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The NSW Blues defeated the Queensland Maroons 18-8 in Sydney last night, setting up a deciding clash in Brisbane on July 6. It was another Origin classic, and a game that will be talked about at length for the next couple of days. Below are the main discussion points from game two.
New South Wales player ratings
Queensland player ratings
Did we just witness the death of the prop?
A mate’s father said over ten years ago that “the old school prop would be a thing of the past in rugby league soon”. Last night, we may have witnessed that moment.
NSW’s fast, skilful and athletic forward pack, led by backrower-turned-prop Paul Gallen, completely dominated the Maroons. They suffocated the Queensland forwards and made them look old, slow and above all, ineffective.
The NSW forward pack contained mostly rangy backrowers who were able to handle the Queensland traffic across the park, and make incisive runs at the Maroons line. It felt very much like the rugby league of the future.
Having said that, let’s not get carried away. It was just one game, and Matt Scott, who is similar to the old mould of prop, was the best player in game one, so it’s too early to say old school props are dead.
But it’s worth noting that Thaiday, Myles, Parker and Taylor – all second rowers – have all spent time in the front row at club level. . .
The Maroon’s were lucky to not get a hammering
Cameron Smith’s try should have been a double movement. The tackle was completed and momentum had stopped.
Take away that try, and suddenly Queensland’s attack looks pretty impotent.
They’ll improve for game 3, but Mal will need to make some adjustments, so we’ll finally get to see if he’s more than just a fantastic manager of men.
Who writes Locky’s scripts?
Queensland will be hoping it’s a Hollywood writer, because stories from Tinseltown generally have a happy ending.
Things are set up nicely now for a dream farewell for one of rugby league’s greatest ever players.
An Origin decider in Brisbane, and the chance to send Locky out a winner.
Think the Maroons will be motivated?
You can count on ‘The Clount’
Josh Dugan is one hell of a player. He’s very exciting, dangerous in attack, and a living example of an x-factor.
But he’s an instinctive footballer rather than a cerebral one. Nothing demonstrates this better than the difference in defensive positioning between him and his game two replacement, Anthony Minichello.
The Count was outstanding last night, and witnessing him defuse bombs or gather short kicks, and then fun full tilt at the Maroons, it was as if we’d stepped into a time machine back to 2005.
Even if Dugan is fit for Origin 3, I’d keep Minichello at the back. His teammates have confidence in him, and despite Dugan’s brilliance, I don’t think you could say the same about him.
Sticky situation for Sticky
Speaking of NSW injuries, if Brett Morris and Michael Jennings are fit for game 3, what does Ricky Stuart do?
He’s preached long and hard about loyalty, yet the facts are that NSW lost when Morris and Jennings played, and won when Hayne and Hopoate played.
This NSW team for game two also looked like extremely close and tight knit group, and whilst I’m certainly not suggesting that Morris and Jennings would disrupt team harmony, you can’t escape the fact this team won.
It would brave decision to alter with the team chemistry after last night’s victory.
Is Cameron Smith the best hooker of all-time?
Yes. I’ve never seen anyone better.
NSW need to kick the bad kicking
30 minutes into the game, it was looking fairly precarious for NSW, because their kicking game was atrocious. They consistently kicked straight down Queensland’s throats, and were very lucky that they weren’t punished, by Slater in particular.
After the first set of six, they were already under pressure, as a poor kick gave Queensland excellent field position.
30 minutes is far too long to settle into Origin football, and if NSW take that long to correct their kicking in game 3, I don’t they’ll get away with being down just 8-0.
Homebush sucks
ANZ Stadium is a magnificent ground to watch sporting events, including rugby league.
But it’s a pain in the butt to get to, and an even bigger nightmare to get home from. Despite catching an express train from the city to the ground, and back afterwards, it’s a still a 30 minute trip, packed in a carriage like sardines.
It’s bearable on the way out there, but nauseating on the way home.
It’s not a whinge, just an observation.
I hate to say I told you so, but …
As a writer, when you make predictions, you’re generally setting yourself up to fail in front of a lot of people. Egg on your face is one thing, but egg on your face in public can be downright embarrassing.
And Roarers will certainly let you know about it.
Which means you need milk it when you’re right! As such, I hope our dear Queensland readers will face the music today. Oikee, Damo, etc, where are you?