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Brilliant Maroons sweep the series against hapless Blues

7th July, 2010
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Roar Guru
7th July, 2010
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Queensland players celebrate a try by Billy Slater. AAP Image/Paul Miller

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.

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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.

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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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