Brilliant Maroons sweep the series against hapless Blues
Roar Guru By Steve Kaless, 8 Jul 2010 Steve Kaless is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Craig Bellamy, NRL, NSW Blues, Queensland Maroons, Rugby League, State Of Origin
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Queensland players celebrate a try by Billy Slater. AAP Image/Paul Miller
NSW breathed some much needed life into the series south of the border by turning up and putting in their best showing of the year, while Queensland rightfully marked their period of domination with their first 3-0 victory of their historic five straight series victories.
The Blues aimed up, but just fell short.
Every time it looked good there would be a mistake: a silly penalty or the ball would be in the wrong guy’s hands. Mitchell Pearce fails to find touch, Michael Ennis has a brain meltdown at the end, or Beau Scott is on the end of the attacking raid.
It just wasn’t to be.
For Queensland, when they needed a big player, a star player stood up. Billy Slater nails Anthony Watmough with a try saver, Darren Lockyer hammers a freakish field goal, and then the two combine for the match winner.
Absolute class.
It’s also only fair that I enjoy a decent serve of humble pie. Kurt Gidley and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, two players I’ve bagged from the outset, both played blinders.
Greg Bird also showed the powers of redemption available through sport, becoming the most popular man in NSW when he dived on the ball to put the Blues in front. I’d say he could become Premier, but that hardly makes the point.
Who knows, maybe there is room for an “Origin type” player? I’d give him another run.
Most of the changes for NSW seemed to work. Even Tim Mannah and Kade Snowden didn’t look out of place. And if this game was largely about development, then they will learn from the experience.
The Panthers’ Michael Jennings will surely remain in that spot for the foreseeable future and I can’t help but wonder if it might have been different if a player like Jamal Idris had the ball instead of Beau Scott.
Scott seemed to panic every time he got it. You could almost hear his mind screaming: “DON’T STUFF UP, DON’T STUFF UP.” And a sense of relief seemed to wash over the ground when he took the tackle and then played the ball.
You could then only really judge Michael Gordon once he has a centre inside him that is creating things for him.
But the Queenslanders were, and are, just much better. They defended brilliantly and their attack just had that level of effectiveness about it that you just knew if they got a chance, they’d make the Blues pay.
And so it was.
However, in 12 months time they may face the challenge of finding replacements for Lockyer and Civoniceva, and Folau will be practising his drop kicks. I’ve no doubt they’ll come up with something, but let’s not pretend there are ready-made replacements for these legends.
Hell, Darren and Petero might decide to do it all again.
Whatever happensm I’m already looking forward to next year’s series. NSW now have a year to wonder whether it’s a light at the end of the tunnel or an oncoming train.
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- Craig Bellamy, NRL, NSW Blues, Queensland Maroons, Rugby League, State Of Origin
July 8th 2010 @ 8:55am
kovana said | July 8th 2010 @ 8:55am | Report comment
Some Great crowds for the SOO..
Game 1= 68753
game2= 52452
game3= 61259
Total = 182464
Avg= 60’821/match
July 8th 2010 @ 1:06pm
Kovana's uncle said | July 8th 2010 @ 1:06pm | Report comment
The crowd last night tended to show how rubbery the “48,000″ for the union test between Aus and Eng was…
Over 61,000 a pretty good result for another wet night and a dead rubber. Just about every sport would kill for it.
July 8th 2010 @ 8:57am
Barry said | July 8th 2010 @ 8:57am | Report comment
Myles hit Ennis first while they were on the ground. Ennis nailed Myles and only ran for cover when Shillington blind sided him and king hit him.
Thaiday needs to get back to doing what he does best and that’s running on to the ball hard and not trying to ref the game or dispense justice. He was ordinary last night. Looked like disco inferno when he had his headband on and waving his arms at the ref.
Can’t help but laugh about your appraisal of the commentators. Fatty, Wendall and King Wally are all completely one eyed and every comment they make is pro-Maroon. All Gould and Fittler are doing is returning serve. Sterlo goes so far to be unbiased that he actually goes too far the other way and should be labelled a turncoat. Even my missus noted that Sterlo seemed anti-NSW.
I thought Mannah was great off the bench – I thought he might be too soft for Origin but definitely deserves a spot next year. Bird was the difference for NSW – he and Gallen lead the side in the first 20 when the rest of the side was dominated and intimidated and their attitude rubbed off to all the other players. Give the difference between Mannah and Bird’s approach to the game – does it make a myth of the Origin “type” player ?
July 8th 2010 @ 9:13am
Hoy said | July 8th 2010 @ 9:13am | Report comment
To be honest, I don’t count Fatty and Wendell as they are “guest” commentators at the start of the game. I can handle that palava at the start as old players try to talk their sides up. King Wally was on the sideline throughout the game, and I thought he was quite impartial as well, and gave his QLD opinion when asked for it, and also talked up what he thought NSW should be doing. Can’t ask for more than that.
What I can’t handle is Fittler and Gould throughout the game talking about “us” and “we” etc. “What “we” need to do” etc. Sorry, but this is supposed national coverage, and I just think that at least they should be saying “What NSW need to do”. Of course I know they are old NSW stalwarts, but I don’t think they should be speaking their bias whilst calling a game. When the game got interesting in the second half, Gus took to personally attack QLD players calling Thaiday a coward etc. I can’t stomach that in a game commentator for national coverage of rugby league’s showpiece.
As for Sterlo being a turncoat? WTF? Would you rather he call the game like Fittler and Gus? No thanks. I have long been a believer that Sterlo is miles above other ex-players in commentary because he can see the game and call it pure, even when calling his beloved Parra.
July 8th 2010 @ 9:19am
BennO said | July 8th 2010 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Sterlo is an excellent commentator, whenever he calls a game.
July 8th 2010 @ 11:31am
Hutchoman said | July 8th 2010 @ 11:31am | Report comment
Sterlo’s comments are and have been extremely pro-Queensland for years. If he said exactly the same stuff, but with a Queensland background, he’d be deemed worse than Vautin. Actually have a listen to what he says during a call.
A great commentator? Maybe. Just keep him north of the Tweed.
July 8th 2010 @ 11:41am
Hoy said | July 8th 2010 @ 11:41am | Report comment
But is that because QLD are a better team anyway? You have to admit that some of the play from NSW for the last two years at least has been pretty average.
July 8th 2010 @ 12:06pm
Hutchoman said | July 8th 2010 @ 12:06pm | Report comment
I agree with your comment that NSW have been pretty average. My comments though span much further than the last 2 years. Admittedly just going from my recollections, but I’m talking 10+ years.
July 8th 2010 @ 1:56pm
clemjones said | July 8th 2010 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
What a typically one eyed NSW comment. Cowardly acts are when someone holds your arms from behind while a team mate swings haymakers or laying into a player while he is on his knees. Face it, lost the game, lost the fights and the commentry team should lose “Gus Gould”.
July 8th 2010 @ 9:05am
Dean - Surry Hills said | July 8th 2010 @ 9:05am | Report comment
Was I watching the same game as you folks ????? Two costly referee decisions in the first half gave QLD possession and allowed for dominance. The first try from a drop-kick restart that should have been a 20 metre NSW tap when it was clearly knocked on by a Maroon. The second try from a charge down that in my opinion was not played at and QLD given 6 more tackles. NSW in my opinion were the better team for nearly 60 minutes of the game. The so-called superstars of the QLD backline did bugger all – where was Falau, Inglis, Boyd, and Thurston? If not for Cameron Smith, Billy The Kid, and the referee, I believe QLD would have lost by a large margin. Take into account the first game of the series when Didley was stripped of the ball and QLD scored to win. The end result for this series may have produced an entirely different outcome with NSW doing the lap of honour instead.
July 8th 2010 @ 9:17am
BennO said | July 8th 2010 @ 9:17am | Report comment
Yeah I think you might have been watching a tape from over 6 years ago if you’re whingeing about the refs decisions and poor play from QLD.
July 8th 2010 @ 9:27am
Brett McKay said | July 8th 2010 @ 9:27am | Report comment
I didn’t realise the Green & Gold Glasses came in sky blue…….
July 8th 2010 @ 10:08am
Mushi said | July 8th 2010 @ 10:08am | Report comment
Hilarious you actually believe NSW were the better team, side splitting stuff.
July 8th 2010 @ 6:08pm
Jeff said | July 8th 2010 @ 6:08pm | Report comment
If anything most refereeing decisions were in favour of Blues. But then again I don’t have the glasses.
July 8th 2010 @ 10:08pm
Dean - Surry Hills said | July 8th 2010 @ 10:08pm | Report comment
Yep – without doubt. Take away QLD’s two tries from refs errors, add a try when Morris dropped the ball with the line open, add another with Billy The Kids miraculous save on Watmoughs attempt, and then a final try from a pass thrown resulting in an inercept for QLD. That’s a tally of five tries. NSW should have won by at least 13+. Watch the game again – but this time wear YOUR spectacles !!!!!!!
July 9th 2010 @ 9:39am
Col the Pom said | July 9th 2010 @ 9:39am | Report comment
Billy’s tackle on a much bigger man was nothing short of brilliant, Izzy’s interception was a good reading of the play and this is Not the first time that Morris has dropped the ball plus the ref created two chances for NSW tries. just watched it again with my glasses o ($10 bought from reject shop just to be fair to you) c’mon Dean look at both sides.
Maybe Queensland only allowed Galen, Bird and Gidley to score tries then they will be picked for game one next year. hehehe
July 9th 2010 @ 3:46pm
Kim Hart said | July 9th 2010 @ 3:46pm | Report comment
Hang on you’re counting the tries the Blues failed to score as evidence that they would have won by a wide margin. I think what your trying to say is that they would have won if they were any good.
Folks from Surry Hills should stick to drinking lattes at art galleries.
July 9th 2010 @ 10:50pm
Dean - Surry Hills said | July 9th 2010 @ 10:50pm | Report comment
Kim (chief), did you partake in a few doubles before posting this mush ????
I prefer flat whites, and usually brew my own with the aid of plunger.
I’d prefer not to get in an argument with you as I always remember the good advice my Mother once told me….”Dean, remember son….all women are mental”.
July 9th 2010 @ 3:44pm
Kim Hart said | July 9th 2010 @ 3:44pm | Report comment
Loser, just like your team and typical of NSW supporters who refuse to admit that QLD has ever won a game without the referees help. For the record the Maroons went about 30 minutes without a penalty and still won.
July 10th 2010 @ 8:14am
Dean - Surry Hills said | July 10th 2010 @ 8:14am | Report comment
No mention was made of penalties Kimmy. I simply believe that NSW were the better side in Origin 3, and came within a whisker of wining in Origin 1. As the writer of this original article suggests, “NSW were hapless”. Definition of hapless for those to lazy to look it up – unfortunate and without luck – AND I AGREE 100%.
July 10th 2010 @ 1:13pm
Curtis said | July 10th 2010 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Lets face it, QLD have won 5 in a row and no amount of bad reffing could account for 5 straight series losses to the blues. Get over it. QLD are a much better side with players who want to play the game and not do stupid dirty things. Its not QLD fault that NSW get penalised for doing the wrong things. If the blues want to start winning then they have to select match winners like soward. Open your eyes and see that QLD are the best and probably will another couple of series until NSW get serious and select a team that will threaten QLD.
PS NSW were never going to win origin 1. Not a chance.
July 12th 2010 @ 2:34pm
Dean - Surry Hills said | July 12th 2010 @ 2:34pm | Report comment
Curtis, for a minute there you almost bored me to death…….harping on like a parrot that’s been listening to too much talkback radio. NSW with their supposedly inferior team went oh so close to winning games 1 and 3 of this series. I agree with you in regards to Jamie Soward, and if you bother to take the time to read previous posts then you will find that I have been promoting his talents for some time. Again – you dribbler….I have made no mention of penalties……..just costly decisions that turned the game in favour of QLD. And don’t get all high and mighty of how QLD are a fair team…..they introduced the grapple tackle in line with their Melbourne Storm counterparts. When ever there is a one-on-one fight you will also see a swarm of Maroon jerseys flock to the altercation to protect their “buddy” who is usually coming off second best. This reminds me somehow of the Italian and Lebanese gangs who used to roam around the city looking for trouble in numbers – but were too afraid to confront people one-on-one.
July 17th 2010 @ 6:59pm
Curtis said | July 17th 2010 @ 6:59pm | Report comment
Wow into the insults early there Dean. Firstly i’m going to tell you that when i dribble i can’t help it, its a medical condition. Secondly Craig Bellamy can take all the credit for the grapple tackle techniques that the storm players used. Nsw were guilty of using them all through the series so im not sure what you meant by this “they introduced the grapple tackle in line with their Melbourne Storm counterparts”. Thirdly i did read your previous posts and was agreeing with you on the soward issue. Fourthly Qld are there to play rugby league not engage in one on ones with the Nsw players. They all come in to let the blues players know that if they want to fight with one of them then they have to fight all of them. Its a damn good deterrent. Last but not least Qld were superior in the first 2 games. They were light years out in front of NSW. The third game was a much better contest where reffing decisions went against either team but were pretty even. It was class that shone through in the end. Dont blame costly reffing , blame selectors. NSW have the team to win a series you just need the selectors to pick them in their right positions.
July 8th 2010 @ 9:10am
mona said | July 8th 2010 @ 9:10am | Report comment
something that really annoyed me about the game was that whenever someone gave away a penalty, or made a mistake or something they never replayed it. A million times last night the ref would blow the whistle for a penalty and I’d not know what happened/couldn’t yell at the ref for being an idiot (more, I mean).
And I realised I really hate Gus Gould, he calls Sam Thaiday a coward when he pushes Michael Jennings but o hey, that guy you pick because of his ‘niggle’ and aggression punched, punched, hid behind a teammate. But I already know all the New South Welshfolk will see it at as some heroic act and all the Queenslanders will call ‘Cat in the ranks’. Origin is amazing.
July 8th 2010 @ 9:10am
The Link said | July 8th 2010 @ 9:10am | Report comment
Now that’s what an Origin game should be.
The greatest rivalry in the history of Australian sport.
July 8th 2010 @ 12:22pm
oikee said | July 8th 2010 @ 12:22pm | Report comment
Hehe, makes you wish that was the 1st game, not the last this year. Great contest, always great veiwing, drama at its absolute best.
July 8th 2010 @ 3:18pm
Springs said | July 8th 2010 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
Exactly, if that was game 2 or a game 3 decider, there would be 80,000 there and the game would be a classic, real edge of the seat stuff. But instead I doubt that many people were too nervous or worried about the result.
July 8th 2010 @ 3:19pm
M1tch said | July 8th 2010 @ 3:19pm | Report comment
I know I was nervous
July 8th 2010 @ 3:30pm
Springs said | July 8th 2010 @ 3:30pm | Report comment
But were you as nervous as you would be if it was to decide the series?
July 8th 2010 @ 3:31pm
M1tch said | July 8th 2010 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
different kind of nervous haha
July 8th 2010 @ 9:11am
M1tch said | July 8th 2010 @ 9:11am | Report comment
Gidley to 9 for 2011, with Tim Moltzen the utility
Bye bye Ennis
July 8th 2010 @ 9:24am
Barry said | July 8th 2010 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Sterlo’s not that great a commentator. Always has to be Mr Nice Guy – rarely criticises a player and if he does it’s always prefaced with something like “He’s always been one of my favorite players but…”
All his “insightful” commentary is after the fact. “If we freeze play there you’ll see that blah, blah, blah” yeah we know Sterlo we just saw it too…
I don’t think refs were biased towards either side. They let a lot of rough stuff in the ruck go. A few of the Blues players (especially Gallen) had the forearm on the head of QLD players in tackles and vice versa. Petero put on about 3 sleeper holds in the first half that didn’t get pinged so it was definitely both ways. Refs are reluctant to penalise that sort of thing in Origin and perhaps that’s also contributed to some of the spite that you don’t normally see in club games…
July 8th 2010 @ 12:24pm
oikee said | July 8th 2010 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
Agree Barry, and there is the little fact that neither team wants to let there state down.
July 8th 2010 @ 10:18am
Barry said | July 8th 2010 @ 10:18am | Report comment
Willy – Ennis got replaced after 25 mins so Bellamy could put a fresh dummy half on – it’s quite a common tactic in rep footy – he didn’t get dragged because of his performance. Then Ennis comes on fresh in the second half. It clearly worked via the metres Gidley maid out of dummy half when he came on and then Ennis did the same in the 2nd half – including setting up the try that put them in the lead. Ennis was also the player putting the most pressure on Qld kickers – by himself most of the time.
To blame Ennis for the loss is ridiculous. We conceded two soft tries under the sticks and bombed two ceratin tries – these are the reasons we lost plus all the little 1%ers like Pearce not finding touch, Gallen dropping the ball on the second hit up of the game etc.
It was a silly penalty but Qld had the ball deep within NSW territory anyway, it’s not like they got out of their own 20 metre zone on the back of Ennis throwing a few. Ennis just makes a convenient scapegoat.
July 8th 2010 @ 10:35am
Willy said | July 8th 2010 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Wow – youre right.
Ennis really should be Prime Minister. He’s obviously brilliant, and not at all a preening, useless, faux-aggressive tool.
My mistake.
July 8th 2010 @ 10:36am
Barry said | July 8th 2010 @ 10:36am | Report comment
nice, intelligent comment willy…good analysis
July 8th 2010 @ 11:16am
Willy said | July 8th 2010 @ 11:16am | Report comment
Tell you what Barry – here’s my analysis:
Take a dump, put a Blue jersey on it and play it at hooker in Origin 1 2011.
I guarantee the “Poo in Blue” will go better than Ennis.
July 8th 2010 @ 10:49am
Hoy said | July 8th 2010 @ 10:49am | Report comment
For all the talk about Mitchell Pearce being the origin halfback for NSW, I don’t think he has done anything in three games. Now I admit, the first game he was what? 19 and was two years ago? But Game 2 and Game 3 this year, he hasn’t directed the team around at all. In fact, in game 3, he was overshadowed in the organisation stakes by Gidley, Bird, Barrett, and Hayne towards the end, leaving him there as nothing more but a runner, a role at which he had no impact either.
What does everyone else reckon? I don’t think he has played that well at all in two games. At the risk of more changes to NSW, I think they need to look elsewhere still. Could be wrong.
I also think it is quite odd that Cronk got so much game time last night. He was on for a backrower I think, but I didn’t hear an explanation for that. Was someone injured, or they just wanted him on the field? Was that a precursor to Lockyer retiring? Give him a run to see how he goes? No doubt he will most probably partner Thurston in the halves when Locky does go.
July 8th 2010 @ 10:54am
BennO said | July 8th 2010 @ 10:54am | Report comment
Re pearce. I think that’s the selector’s fault (again) for choosing Barrett to hold Pearce’s hand as an experienced head to help him through, and then telling that to anyone who would listen. They didn’t have much confidence in him from the top so I think that rubbed off on him. Maybe he’ll take the game by the horns a bit more if they tell him he’s the man with no one to hold his hand.
Or maybe he’s a bit overrated and they should pick Gidley at 7 and Soward at 6. But that would be chopping and changing too much, and the blues don’t like doing that. This is it. This is the team to end QLD’s domination.
How many times have we heard that over 5 years?
July 8th 2010 @ 12:30pm
oikee said | July 8th 2010 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
Hoy, i think you are being a little pre-mature to say Pearce is no good, the kid is only 21 up against Lockyer who has years of experience. Peace will be better each year he plays, if they keep him there. You just need a five-eight to help him mature.
I have been watching James Maloney for the Warriors, if this kid is a Blue, he has Origin written all over him. He competes like every game is his last. If you get a chance, watch him play, he is a real leader.
July 8th 2010 @ 6:24pm
Jeff said | July 8th 2010 @ 6:24pm | Report comment
And he has that COACHED in MELBOURNE background. but please give Pearce the chance of a full series with a decent No 6. Soward must be hurtin’ when you look at Barrett’s “Let’s Kick the ball high and hope someone drops it” aprach to kicking game. Queensland trained all week for that and he didn’t leave them thinking that they’d wasted their efforts.
July 8th 2010 @ 1:42pm
Gareth said | July 8th 2010 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
I’m not sure why Pearce has been touted as the next big thing and the saviour. He’s admittedly done well this year in combination with Carney, but his performances have been flattered by some out of form opposition. The Bunnies and Tigers were diabolical in the first two rounds, in Round four, the Broncos were coming off a hiding from the Warriors in Brisbane, and the Raiders were woeful in Sydney. He was there for a couple of embarrassing touch ups against the Sharks and Bulldogs, but perhaps more telling – the two standout games for the Roosters this season were against the Storm and the Titans, both away – and Pearce played neither game.
Obviously he’s not the sole factor behind his team’s form, but at the very least, most people would concede that he’s a “rocks or diamonds” type player. In Game 2, NSW had no direction or structure, and in Game 3 NSW looked best with Gidley calling the shots and some adlib play, and I don’t think either game speaks kindly of Pearce’s involvement. My two biggest memories of Pearce in both games he’s played were his intercepted pass that put the game to bed last night, and him standing with his hands on his hips watching as Tonga streaked from twice as far away to dive on a loose ball and score.
In Origin, I think a steadier hand with an organising bent is needed in the halfback role. I don’t know if that player actually exists within our ranks, but I think Luke Walsh would go close. He’s got a stellar short kicking game which would really complement someone with a booming boot like Sutton or Campese, and if nothing else, the Panthers have looked a lot better since signing him. Otherwise, I think Tim Moltzen when fit would be a bloody good option, though he’s not really an organiser. Then there’s Hodkinson and Maloney, who are both coming along well and could be contenders in a couple of season.
July 8th 2010 @ 2:01pm
Hoy said | July 8th 2010 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
Bird passed that ball last night.
July 8th 2010 @ 2:38pm
Gareth said | July 8th 2010 @ 2:38pm | Report comment
That’s not what I saw, and I’ve found at least one source to back me up – http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=7924858 (even if it is Nine MSN :/ )
Edit: Here’s another – http://www.3news.co.nz/State-of-Origin-Game-3-LIVE-UPDATES/tabid/415/articleID/164701/Default.aspx
July 8th 2010 @ 4:41pm
Hoy said | July 8th 2010 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
Sorry, I thought it was Bird floating one wide.