The 2012 State of Origin series kicks off in Melbourne as New South Wales try to end Queensland’s six year reign by winning the first match of what should be an intriguing series. Join us for live scores and commentary from 7:30pm AEST.
NSW coach Ricky Stuart has picked a side full of risk with Michael Jennings and Jarryd Hayne gaining selection despite their horror starts to the season for the Panthers and Eels respectively. Jennings has been playing reserve-grade NSW Cup football, but gets his chance tonight against Queensland.
Stuart has also rewarded Todd Carney with his maiden Blues jumper after impressing with his performances for the Cronulla Sharks.
Manly forward Tony Williams will also make his debut for NSW this season despite the fact that he hasn’t played football for the past seven weeks due to suspension.
There is no doubt that Stuart has taken a gamble, in the aim of scoring points against Queensland.
The Maroons are without former inspirational captain Darren Lockyer for the first time since the stone-age, but Queensland have once again stuck with their star-studded core of players responsible for leading their state to six consecutive series wins.
Superstars Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis and Johnathon Thurston are all in superb form this season and should be favoured to cause NSW huge problems if the Blues cannot contain them tonight.
Prediction:
State of Origin matches are always won by the team that displays the greatest intensity but that can last the full 80 minutes of high-paced action. Game 1 will be no different.
In last year’s decider, Maroons forwards Matt Scott, Petero Civoniceva, Nate Myles and Dave Taylor once again got the better of their Blues counterparts and will likely dominate again if NSW fail to match Queensland’s intensity.
On paper, the Blues possess a pack capable of dominating the Maroons and they must deliver on rugby league’s biggest stage.
Hooker Robbie Farah gets another chance to cement his claim as the Blues leading no.9, but will need to aim up defensively if he is to convince doubters of his worth at Origin level.
Debutant James Tamou will also be expected to fire upfront alongside fellow debutant Tony Williams, who will start the game from the bench.
If the preceding players showcase their best form, it will go a long way to nullifying the attacking threat that Slater, Thurston, Smith and Cronk present.
Furthermore, it will allow the new halves pairing of Mitchell Pearce and Carney to showcase their creative passing and kicking games.
If NSW fail to win the forward battle however, Queensland will yet again emerge victorious, particularly if a backline containing Justin Hodges and Greg Inglis is given room to move, and Billy Slater in hot try-scoring form.
The Blues could manage to get themselves into a position to win the contest, but the Queensland side containing the best game-breakers in rugby league will always be too hard to stop. This will prove to be the difference in the end, and I’m tipping Queensland by 6.
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james
Guest
well whitey you have highlighted your ignorance in relation to the rules of our game,you cannot lead with the foot to stop a try being scored number one ,secondly putting that rule aside then this instance would be classed as a one on one strip greg inglis got downward pressure after getting ball stripped ,any way you look at it, its a try and in my mind it could have been classed as an 8 point try so nsw should count themselves lucky . aside from that will nsw never learn that dirty tricks don`t win origin games apart from that incident jarred haine continues to play dirty tatics punching jonathan thurston on the ground in a tackle an diving like an italian soccer player at every opportunity ,really good player just clean up your act jarred .
Aussie Born and Bred
Guest
Without being played at, therefore, not a knock-on.
Aussie Born and Bred
Guest
The rules state that, if the ball isn't played at, it's not a knock-on. The ball was kicked out of Ingliss' hands and it then bounced of his arm WITHOUT BEING PLAYED AT!!!
Stanza
Guest
Does that mean you lost respect for Ricky Stewart (NSW Coach) for also saying it was a try in the post match interview?
Deano
Guest
Gallen was brilliant, he is an example to every forward playing the game and the NSW boys should look to him for inspiration, all they have to do is run around following Gallen. The best way for the blues forwards to improve is to mimic Gallen. In every aspect of life, excellence comes from emulating excellence.
Deano
Guest
Agree.
Deano
Guest
I thought Buhrer for the five minutes he was on looked better than Farah ( I love Robbie, being a die hard Tiges fan) at dummy half, there seemed to me to be a bit of staccato in the forward pack when Farah was feeding them the ball, I think Robbie was hesitating between the pick up and the pass, just taking a fraction of a second too long on the pass and it told on every forward except for Gallen, The Blues forwards failed to hit the advantage line too often. Farah's defense was solid and so was some of his play off the ruck, he seemed to play almost as a second halfback at times during the game, especially late in the tackle count. Gus Gould said after the game, why go into the state of origin and play with 15 players??? Which is effectively what Stuart did. I think Stuart has to shoulder the blame more than the refs. NSW were okay but they lack the structured game plan that Queensland have, or at least they failed to execute their plan as well. Jennings and Hayne both played okay, aside from Jennings indiscretion that cost us a player and a try in the first half. Uate and Morris were suspect in defense close to the try line, Uate kept coming up and in and Morris was indecisive at times, he should have nailed Thurston when Boyd scored the second try, I think it was Morris indecisiveness that drew Uate in rather than Uate being terrible.
Ben
Guest
since when do you get penalised for a textbook tackle (greg bird)! since when can you throw the ball at the back of someones head and get away with it. you are imbred! that is all
Ben
Guest
nsws tries came from qlds mistakes......qld's tries came from referees mistakes.. big difference!
Ben
Guest
mate you should look at that reply again. even if farah knocked the ball out.. is everyone just ignoring the fact that the ball hit inglis's forearm after it was knocked on... i dont know what rule book your reading but thats a knock on everyday of the week
Salty
Guest
3 reasons why NSW lost. 1. took the kick when they should have taken the tap. 2. Bird should have jst kept walking when the the ball was thrown at him. NSW had the Qld rattled and he would have got another penalty. 3. NSW need a leader who watches what is happening and organises the plays and if nothing is happening take a risk! Qld has always had one of these. Strangely enough Carney showed moments of this especially towards the end of the second half. If I was Ricky I would leave him in the side and let him develop.
Ben
Guest
Your a joke mate. three terrible desicions lead to all three of queenslands tries... jennings sent off and scott left on the field after starting the whole fight with unsportsmen like conduct. greg birds tackle was textbook.. to penalise him for that was complete and utter bullshit. then inglis's try.. where do i start... even if farahs foot knocked the ball out it still hit inglis's forearm before the ground, even in queenslands rule book thats a knock on.
Stanza
Guest
Your talking of what might have happened. Whilst it may have been a harsh call, that is the way sport goes. I would rather look at why your team lost the game rather than blame the refs. Uate's poor defense laps, Jennings brain snap, the under utilisation of power players of Tony Williams who played only 10 minutes,Gallen not taking a chance of going for try insted opting for a penalty, wasted substitution on Buhrer and many more. Its easy to blame your ills on a referee than the Blues inability to score after dominating!
Dave
Guest
Jennings was probably thinking that second man Sam Thaiday has been allowed to do this for years.
Dave
Guest
Why is that when second man Sam has been doing it for years. And getting away with it. He usually blindsides smaller men. But will think about it twice after Pearce sorted him out last night.
Susanne Washington
Guest
I quote from the Sydney Morning Herald this morning... 'Even Ricky Stuart, who was emitting a “tick, tick, tick” at the press conference, conceded it was a try, while Queensland teammates of Inglis said while they understood howls of Blue protest, the right call was made.'.... end of argument!
Dave
Guest
He only did what second man Sam Thaiday has been getting away with for years.
Whitey
Guest
I am from the UK, so I wasn't supporting either team, was just hope for a great match (which it was!). But that video ref decision at the end of the the match was embarrassing! And I have lost a lot of respect for the QLD coach for saying it was a try. It didn't matter in the end, but it was the worst video ref decisions I have ever seen!
p.Tah
Guest
On second thought, that's the oval configuration, the rectangular configuration is larger.
81paling
Roar Rookie
The best part was when Wally Lewis criticized Jennings for being the 3rd man in running from 40m away. Wally must have been jealous because someone was steeling his move even the most die hard caine toad supporters must have seen even a little irony in that, did they?