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NSW should stop whinging and ask why they couldn't score points

Roar Guru
24th May, 2012
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Darius Boyd scores a try while being tackled by Akuila Uate during State of Origin 1 between Queensland and New South Wales at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Wednesday, May 23, 2012. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay)
Roar Guru
24th May, 2012
126
2188 Reads

Nothing is more certain than the bleating Blues post a close Origin defeat. Of course the Blues didn’t lose the match, the referees conspired to steal it from them.

Just like every other defeat since they started caring about Origin.

Sure Hayne punching Thurston is perfectly acceptable and of course NSW were allowed to grab Cooper Cronk as he attempted to race back to the 20 for a quick restart and pull back Billy Slater as he ran in support of a break.

There were mistakes that went both ways and it is amazing how selective the memory of a poor loser is.

Let’s ignore the Greg Inglis try for a second, which I’m sure NSW would be defending if the roles were reversed and pretend we are at 12-10 with seven minutes to go.

Yes the match has a different complexion, but why is there this great faith that NSW would have found a way to pick up the points in the next seven minutes from their own end?

All game, NSW seemingly had no plan to actually convert pressure into points other than hope QLD made an error. Their philosophy seemed to be “let’s wait till Billy Slater screws up”.

They got two tries out of it, but was this supposed to be some grand master plan to unlock 30 points?

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Gallen laid the platform but his team seemed incapable of producing anything that would pierce the line and deliver points ball in hand. Frankly, I think he was the real man of the match and that NSW selectors are doing Gallen an injustice with this claytons forward pack.

There were some sweeping movements for Jennings and Hayne but those came with the knowledge that it allows the defence to cover and either needed a ball inside or some kind of structure for the next tackle.

Neither were forthcoming.

Even when T-Rex was introduced and caused nightmares for the QLD pack, where was the straight runner off his hip to take advantage?

At one point, I think he sent an offload to a QLD player out of pure exasperation.

This is where I look at Gallen’s decision to let Carney take the shot at goal and ask was it a brain explosion or just pure desperation after being repelled time and time again.

The whole approach of the Blues in attack just seemed very odd given this was supposedly a team selected to rack up points faster than new fly buys.

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Instead, we were treated to the new stage production of ruck. Kick, Pray

As a Queenslander, I certainly hope they continue to focus on their attention of the great injustice of a 50-50 call going against them.

Much better than focusing on why they were trailing 12-10 anyway, despite a very poor performance from Slater, horrible tactical kicking from Cronk and Gallen having one of his best matches in a sky blue jersey.

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