After being bullied through seven-straight State of Origin series defeats, NSW skipper Paul Gallen felt the time was right to fight back.
It was the defining moment of the Blues’ gritty 14-6 game one victory over Queensland, and one rookie coach Laurie Daley described as his skipper making a stand.
Gallen had watched his side execute brilliantly in the first half, racking up a 14-point lead moments shy of the break, before he snapped at Queensland enforcer Nate Myles.
He lashed out and caught the Gold Coast prop with a swinging arm – then followed it up with a one-two combination, both of which landed on Myles’ chin.
Gallen now faces a one-week ban for his involvement in the scuffle, after being slugged with a grade two striking charge.
The Blues had earlier protested that Myles led with the head when making a tackle on fullback Jarryd Hayne.
It followed similar complaints during last year’s series when Robbie Farah was knocked out from a head clash with Myles.
“I don’t have to tell you some of the things he’s done to our players,” Gallen said.
“He’s been very dominant. We didn’t want to be pushed around. That’s all there was to it.
“It’s Origin. He plays the game very tough.
“We’ve just had enough of being bullied.”
Daley said after the spiteful win, which puts NSW on the verge of ending the Maroons’ seven-year Origin dominance, that his skipper was simply taking a stand.
“One hundred per cent,” Daley said.
“That’s a great Origin moment as far as I’m concerned.”
An early guilty plea will rule Gallen out of Sunday’s clash with Melbourne, while he risks a two-game ban if he loses at the judiciary.
Maroons coach Mal Meninga saw nothing wrong with the on-field punishment dished out to Gallen – which saw him put on report, but not sin-binned.
The Blues got the jump on their northern rivals, crossing after just five minutes through Jarryd Hayne – before his effort was shading by a brilliant try to centre Michael Jennings just before halftime.
Their tries were sandwiched by a penalty to debutant five-eighth James Maloney, who kicked three from four as the Blues made the most of their early advantage.
“We just got beaten to the punch, with our start,” Meninga said.
“They won the ruck, won the play the ball pretty well. That’s where they got their points from.
“(Poor starts) is something we’ve talked about. It’s something we need to address.”
Queensland threatened to produce one of their trademark Origin comebacks when winger Darius Boyd crossed with 19 minutes remaining – forcing the record crowd of 80,380 to hold their collective breath.
But the Blues, inspired by a monster performance from man of the match Luke Lewis, bravely clung on for a courageous victory.
Lewis laid on the opening try to Hayne and finished the game with 172 metres – second only to Gallen (187) for forwards.
“Luke’s a player that I’ve always admired,” Daley said.
“He was outstanding for us tonight.”
Maroons five-eighth Johnathan Thurston, in doubt for the clash after picking up a virus in camp, struggled to make an impact as he also battled with an adductor injury.
Meninga said it had been a team decision to play the Test star, but admitted Thurston had been well below his lofty best.
Blues hooker Farah shaded his Queensland rival Cameron Smith, making 50 tackles to Smith’s 49 while his kicking game also proved decisive.
Smith also had a try disallowed at the beginning of the second half for a double movement.
Global
Guest
A lot more than 80,000 people in Australia. Plus the reaction of this dust up is clearly unique. Never heard any player involved in a SOO biff in recent years then try and blame the NRL for it, but Gallen did. He felt he needed to blame the NRL for promoting the biff for his actions. This will be a tipping point. I dont mind a bit of biff myself, tough game yayayaya. But Gallen had to take it too far and were all going to suffer now. Beginning of the end of the biff.
Boba
Guest
Hi cross, Thanks for the link! It was a good read - it would be nice to see the details behind the dot points (I am a bit wary of self reported numbers, particularly when presented as dot points on slides) but I guess that info might be closely held. Good to see the nrl reporting that things are on the up!
The eye
Guest
Losing Gallen is a plus ? Who said that ?
Renegade
Guest
It's a bit of shame for the Sharks that he misses their game against the Storm....if he commits the offense in Origin, maybe he should miss the next origin match. That might be worth considering...
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
So you believe losing your most dominant forward due to his own making,is a plus for the club.Especially against the likes of Melbourne. I have more chance of suing one J Gillard for incompetence.
The eye
Guest
Exactly,why are the Sharks being penalised here ? The club should sue the NSWRL,if as we suspect it was a cattle dog .
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
To further reinforce my point. A record 167,553 registrations in rugby league games across clubs and schools. The highest number of registered participants in the 6-12 years age group in the history of the game. 430,638 students in regular school comps and formal gala days. And a 28% increase in Master's players. This without NRL clubs in WA or SA.This before the real effect of a new ARLC commission in full swing.The code is only just touching the surface.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Read the State of the Game 2012 August Boba not what an ABS (and they have figures at times doubtful) advised in april 2012
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Boba. Let me acknowledge I don't like the biff full stop,because of the image. SOO has been going for 30 years thereabouts.If there was the hue and cry ,there would be SFA growth in female registrations.And further increases this year. And your example only serves to reinforce the argument that rugby league has only been pushing female participation for a short period.In fact the NRL has been surprised by the number of female students wanting to play. Neither does the code include in its figures ,a taster course. I refer to the state of the game 2012,increases were greatest in the young brigade,the ones that should be affected.In fact WA have advised of late,there are now 3,000 registered rl players ,in both club and high school,where there is no NRL club.The first time an Affiliated State has achieved this milestone. And the NW Wolves in melbourne has had a big increase in player numbers this year.Ditto NZ. Be very careful with numbers quoted also by other sports who have been caught out.Rugby league for example was one of the last sports to include school participation in games in their figures. I repeat if you feel society is naive to believe brawls don't happen also in other sports,i didn't make this post. I suggest you read some Melbourne papers including regionals about football brawls,which dont; receive the publicity here.The cheap shots when a player is not looking going for the ball.In one a player brought in a machete.Now we have a ru Lion's player accused of biting in Perth . I await the 2013 State of the game with interest.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
He got a week,and left the Sharks short of a top line player against Melbourne,think there is punishment there somewhat. indeed punishment for the Shark's fans.The incident therefore was not ignored,and I dare say a repeat in thenext two,will incur harsher punishment. Think the ARLC is a bit more socially aware than previous admins.
Dribbler
Guest
Tom Jones Maybe you should start wearing some of the panties thrown at you. By the way it's only cool if someone else throws them....BUWAHAHA!!
Dribbler
Guest
Oh so Myles won???? BUWAHAHA!
Dribbler
Guest
All I got from your post was BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!
Boba
Guest
Hi Crosscoder, The increase in junior female participation from 2009 to 2012 was actually far greater than 20% - the core numbers went from less than 100 in 2009 to approximately 2500 in 2012. That is a massive increase comparatively. However to put that in context, in 2012 even with that increase, female participation in junior rugby league was 14th of the 15 specific sports listed in the abs data (rugby union was number 15) and by such a large margin as to render the increase meaningless - I posted the link to the data below so you can see what I mean.
Boba
Guest
Hi Big Time, The abs data is on its site: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/4901.0~Apr+2012~Main+Features~Sports+participation?OpenDocument. Your point is taken on poll bias, however I think the abs data is fairly impartial - they are not self reported numbers of sporting associations but were gathered as an adjunct to the labour force survey. The description of the survey methodology indicates that its focus was on non-school associated sports, so Auskick numbers should not have been included however I cannot guarantee they were not. With respect, I think you are too quick to disassociate violent behaviour experienced at a junior level from a permissive culture at the top. In the same way we have seen kids quoting betting odds while being advised to gamble responsibly, they will mimick violent behaviour if they see it portrayed in the media and by the judiciary in a positive light (despite the junior policy documents saying otherwise). The fish rots from the head is an old saying that springs to mind. Again, this is really only an issue if we want to see participation numbers stay static or grow at a junior level, which while nice is not vital to maintaining the sport as a spectacle (which to be honest is what it is to most of us here - senior participation numbers are negligible). Just like we (and our kids) don't have to participate in boxing or mma to enjoy watching a fight, neither is it necessary to have large numbers of junior participants playing league to ensure we have a televised domestic competition.
Renegade
Guest
If that was a king hit.....i'll give it up.
Luke M
Guest
Show your son the never ending footage of Myles being a cheap shot artist as well.
Renegade
Guest
So one incident means his not classy or a leader....pleeeeaassee. You need to watch some more rugby league games when he plays....
Luke M
Guest
"I think there is a changing in public attitude towards acceptable violence in sport; consider how many NSW supporters have come out disapproving of their captain’s actions." I was at the game and i'm fairly certain i heard 80,000 people cheering, not booing.
Luke M
Guest
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. You're maroon coloured glasses are too tight on your head i think.