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The Queensland Maroons have won the 2015 State of Origin series after defeating the New South Wales Blues 52-6 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Wednesday night.
The Maroons proved far too classy in the end and won their ninth series in the last 10 years, a stunning statistic that underlies the greatness of this wonderful football team.
Despite the blowout in the decider, both teams delivered a captivating and enthralling series. It’s no mean feat to go close to matching the build-up and hype of a State of Origin series, but I think both teams achieved that this year, and kudos to them.
Now that Queensland have held the Shield high, it’s time to look back on the series and ask five big questions.
1. Was last night’s score a true reflection of the two sides?
It would be harsh on NSW to answer ‘yes’, considering they lost Game 1 by a single point, and won Game 2.
However, I’ve feared last night’s scoreline every single time these two teams have faced each other in recent memory.
This Maroons team features some of the greatest rugby league players of all time, and if they play to their potential they have the ability to not just beat NSW, but embarrass them. Last night was evidence of that, and I’m actually shocked it hadn’t happened before over the last five or six years.
The core of this Queensland team are absolutely brilliant footy players, and deserve all the plaudits that come their way today, and in their careers. They flexed their muscles last night and the Blues simply couldn’t match them.
In fact, can anyone remember any New South Welshmen doing anything positive of note? Should any of them receive a player rating above four out of 10? Seriously?
When it comes to asking if the Brisbane scoreline was a reflection of the two sides, scarily, I probably wouldn’t hesitate to say that it may have been.
2. What does it take to get sent to the bin in Origin?
Trent Merrin’s tackle on Corey Parker will probably see him serve a lengthy suspension, yet he didn’t even get 10 minutes in the sin bin last night.
Likewise, James Tamou completed not one, but two swinging arms in the same tackle, viciously connecting with the head of Jacob Lillyman in quick succession on two illegal plays, yet he was merely placed on report.
I don’t have an issue with rugby league powerbrokers deciding that Origin is a different beast, and a little more ‘action’ should be let go. But spare me the ridiculousness of banning punches and ‘cracking down on dangerous tackles’ if you’re only going to punish players after the game, and not during it.
3. What difference does Cooper Cronk make to the Maroons?
Queensland fans like to tell me that the Maroons are a different side when Cooper Cronk is at halfback, and that NSW haven’t won a series when the Melbourne No. 7 plays in most of the games within a series.
It’s a convenient narrative. It’s also an accurate one.
Cronk usually has the words ‘methodical’, ‘precise’, and ‘clinical’ used when describing his play, and it’s no coincidence that Queensland played in that exact fashion last night.
They were ruthless. They were brilliant. They were at their executional best.
While Cronk may not be the best player in the Maroons line-up, he very well may be their most important, due to the amazing influence he has on the way they play.
Josh Papalii celebrates after scoring a try during State of Origin. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)
4. Where to now for Queensland’s veterans?
Mal Meninga and the Maroons selectors largely kept the faith with their older stars after last year’s series loss. However, now another year has passed, and though Queensland won the series questions will still be asked of where the Maroons should head next year.
Re-generating a side is a vital element in staying on top and the Maroons need to develop the next generation of Origin stars.
Justin Hodges has already announced his Origin retirement, but is it time for any of Queensland’s older stars like Matt Scott, Sam Thaiday, Cameron Smith, Nate Myles or Corey Parker to join him?
Personally, I’ve always been a fan of ‘winning while your winning’. In other words, don’t make changes until you absolutely need to.
That’s not to say Queensland shouldn’t use their bench to blood young players, something they’ve already tried to do. But Origin isn’t like club football, you don’t really have to build your team in a similar vein to the way you do in the NRL.
Just win. Something the Maroons are evidently very, very good at.
5. Who was worse in the first 40 minutes, the referees or NSW?
At half-time, a combination of bad play and questionable refereeing saw the Blues miss 17 tackles and commit seven penalties. Given these stats against a classy line-up like the Maroons, the Blues were lucky to only be down by 20 points after 40 minutes.
They didn’t help themselves, but the referees killed them too.
A clear shoulder charge from Matt Scott on Will Hopoate led to the first try. Beau Scott commits a dumb penalty, lifting Cam Smith past the horizontal.
Cooper Cronk milks a dubious penalty, and the Maroons score off the ensuing set of six. Trent Merrin executes a dangerous lift and should have been given 10 minutes in the bin for his lifting tackle…
Nope. I can’t keep a straight face, even as I type this. Try as I may as a biased Blues fan, NSW simply can’t blame the referees for last night’s loss, for Queensland were the much better side and the Blues played pathetically.
But c’mon, it wouldn’t be Origin without one final irrational, one-eyed, obligatory whinge for the Origin series!