Tate refuses to point finger at Origin ref
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Winger Brent Tate bravely accepted the blame for Queensland’s narrow loss to NSW in State of Origin II on Wednesday, saying he should’ve scored the match-winning try.
With 10 minutes on the clock, Tate outleapt his opposite Jarryd Hayne, latching onto a pin-point Cooper Cronk crossfield kick and looked certain to claim a try that would’ve levelled the scores at 16-16 – only to see the ball knocked from his grasp by Blues centre Michael Jennings.
Maroons five-eighth Johnathan Thurston had his radar on target at ANZ Stadium, slotting a goal from the opposite sideline eight minutes earlier and, had Tate scored, he would’ve had an opportunity to give Queensland the lead.
And while replays suggested officials erred in awarding the Blues a 20-metre tap – when it should’ve been a goalline drop-out – Tate refused to point the finger at the referees, preferring to shoulder the blame himself.
“I asked the (touch judge) but he just told me they’d made the decision. There’s not much else you can do,” Tate told AAP.
“But I’m not blaming them – I should’ve scored it. I had the ball in my hands and it would’ve evened up (the scores).
“I’d be looking at myself more than the referees.
“If you’re looking for us to go point the finger at them, it’s not going to happen, because they (the referees) did a good job and NSW were just better than us.”
Tate was adamant Queensland’s bid to secure a seventh-straight Origin series was not under threat, despite NSW’s improved showing in 2012 in their second series under coach Ricky Stuart.
“This team hasn’t won six series in a row without being under pressure. That’s something we’ve got to deal with now,” the North Queensland star said.
“We just weren’t good enough tonight – that’s the way it goes.
“I think every year you’re winning, they say you’re getting closer to a loss but we’re still really confident within this group.
“We’ve been in this position before – it’s the same as last year. I’m not losing any confidence or sleep over it.
“They’ve got to come to our place now and we need to be better. She’s one apiece and they’re coming to our house now. It’s on in Queensland.”
© AAP 2013The Crowd Says (11) | Page 1 of Comments
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June 15th 2012 @ 7:12am
Wayno said | June 15th 2012 @ 7:12am | Report comment
He didnt have to blame the Referee’s, the papers, talk back radio, radio shock jockeys did it for them. lololo Good winners Qldrs.
June 15th 2012 @ 10:00am
Cicero said | June 15th 2012 @ 10:00am | Report comment
They are the type of comments you come to expect from Brent Tate. He’s a champion. Just a pity he’s a Queenslander
June 15th 2012 @ 5:58pm
steve b said | June 15th 2012 @ 5:58pm | Report comment
Have to agree,no b.s. in him !!!!
June 15th 2012 @ 11:12am
Betrand said | June 15th 2012 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Cicero, I dully support you on that comment.
As coach Mal said, Queensland are always focusing on improving their game and not crying over spilled milk. Its gone and over, you cannot get it back. focus on game three and IRON it out and over.
Imagine if Tate does that to Jennings and if NSW are down 16-12 with clock ticking down and if the Maroons got away with a win…. O.M.G I will not be surprised if there is a Media Ban on NSW team and Stuart Started criticizing the reffs saying all sorts of stuffs.
That’s good sportsmanship and blues should learn from Tate and the Queenslanders to accept defeat and Look into improving the game Plan.
June 15th 2012 @ 11:28am
Carlos said | June 15th 2012 @ 11:28am | Report comment
The Blues would be better of recalling Lockyer in one of the greatest acts of poor sportsmanship seen in any code when he refused to acknowledge NSW in his victory speech in 2010.
June 15th 2012 @ 12:12pm
Lachlan Simpson said | June 15th 2012 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
Refusing to and forgeting to are two very different matters. Especially when he later made the effort to apologise and thank them. Not many people associate the name Darren Lockyer with poor sportsmanship. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t thanked them any other time. Refuse certainly is a bit of an embelishment and if thats the worst bit of sportsmanship in any code ever, the world of sport is far more gracious than i had thought.
June 15th 2012 @ 5:21pm
mushi said | June 15th 2012 @ 5:21pm | Report comment
Yes it is definitely worse than ripping at a guy’s stiches…
June 16th 2012 @ 9:56am
Kim Hart said | June 16th 2012 @ 9:56am | Report comment
Or refusing to acknowledge the victors when you lose eh Gal.
June 16th 2012 @ 10:58am
Carlos said | June 16th 2012 @ 10:58am | Report comment
He didn’t forget
June 17th 2012 @ 8:55am
Mushi said | June 17th 2012 @ 8:55am | Report comment
Um got any proof of that our just your own sky blue delusions?
June 15th 2012 @ 5:24pm
mushi said | June 15th 2012 @ 5:24pm | Report comment
Better yet we could glass our sheila’s faces and then blame our mate whilst he’s out trying to make his own way on the golf course. stand up blokes