PRENTICE: What I want to see in Origin 3

Sad huh JB. Excuses after excuses. But that's the "QLD spirit" we keep hearing about. The "spirit" that can't even fill a 52,000 seat stadium.....

Have to agree Ryan myself included blues by 30+

As far as excuses go that's the bottom of the barrel, stick with the cronk one it may have some merit

I guess that depends on an individuals perspective on sportsmanship eagleJack?

I'm not one eyed, I dislike all the Qld NRL teams as well as the maroons. That's fair.

Only one wish for me. I hope Nsw flog Qld, I mean really flog em.

You talking about the pub on Caxton St, VOR? Good ales, not a bad joint ;)

VOR the primary difference I see between the 2 states is the amount of excuses. You seem to think that some arbitrary meeting that Daley organised for himself somehow cost QLD the series & they were robbed? We will never know what would've happened if Meninga had in fact bothered to show to the meeting that the result would be different. We saw NSW win a fast open game in QLD. Why would QLD then think they would win a fast open game 2 in Sydney, without their tactical general in Cronk, an injury crisis in the leadup to the game, a parochial NSW crowd cheering the Blues & some potential for "homeground calls" from the refs? That argument is ludicrous IMO & that's been my point from the start.

Statler & Waldorf chiming in from the upper teir...for someone disinterested in origin you are never short of a word.

In your little world VOR, QLDers are perfect. But back in reality.....

"My understanding is that its not an actual rule that both coaches gain access to the refs but more of a gentleman’s courtesy" ...your words, not mine. Right there is the difference between how the two parties (and states) approach the game. Ask Matty Scott from Longteach about reputable traits like courtesy and respect. While he hasn't cried foul about how he got his cheekbone fractured we see NSW team members and fans taking the high ground on the game 2 niggle. e.g. Fallen complaining about the niggle..is the guy all there? While NSW coach and team have definitely lived up to their word that they will "do anything to win" (great xample for the kids) we see Mal rediculed for being a sook when he suggests he deserved the courtesy to know about said meeting, a courtesy that was previously afforded. Pretty straight forward really...up here anyway.

Fishing again I see WQ. Pretty certain you are on your own in thinking the series is tainted. Atleast amongst those whose opinion matters.

You see its these types of comments that prompted my original post of wanting a 3-0 whitewash. My understanding is that its not an actual rule that both coaches gain access to the refs but more of a gentleman's courtesy. If we win the 3rd game then on top of winning a fast & open game 1, & a forward orientated slugfest in game 2, there can surely be no more talk of "tainted" results & "dubious" & "desperate" attempts by NSW etc. Whatever reasoning you have for the losses, NSW has won 2 games with 2 different styles of play & that speaks volumes in regards to the resolve of this team so Id like to see them get the credit they deserve.

As I said yesterday V.O.R., the series is tainted by the NSWRL (I mean the NRL) allowing that to happen and then of course allowing the game to be controlled the way it was as a result of Laurie Daley's rant. Its a shame really because it would have been nice for NSW to have won a series legitimately after all this time.

V.O.R. as I said yesterday the series is tainted as a result of that process and the control of the game that occurred as a result of it. Its a shame really because it would have been nice for NSW to have won the series legitimately.

A precedent had been set in previous years that if one coach had access to the referees the other should also be given an invitation. That didn't happen here. How ever you want to try and spin it, Meninga deserved the courtesy to know Daley was given access to the refs...he had no knowledge regarding the last minute meeting....all very dubious and a rather desperate attempt to gain advantage...it worked. Bozo said himself that Daley was very extroverted in giving his terms to the adjudicating body. It stinks...had the shoe been on the other foot...well...just imagine the outcry.

Just look at things mate you said harrigan said we got lucky he also said that GI try was a no try then went back on his word. Qld have had the run of the green ever since Lockyer retired (he is the only immortal to come out of the this side) GI try, Hodges try. Game 1 this year the refs tried to give Qld the win, Hodkinson knock on that went back and wasn't played at, Qld put the ball out and get the scrum feed to score the first try, Hodges turns into GI to let him get back to his side for attack. Qld run/luck was up NSW got it this time so like all NSW supports we're told get over it we won

If we dont win tonight we still deserve to be series champions IMO. It will just mean this Blues team wont get the credit they deserve from some corners due to some unjustified reasoning. The Cronk injury definitely weakened QLD but they had the best possible replacement in the entire world with DCE on the bench. He was selected in the squad to play a bit of hooker/backrow but also as a backup half so he should have been prepared as a potential backup half. Injuries happen & that was bad luck for Cronk but Meninga has to accept some culpability for not preparing DCE to do a job he was partially selected for in the 1st place. As for the refereeing excuse for game 2, both teams played under the same circumstances & even though it resulted in a free-for-all niggle-fest, at least the refs were consistent & didnt penalise any of the elbows & unsavoury tactics from both sides. I cant explain why Meninga didnt get invited to a meeting with Archer but Im also perplexed as to why he didnt organise his own meeting? His side are 1-0 down in the series & face a tough road trip to Sydney in a must win clash & he doesnt think its a good idea to be proactive & talk to Archer to gain an advantage for his team? Meninga has a responsibilty as coach of QLD to leave no stone unturned in pursuit of victory for his state. He dropped the ball this series & if QLDers want to look for a reason as to why 8 years of dominance has ended to a side that some were describing as the worst Blues team ever prior to the series starting, they should look at their coach & leader in Meninga.

I was at game 1 and the crowd was nothing compared to the furore on display by fans that earned it the label of Cauldron. QRL sold their soul for a selfish money grab plain and simple....outrageous pricing of tickets meant the stadium was full of well to do congeniality.....the soul was sat in front of their TV sets in Ipswich and Logan listening to the channel nine teams partisan commentary. Shame, shame, shame...Darren Hinch would be filthy...

"Im not sure about that but even if you apply that theory it only really works in game 2. How do you then explain NSW winning the 1st match which was a far more open style of game?" Answer to your question is a bloody good chiming backline with Hayne and the pace of the Morris twins... The way game 2 was refereed favoured a patchwork NSW backline who in contrast to QLD had a very inexperienced backline at Origin level. Daley is not stupid. I was hoping for Inglis to be given the space to open up on Dugan...we saw a glimpse and it wasn't pretty. Hopefully Dugan is marking Inglis tonight. In addition it does not look good for the NRL that Meninga was not privy to Daley's and Fulton's meeting with the officials 24 hours out from kickoff...a meeting where apparently Daley was more than forthright. While I congratulate the NSW fans on their teams victory I think there is every chance the refs approach to officiating the 2nd game has actually denied us a cracker of a decider.