Some might call it lucky number seven, but really it was anything but. Try as they did, the Boys in Blue were left utterly cigar-less as Cooper Cronk’s right boot had everyone saying “Darren who?”.
There was even more talk than usual in the lead up to this decider. From the great Joey Johns to Craig Fitzgibbon, the ex-stars of NSW were lining up to claim it was the Blues’ time.
Even ‘Mr Queenslander’ himself, Billy Moore had all but pulled on a NSW jersey with all his analogies of sharks and claret. But it turns out all these statements were almost as laughable as the time Mark Geyer compared eye gouging to peadophilia.
What these ex-players forgot is that whilst one off games may be won and lost on the backs of the forwards, series are ultimately decided by the halves.
It is of anything but a coincidence that the last time NSW won a series, Andrew Johns played his final game of Origin.
Since that time is has more or less been a case of musical halfbacks with (okay, big breath) Finch, Gower, Gasnier, Mullen, Kimmorley, Bird, Anasta, Wallace, Pearce, Campese, Lyon, Barrett, Soward and Carney all pulling on the sky blue 6 or 7.
Meanwhile on the other side of the Tweed, the Thurston-Lockyer stability has been at the forefront of every Queensland success, minus the time Scotty Prince got his chance due to Lockyer having a prior linguistics engagement with Gary Larsson.
But the retirement of the former Queensland skipper has not slowed the Maroon juggernaut as Cronk got redemption for his game II sins with a match winning kick under immense pressure.
There was nothing more indicative of the gulf between these two teams in class of the halves than Cronk’s sweet strike and the desperation of Pearce’s field goal attempt in the final minute. Pearce barely registered as more than a spectator this entire series and until that problem is rectified, it will be the same old sorry tale for the New South Welshman. In many aspects,
Pearce was a real punt by the selectors, as his kicking game shows the kind of creativity we’re used to seeing in Australian Idol contestants and it is really only his surname that suggests he has any kind of Origin pedigree. As NSW go back to the drawing board, it seems highly unlikely that Pearce will feature in the pinnacle of footy again.
Some credit must go to Todd Carney, as he has given his detractors a little something to chew on, packaged in a collage of questionable ink.
The peach he landed from the sideline with time winding down dispelled any rumoured anxiety issues and quite possibly saved him thousands in sports psychology bills. Then again, maybe he isn’t ready to go Shrink-less just yet.
But for all the heart of Gallen, the fire of Bird and the impossible ‘speccies’ brought to you by Josh Morris, the Blues will be left to rue a series defeat in three matches which they dominated for long periods.
They will regret their failure to convert possession into points at crucial times, and a large portion of that problem can be put down to a misfiring number 7.
The next time someone makes a crack about it being a game of two halves, the Blues must understand it may not just be a reference to the two stanzas that are separated by pep-talks and oranges.
Real Deal
Guest
No offence to Mitchell Pearce but I think he is just riding the coat tails of his old man "Junior Pearce".
wisey_9
Roar Guru
regardless if you support NSW or QLD, one has to admit that Cronk absolutely NAILED that drop goal. twas a thing of beauty.
Will Sinclair
Guest
Ah - oikee! You're back mate! Not much sticks in my throat with Origin (honestly, hugely enjoyed the game) or the NRL, but watching Alfie Langer wandering around behind the Broncos and Maroons... well, it really p*sses me off! And then to hear Lockyer on telly a few weeks ago confirming that Langer is out there coaching, and directing the play... well... not happy. I can't believe it's allowed.
steve b
Roar Guru
Well done mate good luck to you,,maybe we'll get you next year or the year after....
oikee
Guest
This is another rweason me and the Mrs dont go to anymore origins, i was hyperventorlating in that second half, i said to the mrs, they are starting to play footy now, this could be dangerous, it is the only time she has ever pushed to the front of her chair, :) Normally she goes to bed because she cant watch. :) Yes, i would be half dead if i was at the game. She was saying breath, breath out, your only sucking in air. :) At least the cat stayed on the lounge, i did not jump in the air this time, i tried to stay calm. Unreal.
oikee
Guest
It is a little advantage Queensland have got, and yes, well picked up, i noticed both Gillmeister and Langer on the field just before the drop goal. ? This was in NSW own half. ??? Brilliant. Mate, only Queensland gets away with these little gems. Admittedly Langer was running off the field, and Gilly was about to give Myles some water after a loose arm by Gallen, (i see everything, everything on the field, this is why Myles got up slow) yet these 2 guys were their (langer,gilly), like life support for our boys, and with the crowd baying for blood, how bout that crowd, nothing comes close, trust me,,, It was all over red rover for NSW, Destiny was in Cronks hands, he gripped it, took it by the throat and choked that sucker, the rest is history.
Jimbo
Guest
Carney to halfback, Bird to 5/8?
Will Sinclair
Guest
Maybe Channel Nine pays better? It would be gold though - imagine Joey out there steering the Blues around the park again!
steve b
Roar Guru
I also have wondered about the same thing ,,we have such an array of blokes who can do the job ?
Will Sinclair
Guest
I have one solution for NSW - why on Earth don't they have Johns or Fittler "running the water" like Langer does for QLD and Brisbane? Either one of those players could be running the show from behind the trenches, and it would surely improve the decision making of the NSW halves no-end. Hey, if it's good for the goose...
steve b
Roar Guru
Is that really you oikee well bloody said mate ,,you called a spade a spade ,this is the trueist version of events i have read on the entire bloody site this morning ..and what a FG it was 45 metres under pressure ,,he is a true little champion ...
oikee
Guest
NSW were coming to get us, they started to play footy in the second half and it showed, so Cronk kicking this field goal was huge really. I dont think we had another try in us at that stage. I think if Robbie had not fumbled the last ball we might have been in trouble as well. You could smell them coming, over the paraphits, millions of them. It could have been a cold lonely night for Queenslanders, that goodness the Gods had the final say. Phew.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
I don't know that Carney was outclassed, however it looks to even the uneducated that Mitchell Pierce is actually not up to it. As to who you pick instead, there lies the question. IMO the difference was not much between the sides. Queensland had the ball more times in NSW half and didn't convert a few of their opportunities while NSW made the most of theirs. The Morris boys certainly added to NSW however I thought that Gallen and Bird used some dubious tactics early in the game with the intent of getting the Queenslnd boys sent for retaliation. To their credit none were sent from the field. An irritating part of the game was when Rabbit Warren and Fittler went on and on about the so-called shepherd that Hodges was supposedly involved in when he scored his try. I had no hesitation in saying at the time it was not a shepherd as the supposedly impeded player was 6 to 7 metres away from play and would never have come within a bulls roar of Hodges to tackle him. The main point I make is not about the execution of the try or anything to do with it but the obvious bias of Warren and Fittler for NSW, and then going on and on about it. These guys are supposed to be professional talking heads, they are supposed to comment without bias so that viewers and listeners get a holistic view of what is happening not what they would like to happen. I have long been of the opinion that Warren is over the hill and completely bias in his commentary and IMO Fittler may have been a great players however he is a complete lightweight in regards to commentary in fact he is embarrassing with his inane and rather silly comments and interviews with players. Most of the posters are correct in saying that if NSW had a better half back they may have won and I agree. It will be interesting to see if they can unearth someone next year, in the mean time all the Queenslanders will have another year to bask in the glow of that winning warmth.
Will Sinclair
Guest
I agree that the NSW halves were out-classed all series but... who do you pick instead? Not sure there are any options out there, and certainly none as good as Thurston and Cronk (or Cherry-Evans for that matter).
Chris Chard
Expert
But ..but...but...Pearce and Carney wear the same colour Yoga pants ( http://bit.ly/MViNHa ), you can't split that up!!!
steve b
Roar Guru
They won by a point hardley a flogging ,,if QLD had lost by a point what would their excuse be ,sack Kronk he missed !!
Aleks Duric
Roar Guru
Purple Shag...I'm confused. I thought we would have been a great shot to win if Mitch Pearce played last night, yet you're telling me he was on the field. Bizarre. Realistically - to lose by a single point when you're halves combination is so devoid of any tactical kicking game and capacity to improvise with the ball isn't a bad effort. I reckon next year we drop Carney and Mitch, draft in two extra backrowers (there's plenty of them out there) and let Glenn Stewart and Greg Bird play in the halves. Couldn't do much worse I say
turbodewd
Guest
Cronk is a halfback. Mitchell Pearce, alas, is barely.