By Alan Nicolea -
July 17th 2009 @ 12:31am
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Origin forecast is sky blue for NSW
It has been a four year period which has eaten at the fabric of Origin football in NSW, but in the midst of the doom and gloom, the Blues ended up having the last say in this year’s series.
With their spirited 28-16 win against the Maroons, they may have finally triggered an avalanche of future success south of the border.
After Queensland became the first side in Origin history to attain four consecutive series victories, the Maroons made it their objective to rub salt into a NSW wound that has arguably become the most painful to bare in Blues history.
That pain, however, received a welcome boost when NSW produced one of its gutsiest displays in living memory to upset the Maroons in the cauldron of Origin football.
After a dreadful start, which saw QLD lock Dallas Johnson score his maiden Origin try, the Blues kept their composure and chanced an offensive arm that was barely used in Melbourne and Sydney.
Although their lack of adventure with the football in hand cost them the series, it proved to be better late than never in Origin 3, as the Blues started running QLD ragged in their own backyard.
Blues halves Trent Barrett and Brett Kimmorley combined well alongside new hooker Michael Ennis – a sight that will no doubt provide some much needed relief for NSW selectors.
Their constructive passing games allowed NSW’s young backline to register enough ball to build their attacking confidence.
Blues newcomers Michael Jennings and Josh Morris benefitted immensely from the service of Barrett and company, with the latter scoring a try thanks to Barrett’s offload.
Although they are yet to rival the match winning effects of Maroon stars Israel Folau and Greg Inglis, there were certainly signs that both Morris and Jennings will play integral parts in NSW’s future success.
Blues second rower Anthony Watmough was also a revelation for NSW, earning the Channel Nine man of the match award for his standout effort in Origin 3.
Watmough made 26 tackles and broke the Maroons line on numerous occasions to constantly put the home side on the back foot.
His partner in crime Ben Creagh also tormented the Maroons, scoring two tries and making constant inroads on the fringes for the Blues.
Overall, NSW should be commended for coming out the other side of what has been a dreaded period in their Origin history.
The seventeen that did the job on Wednesday night have given themselves the best chance of providing redemption to a Blues jersey that is just starting to make amends for four years of QLD torture.
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(9)
Hoy said | July 17th 2009 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Alan, are you a sky blue fan perchance?
Morris scored a trie off a forward pass, and Jennings has done nothing to really warrant selection.
Creagh and Watmough were very good in all games they played. Creagh was awesome running wide all series.
Hayne, who interestingly enough doesn’t seem to rate a mention in this article was head and shoulders above any other NSW player this year, and realistically he alone kept NSW in the hunt in the first two games.
QLD played as bad in the last game and NSW did in the first two. Dropped ball at crucial times delivering turnovers that were punished either with points, or field position. I still say QLD were lucky to win the fourth series in a row, but they did it.
Sets up for a good series next year.
Richard Brockhurst said | July 17th 2009 @ 10:30am | Report comment
Hoy, Williams didn’t put the ball down either and a couple of knock ons went unoticed. Keeps Origin alive though. Nsw were always going to win.
Worlds Biggest said | July 17th 2009 @ 10:45am | Report comment
I seem to remember similar optimism after NSW beat Qld in a Game 3 dead rubber at Suncorp in 2007. Wednesday night was a magnificent game, but it is hard to gage if it was a great performance by NSW or QLD weren’t there mentally. Probably a bit of both. For NSW to succeed they must have a big cleanout across the board in regards to Coaching, Management and Selectors. They need to bring back the culture which Qld has in spades. This win papers over the cracks in the Blues set up. Time for a clean out.
Alan nicolea said | July 17th 2009 @ 11:37am | Report comment
Hoy
Funny thing is i did mention Jarryd Hayne in the un-edited version of this article. But the roar obviously thought that it was not worth a mention. If you want to know what i think, Hayne was arguably the player of the series for NSW and the past month has seen his game involve into one that will see him as the first player picked for the blues next series. Its good to know that NSW at their best are good enough to win a series. It has to start next year though.
Mushi said | July 17th 2009 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
Yep if next years series consists of three dead rubber games where Queensland can’t select Folau, Petero, Hannant or Myles then I reckon the blues are dead set specials – though I wonder if Kimmorley will still be allowed to make more contact with the head than Lewis did versus Tyson.
Veuve said | July 17th 2009 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
It’ll be some time before NSW will be back to the heights of the year 2000 if ever. Both teams have 3 cleansweeps but in 2000 when Ryan Girdler scored 32 points and NSW won 56-16 was unforgettable for me. With QLD having such a fantastic team I think NSW will be waiting a while before they’ll have a team comparable to 2000.
Hoy said | July 17th 2009 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
How odd that he was taken out of the article Alan. Thanks for letting me know.
I hate Hayne, because he is a NSW character that you can love to hate. While I feel he is brilliant, I also can’t help but feel he is really lazy, and could be a lot better. When he isn’t making breaks, he just oozes laziness to me. I don’t know why. Some half efforts probably add to the appearance. Like poor tackle attempts where it seems he can’t be bothered, or those run backs where he just jogs up and falls over.
There is no doubt he can play, and put some big hits on, but it seems he only does it when he feels like it, otherwise he can’t be bothered.
Alan Nicolea said | July 17th 2009 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
Hoy
I think he was far from lazy for NSW this year. Indeed he has been far from lazy ever since Daniel Anderson switched him to fullback for the Eels. When he played at five-eighth, Hayne oozed laziness in a position that indeed oozes involvement. I think Hayne can get only better for the Blues if he was used in his favoured position of fullback, if his form on the wing is anything to go by.
david grant said | July 17th 2009 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
Origin 3 . This time NSW did not need the Refs to win it but got their help anyway as usual and a
. new club emerged; the Coward’s Club of Barrett, Waterhouse and Poore.