heaven help the defender when he does.
Lyons was good and should kick the goals.
Kite and Bailey were overshadowed.
The big question is whether this group will snag a victory next time around to avoid the 4 loses in a row monika. If only the selectors had been braver last year!!!!
Rellum said | June 4th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
God I love it when NSW supporters are chucking a wobbly. It makes the day seem that much sunnier
Terry Kidd said | June 4th 2009 @ 11:21am | Report comment
Looking out my office window at Murarrie right now Rellum and there isn’t much sun to be seen. Plenty of wet stuff though.
yeebarr said | June 4th 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment
Rellum,
To be honest I’d rather lose as well (as long as NSW have a good game that is) – having to sit and listen to my Qld uncle explain how the Maroons were cheated in every single SOO game they’ve ever lost would’ve killed me!
OldManEmu said | June 4th 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
The first thing to say that it was an incredible game played at immense pace with toughness, skill and endurance. Played at this level, Rugby League is a peerless spectacle. I am a “Rugby type” – what ever that means – but there is no getting past the fact that a good quality game of League is a brilliant event.
I agree with LAS – Lewis’ selection was confounding. He is neither here nor there. I would replace him with Waterhouse – they got the club right, just the wrong player. The reason is that I thought the Blues tactic of dual dummy halfs when the big Queensland forwards were tiring was a master stroke – my view is that Bellamy timed Wings insertion into the game perfectly. The yards were so easy from the 60 minute mark and a more expereinced (better?) set of halves would have made more of it.
The Blues selectors must stick strong with the squad that has been chosen. Any players that were quiet or down on from last night will be miles better for the run. To my mind the Blues did not have any bad players, just a few that looked a bit off the pace – McManus was a notably quiet performer.
Hayne was MOM in my view. He was dynamic every time he got the ball. O’Donnell was not far behind.
Bring on game 2.
Jeff said | June 4th 2009 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
I thought the game lacked intensity, atmosphere and was boring.
JimC said | June 4th 2009 @ 3:51pm | Report comment
gabriel – what are you talking about? Hayne’s pass for the try went back from his hands so it was a fair pass. The fact that he was running meant the ball landed in front of where he passed it from due to his forward momentum. But it’s not a forward pass.
How many times do we have to go through this??? By your definition of the rule, all passes have to made standing still. Think about it.
As for the Hayne no try decision – farcical.
Jerry said | June 4th 2009 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
Didn’t Hayne just bat the ball though? The whole ‘pass backward but drift forward’ thing depends on the player holding the ball before passing it (meaning the ball actually has forward momentum from being carried) rather than a loose ball or kick being batted by the player.
Gerry Faehrmann said | June 4th 2009 @ 5:00pm | Report comment
Typical bloody refs, they stuff up every game of footy.
They must be biased against any team with blue colours inc my beloved Bulldogs!
JohnB said | June 4th 2009 @ 5:35pm | Report comment
Sledgeross, have just looked at a replay as I didn’t see the first 3 tries last night. If we accept that any try from a kick involves a bit of luck, then yes the first and third Qld tries involved luck. A somewhat different order of magnitude of luck from the NSW tries from kicks. You no doubt also dispute the Hayne penalty leading to the 2nd try. We’re getting off the “luck” topic a bit talking about that, but both that and the Hayne no try looked to me like decisions that could reasonably be made – not clear cut but certainly not clearly wrong.
Boof said | June 4th 2009 @ 5:36pm | Report comment
Stuff the law of average`s…
Spencer said | June 5th 2009 @ 1:09am | Report comment
Four more years (NSW) boys! Where have I heard that before?
kevin from glebe said | June 5th 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment
nsw are suffering for not building for the future earlier. everyone is going on about the halves and how they performed but i think our forwards were ineffective especially bailey and kite, id be dropping them. petro and price ran all over nsw and laid the foundations for qld all game. im sure the rookies would have learnt enough this first game, hopefully the return of gallen and stewart will inject some more firepower.
sledgeross said | June 5th 2009 @ 8:24am | Report comment
No doubt John, but luck is luck
I actually dont dispute the Hayne penalty actually mate. When we slow it down, we see he only had eyes for the ball, but at full speed, I can see why the ref penalised him for “taking out” Folau. Those things happen mate, and I can live with that. The Hayne no try however is different. The referees ingnore the mandate of “benefit of the doubt” which goes to the attacking team. There were 3 angles, one which shows he MAY have stepped out (front view), one which shows he MAY NOT have stepped out (back view) and one which is inconclusive (top view). According to the laws of the game, the benefit must go to the attacking team. This has happened all season when these refs bugger up our game. If that try was awarded, I have no doubt that Queenslanders wouldnt have had a problem with it, as long as that particular call is consistent.
I honestly think Robert Finsh should be sacked, he does nothing for our game besides defend ineptitude. He said that “Bill Harrigan is the number 1 video ref, and Tim Mander is no 2″. How can we now be rating people who watch tv like all of us and decide games on no evidence?
Im not even saying that try cost us the game, because it was in the first 10 minutes. I thought the better team won, and its not the Cane Toads fault the Refs have no idea. But cmon NRL, sort it out before I start to look like Phil Gould instead of sounding like him
Richard Brockhurst said | June 5th 2009 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
That ball from Hayne went at least three metres forward before Creash dived on it . TRY — hell no!! That should have been a penaty. Hayne may have only put his heal on the line BUT he did !!!! That’s the rule so STOP your BLUEING and get ready for game 2 ……..
sledgeross said | June 5th 2009 @ 2:55pm | Report comment
Thanks Richard, Thurston threw a forward pass to Inglis then, so that shouldnt have been a try