With 73 minutes of the second State of Origin match gone, New South Wales had finally moved ahead of Queensland after Trent Hodkinson crossed for the first try of the match.
After Hodkinson stepped up and converted his own try, the Maroons kicked off, and the official ruling was that it went dead on the full, after Aaron Woods looked to catch it, and then left it at the last second to go out on the full. But did it touch him?
The rule to consider is that it doesn’t matter if Woods played at the ball or not – if it touched him, the ball was last touched by NSW, and the ball would have been Queensland’s through a drop-out, with seven minutes on the clock.
Instead, the ball was ruled to have been kicked out on the full by the Maroons, giving the Blues possession back in Queensland’s half, setting themselves up for a victory and a series win.
Was this the moment that decided the series? Would Queensland have scored if they had possession in the closing stages?
Woods himself had the final say, telling Channel Nine: “They kicked it dead, and the rest is history.”
What did you think?
Seriously we need better refs. It was clear that the ball hit Aaron Woods. Can’t believe the game was decided by a mistake. #stateoforigin
— Andrew Huynh (@AndrewHuynh24) June 18, 2014
Aaron Woods and the “Jersey of God” moment #Origin
— Sir Wal G (@Gisikus) June 18, 2014
Take a look and decide for yourself:
(Image via Channel Nine)
Gappy
Guest
Don't even have to go back that far how bout game 1 hit Hodkinson on the upper arm didn't play at the ball when back and was called a knock... Tupou came form behind him to get the ball so no off side
Bill adam
Guest
I know iam going on about it the reff was wrong but how did the video reff he has time to replay it was he watching different game thay should all be stoude down and bank acc looked at and backhanders show us as fanes and player and league reff even doing lower grade games I would not gat a game at lest one mounth wont to see what thay get
Paul B
Guest
NSW players did not blow the whistle and make the refereeing decisions. They played in the same manner as teams have always done... they played in accordance with the directions of the officials in control. NSW are as legitimate winners of the series as any team from either side of the border has ever been.
Baz
Guest
Queensland can rightly claim game 2 with Sam Thaiday's bad decision and on top of that Aaron Woods' lie would not have given NSW 30 consecutive tackles on the QLD try line. If 2 referees and 2 linesmen plus the video referee can't get it right there is no hope for the future of rugby league. NSW can never truthfully say they won the 2014 series fairly.
Lucy
Guest
I'm a nsw supporter and the ball clearly touched Woods. But that isn't the reason qld lost... that doesn't mean they would have scored again and won the game. Also, there have been countless calls that were in qld's favour over the last few years that were absolutely ridiculous so i have no care that this one went our way. Absolute hypocrites... at least nsw supporters can actually admit these things unlike the grubby qld players and supporters (some, not all)
WQ
Guest
It is irrelevant anyway, it bounced in play!
Albatross
Guest
Exactly fella, you prove the point. The rules need to be changed to suit the nswrl. It's great the blues won. Finally origin is alive again and your tears have a chance to dry up. Just be happy kid.
tom
Guest
it doesn't matter if he plays at it in that case the rules say it is still off him
ChrisR
Guest
Clearly touched...look at his jersey when the ball passes.
ChrisR
Guest
Maybe if you watched the video you might see the ball come off his chest....
Greg
Guest
As a supporter of the sport I pay good money to be a club member and to show off my colors at club and state level. The NRL really need to take a good look at themselves, we're not interested in paying to see games where the refs want to take center stage, let the players decide the winners and losers....Too many games this season (including last nights) have been decided by the refs disgraceful calls enough is enough. (it would be great to see the rules changed to 10 in the bin for punching a ref) If a player is accountable for their actions on the field then why aren't the refs, a bad call is a bad call regardless of who its against, with all the technology in the game today there is no reason for these debacles to go on. Man up NRL and start sacking these clowns in pink (white) that are teaching our kids that its ok to blatantly disregard the rules of the game if your a referee.
Vicki Donnollan
Guest
It was touched.
Emcie
Guest
Matt Scott came off after 20ish minutes with a fractured eye socket, wouldn't say no one was seriously injured...
hammer
Guest
The two pics in this article clearly show the ball NOT touching Woods' chest in on epic, and clearly NOT touching Woods' arm in the other picture. Based on this, Go Blues, and Qld can whinge all the way till we make it a clean sweep. o pressure on NSW in game 3 and will play footy. I expect Qld will do the same. Bring it On !!!
matt h
Guest
I think the 9-4 penalty count, Thiday's no-try and Matt Scott's injury were bigger turning points.
matt h
Guest
If QLD had won, would all those fireworks have been quietly put away for another year? I bet the guy who has had that job for the last 8 years is happy.
AlanKC
Guest
If you've only seen it mentioned twice you aren't reading enough :)
Atko
Guest
You mean the try that Peter Stirling himself thinks was a try? Yeah, I remember that legitimate try and especially remember the irrational thinking from Blues supporters. Their crying still persists today, I've seen it mentioned twice.
PaulJ
Guest
It doesn't actually matter whether Woods touched the ball or not - it STILL BOUNCED IN THE IN-GOAL AREA! (beyond the red paint, but before the white line. Can't see it on the video above, but it is very clear from the side angle). Regardless of the touch, the decision was still wrong.
Paul B
Guest
yea... the Blues would have regained the ball from a QLD error and scored under the post.