Watch for a really special performance from Paul Gallen in tomorrow night’s Origin game at ANZ Stadium.
The Blues’ skipper has produced many inspirational efforts for NSW over the years, but I’ve got a feeling this one could top them all.
Played at the Blues’ home in front of 70,000-plus fans, this game could be Gallen’s grand final, the crowning moment of his great career. It seems doubtful the Sharks will win a NRL title while he is playing, and surely he can’t go on for too many more seasons playing the way that he does.
MORE ORIGIN:
>> State of Origin Central
>> [WATCH] Highlights from Game 2 2013
>> State of Origin fixture
>> Roar Preview for Game 2
>> [WATCH] Highlights from Game 1 2014
So, Wednesday’s the night. For a change, Gal is not going into battle under an injury cloud. He was a standout performer in Origin 1, especially when the Blues were under the pump in the final 20 minutes. He will be primed to do it again, even more if needed.
The skipper says NSW is treating this game as the series decider, and why wouldn’t they? One-all going into game 3 at Brisbane would be a very scary prospect.
Looking at everything in the build-up, NSW isn’t over the line by any stretch of the imagination but the Blues have momentum from that stirring win in the opener, and their preparation looks to have been a lot more comfortable than Queensland’s.
NSW has its spine intact from Game 1. Being able to field the same 1, 6, 7 and 9 is pleasing. The Maroons are having major problems with the vital halfback position. They also look as though they’ll be taking some under-prepared players (Greg Inglis, Daley Cherry-Evans) into battle and that is always a major concern in a game of such magnitude.
Still, NSW will have to improve their attack to get the verdict. Laurie Daley’s men only had a couple of shots at the Queensland line in the second half of the opening game and spent the last quarter on the back foot, defending their line.
Scoring chances must be taken (including goal-kicks) and I think they will. Most of the nerves and anxiety from the Brisbane game will have disappeared and another full week in camp should have helped the Blues fine-tune things.
Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith were both down on their usual games at Suncorp – NSW won’t be as fortunate this time around.
Blues’ fans are entitled to approach tomorrow’s game with plenty of confidence but I still remember two clear-cut scoring chances butchered by Queensland two weeks ago.
Just before half-time, Matt Gillett dropped the ball cold when Billy Slater would have had a three-on-one if the pass had successfully travelled out the back. Then in the second half, with Queensland surging, JT threw a pass that went to ground and 20 metres backwards with Slater again on the boil.
Teams need their share of luck to win any Origin contest. The Blues had some at Brisbane and I’m not expecting any hand-outs from this desperate Queensland team.
My predictions
NSW 18-12.
Man of Match: Paul Gallen
Numbers Man
Guest
Great to see NSW getting behind it team and being confident of a win. As Qld supporter it appears that NSW have got over the mental hurdle and ready to claim the SOO. And good for them, Big congrats to NSW for playing such a great defensive game in SOO 1 and I honestly look forward to the blues claiming the SOO. If Qld win again it would be simply an embarrassment for league.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
And then he gets rubbed out by ASADA and ends his career in disgrace. The Lance Armstrong of league.
V.O.R.
Guest
JH good to hear from you ;)
Jack Henry
Guest
Come on Voice, someone said that to me once and it did me absolutely no favours...
xavialonso
Guest
With ASADA findings coming up, this could be Gal's last series, before he gets into an early "retirement".
Paul B
Guest
I am not in the habit of lying on a public forum. And also, unlike you, I am not in the habit of calling a complete stranger a liar... unlike you. WITHDRAWAL BY EFTPOS 0133053 WOOLWORTHS 7004 SORELL 29/05 Debit of -$173.55 -$173.55 $484.29 29 May 2014 DEPOSIT Tom Waterhouse ( TOM WATERHOUSE Credit of $570.00 $570.00 $1,012.84 Display more transactions(Showing 50 of 285) Things you should know
eryan
Guest
I think you guys are forgetting that your NSW halves are fundamentally hopeless - i bet hodkinson does nothing and the ferrett gives away a couple of dumb penalties aka mick ennis style trying to be "tough"
casper
Guest
you must be one of those brilliant punters who just happens to know when a maiden runner who's been beaten in their first 20 runs is going to crack it for a first win, you need to forget footy & go to the track & use that uncanny ability to retire early. Seriously, never backed NSW before game 1 2014 & had $200 on them as a non gambler, sounds like Hans Christian Anderson material to me. That or the pervasive gambling advertisements are brainwashing a larger proportion of the population than has been feared.
Jay C
Guest
OK. It's game day. WE can put all of the nonsense behind us and look forward to what will hopefully be another epic. Good luck to both teams. Just please let the referees stay out of it.
Jay C
Guest
Not as confident then?
Muzz
Guest
Both tries were JTs fault, Mick.1st try was 3 on 3 and Hayne beat JT on his outside creating the overlap. 2nd try was 3 on 3 but this time Hayne beat JT on his in side. Mcqueen also made a poor read and should of jammed in.That said, its not easy stopping one of games best and in form players that close to the try line.
Marldon
Guest
Gallen poised for the last game of his life.
Mick1985
Guest
Both tries for NSW in game 1 were on the side greg Inglis was defending on. People blame Thurston but Inglis was equally as responsible. Like I said Inglis is in horrible form and will be a further liability tomorrow night
V.O.R.
Guest
Josh's defence...yes...has been a point of difference in the last couple of years keeping Inglis relatively quiet. See how Duges matches up on a once in a century league player on one leg.
V.O.R.
Guest
Paul B - yer its good to not let the one eye rule when it comes to great efforts in rugby league. I was on here next morning after the 1st origin with congratulations for a great NSW team effort...I thought they brought an attitude that night that had been missing in previous years. Peeeko - QLD have one-eyed commentators for sure (cocky is preferred nomenclature for such traits south of the Tweed).... thing is, and this is the difference - if you are in NSW you do not have QLD BrisbaneCentric press shoved down your throats day in, day out....we on the other hand do have SydneyCentric bias press shoved down our throats ad nauseam. Even to the point where our own rag which was once the bastion of pure parochial championing of the QLD cause has been infiltrated by NSW journos arriving up here for some better weather and then trying to add some balance to things....pffft. ;) Anyway a large majority of the Courier Mail stories are just paste and copy from it's southern sister companies...hence the bias towards NSW we get fed up here. Think about, if you can, having the shoe on the other foot. Would give you the tom-tits soon enough. Max - after game 1 I reckon at least 70% of sports stories run by the major press and media outlets have been covering NSW. Maybe that's because Daley has made his players more accessible to the media....dunno. QLD most definitely deserve their underdog status for the reasons I have already outlined. I'll wait to see what your man Gould and thinks on game night....for a Blue he is fairly astute with such matters. Good luck.
maximillian
Guest
Yea all fair points, particularly about the Sydney centric media. Some of the stuff I read around Origin time makes my toes curl. However I refuse to allow QLD to take their preferred underdog status! All this underdog status/injury crisis reeks of an old skool QLD ambush & I'm not falling for it. This is a great team that doesn't fear playing in Sydney & even goes there expecting to win now. These great players are in a must win situation & that desperation could see them through. Most of all, QLD has a better team & more importantly a better spine. Im a 1 eyed Blues supporter so I still think we will win on the back of Hayne but QLD should easily be favourites
Peeeko
Guest
And there are no cocky commentators in QLd? The queensland media is very parochial
Joel
Guest
What about Birds fake trip over the streaker last year, we laughed and luahged, much funnier than the streaker who saved NSW, Laurie had him on standby lol, wonder if we will see another one tomorrow night running out for NSW
Paul B
Guest
Nice to read a QLD comment without all the chest beating "we are great... NSW are rubbish"... Most Blues supporters know that the Maroons are a great side. I reckon they just get sick of having it shoved in their face while recognition of any of the achievements of their own team are downplayed or ignored. At least this comment has some balance. I still think QLD are favourites to win... but... I think the Blues will get it.
Joel
Guest
The Refs really do need to look at repeat penalties on the try line, and send someone to the bin for 10, Roosters took the grand final last year with this tactic, it brings disrepute into the game, that is why the rule was originally there, the rules changed during the 00's.