Sports writers Brett McKay and Ryan O’Connell are both satisfied and underwhelmed for the Cheap Seats State of Origin Game III special.
Queensland thwarted the clean-sweep, beating New South Wales 32-8 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
In the final Origin review for 2014, Ryan is mildly miffed by NSW smiling after a flogging, while Brett wants current referees to be more like David Manson.
Origin 3 post-match talking points:
• Queensland’s early raids through Greg Inglis;
• NSW’s first half defence keeps them in the game;
• Possession even at halftime, but game one-sided already;
• Obvious reasons why Queensland won’t move Billy Slater out of fullback;
• The Cooper Cronk factor;
• Paul Gallen crowned Player of the Series;
• Origin Shield presented in an empty stadium;
• Best players for both sides, and
• Some early thoughts on 2015 selections.
Find us on Twitter at @CheapSeatsPod and please use the tag #AskTheCheapSeats for any questions you want the boys to answer on the next podcast, as we return to normal transmission – covering all sports – next week.
Stay cheap.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Think it's pretty harsh to criticise the NSW halves attack when they had very little chance to really go on offence. When Hodkinson actually got the ball in good field position he managed to make problems for QLD (even if the high bombs for Tupou were rendered ineffective by a mix of shepherding and just good retrieval by Slater and Chambers) -- the kick where he got cleaned up was either going to end in a repeat set or a tough set for QLD starting on their own line against a set defensive wall, he put Dugan through too which was basically the next time NSW actually got the ball down there.
Brett McKay
Expert
Have you listened to the podcast Pedro? We spoke about that specific topic, the difference in the policing of the 10.....
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
NSW just wore themselves out. They managed to hang on in game 2 after a similar defensive effort in the first half in Sydney. I can forgive them for not showing the same courage in game 3. But the big difference for me was the ref giving Qld some space to operate. It allowed the Qld attack to operate properly for the first time. The big guns didn't really play any differently for Qld in game 3 - they were just allowed to play their natural razzle dazzle game. And isn't it pretty? (though Corey Parker's freakish offloads did keep the ball alive set after set) No mention of that anywhere - it's all about the dead rubber.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
It was 59% to 41%, but the real killer stat was 28-1 after 32 minutes - tackles inside the opposition's 20m.
Zedman
Guest
Possession even at halftime,about 60/40 according to the boffins at nine.The Blues visited the Qld end for about 2minutes in the first half.