PRENTICE: What I want to see in Origin 3

Expert

8th July, 2014

1075 Reads

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Tim Prentice

Expert

8th July, 2014

1075 Reads

Forgive me, especially if you lean in any way towards Queensland in matters of rugby league, but there are a few things I really want to see at Suncorp Stadium tonight.

After eight years of mid-season teeth-grinding, sheepishness and embarrassment bordering on torture, I have finally located the Maroons’ Origin grave. And I am bloody well going to dance on it.

The Roar Editor gave me special permission to write this type of ‘wish-list’ column. After such a drought, I didn’t need much prompting.

Rod Stewart once sang, “Tonight’s the night (gonna be alright)”. No, Rod, I say it’s going to be a damn sight better than ‘alright’. Laurie Daley’s NSW Blues are beautifully positioned to give it to the Smug-shine state in spades.

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>> State of Origin 3 preview
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>> State of Origin news

We patient and respectful New South Welsh folk are baying for 3-0. It’s our time. We don’t want a whitewash as much as a blue rinse.

These are some of the things I want to see tonight:

Rows of empty stadium seats as the banana-landers exhibit the ‘passion’ they claim they have, and NSW supposedly lacks.
Some referee decisions that actually go in favour of the NSW boys. We all know about novelty day – this could be novelty night.
Blues’ skipper Paul Gallen named man of the match and, ultimately, man of the series. They really love this guy in 07-land.
Josh Reynolds to bamboozle Johnathan Thurston with a show-and-go for the decisive try. That would be poetic.
Josh Dugan to power over for a try and pat Justin Hodges on the head in the ultimate display of sportsmanship.
Nate Myles complaining bitterly that a NSW forward led with his head in an attacking rush.
Billy Slater (accidently, of course) struck by a stray boot as he tries to score a try.
Will Chambers losing his mind during proceedings. Well, he lost his baseball cap on a boozy night out recently, why not his mind?
Greg Inglis scoring the match-winning try only to be denied by the video ref. Now that would be different, huh?
Cameron Smith waved away by the referee. “I’m in charge here,” says the whistle-blower. “Retreat, or there will be another penalty.”
Channel Nine to finally get a man of the match award correct. They’ve had plenty of chances for something like 45 per cent correct.

I am eagerly awaiting this game – I do not see it in any way, shape or form as a dead rubber. The Blues have done superbly to win the series 2-0 but there will be a definite hollow ring if the Maroons can jag a win to make it 2-1.

It has been incredibly tough going for NSW over the past eight years. This truly magnificent Queensland team has somehow managed to find a way when it was most needed. Their champions rose to the challenge and the Maroons’ so-called dynasty was built.

But this is the time for the Blues.

A blue rinse, 3-0 series scoreline, would be deserved for a rebuilt team under a new coach with a striking new mindset.

I was a little flippant earlier in this column about what I would like to see tonight. Apologies, if I offended. Origin is fun, huh? But what I really want to see is a NSW win and the faces of those Queensland mates of mine the morning after.

I am thoroughly sick of the smirks and condescension. I want to see widespread teeth-grinding, sheepishness and embarrassment, bordering on torture.

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