Despite making an enormous contribution for New South Wales in State of Origin Game 1, including a couple of massive efforts with the boot, there’s a real possibility the only thing Josh Dugan will be remembered for is missing an all-important field goal.
Dugan’s 77th minute attempt would have seen scores tied up at 11-11, after Cooper Cronk’s drop goal in the 72nd minute had put the Maroons ahead.
But before anyone condemns the man with the largest boots to fill in the NSW side – former fullback Jarryd Hayne was the Blues’ star contributor for much of their wretched eight-year run of losses – it’s worth winding back the clock to the 70th minute.
Full State of Origin 1 wrap:
>> ORIGIN 1 MATCH REPORT
>> FULL ORIGIN RESULTS
>> Live blog and highlights
>> Cameron Smith given man of the match
>> The Roar’s Origin 1 player ratings: Queensland
>> The Roar’s Origin 1 player ratings: New South Wales
With the scores locked at 10-10, the Blues finally had an attacking set in Queensland’s half. That the score had not blown out was testament to the Blues’ defensive steel, particularly after defending repeat sets on their line, during which time the master of commentary subtlety, Phil Gould, had remarked, “Only one team is playing. Only one team is playing. Only Queensland is playing.”
Cheers Gus.
But after Aaron Woods was put in a dangerous position during a tackle, a penalty was blown (which was pretty soft, but Woods had been penalised for a similarly soft lifting tackle not two minutes earlier), and the Blues found themselves in the Maroons’ red zone for the first time in what seemed an eternity.
A couple of tackles ensued, as NSW worked the ball toward the centre of the field, surely with the aim of getting either halfback Trent Hodkinson or five-eighth Mitchell Pearce to take a field-goal attempt.
But then, with a play the ball in the middle of the field, barely 30 out, the Blues shifted it to the right edge. Suddenly it was the fifth and last, and NSW were nowhere near where they needed to be to take the snap.
Instead the ball was spread back to the left side of the field, where Michael Jennings, clearly panicking, put in a shocking grubber which rolled dead.
Queensland were off the hook, and with a seven-tackle set to boot.
Worse was to come, as the Blues seemingly dropped their heads after blowing their best chance to take the lead, and that early defensive resolve unravelled in embarrassing fashion. By the third tackle, Queensland were camped on the Blues’ 20-metre line – an 80-metre turnaround in the space of less than a minute.
Cooper Cronk called for the ball and potted his field goal with such confidence he was running back to prepare for the ensuing kick-off before the ball hit the ground.
11-10 Queensland, after arguably the most disastrous two consecutive sets of six in the history of Origin.
And so we come to the 77th minute, with NSW finally back in an attacking position. Surely a field goal is the only option? Even if the game ended in a draw the result would have been the same for the Blues – only one more victory needed to ensure the series for a second year.
On the fifth tackle, Robbie Farah got the ball at hooker and threw a pass which his teammate had to stretch all the way above his head to catch. Bad enough, but compounding the matter is the Blues captain hasn’t thrown the ball to one of his halves – he’s thrown it to Dugan.
To this point, Dugan had been one of the Blues’ stars, and his boot had been a strong feature of his game – he made a booming 58-metre drop-out during Queensland’s repeat attacking raids, and put ahead the kick which saw Josh Morris score NSW’s opening try.
After taking Farah’s hospital pass, Dugan did his best to regain his balance and composure, and booted the ball at the uprights.
Honestly, it wasn’t the worst field-goal attempt you’ll ever see, but a miss is a miss, whether by an inch or a mile.
The score remained 11-10, and read the same when the siren sounded a few minutes later.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Not that I went to defend ch9 too much, but... 1. The interchanges weren't that hard to follow. 2. The bigger problem there was that the shot was taken from the hard camera rather than one of the mobile cameras because they wanted the best view of the ball flying out, not the best view of who kicked it.
Haz
Guest
Woods was just as good as Tamou. Both of them carried the Blues, until they got subbed off.
dissapointedNSWfan
Guest
The reason why NSW lost the SOO 1 was because of their overall attitude to the game, especially in the second half when they were leading 10 to 6 and they should have been playing the game in Qld's 30 meters and not the reverse and piling on points. And then, when you have our half back Trent Hodkinson attitude and being questioned about his miss kick for touch, Trent Hodkinson answer was; well it didn't lead to a try, the ball slipped out of my hand. Well Trent, if it didn't lead to a try, it most certainly lead to Qld keeping NSW on their try line and defending for 4 more consecutive 6 tackle sets and eventually lead to a try. But these sorts of answers and NSW's attitude in the second half, must surely be addressed by coach Daley and rectified for NSW to be any chance of winning SOO 2015. A good thing that came out of this game is that Michael Ennis will be back and he will add that spark and vigour to the ruck area that Farah was so lacking and it was non existent after he got injured.
jd
Guest
fact!
Andy
Guest
Completely agree. NSW have really started to close the gap on QLD in the last few years (mainly through much improved defence, developing some great athletic forwards and having a tougher mentality) but they still tend to make wrong choices at critical moments. One of QLD's strengths is making the right call when it really matters. NSW also don't seem to use their advantages. Why do they not bomb more for Tupou. Nobody in the NRL can outjump him and the roosters use that to great advantage. Why do NSW not kick it for him more. And as has been well pointed out, Hodkinson is a specialist field goal kicker. If there's one person in the NRL you'd go to to kick a field goal it would be Hodkinson, how on earth NSW couldn't have got a field and put themselves in the box seat for this series is beyond me. Now they have to pick themselves up and fight like they've never fought before if they want to retain their title.
matth
Guest
Well he can certainly kick it a long way, I'll give him that. The field goal attempt went half up the grandstand
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Farah said after the game he made a mistake. Wasn't paying attention and just passed it out to the first bloke he saw back there thinking it was Hodkinson
Jimbo Jones
Guest
I think he was dazed from being dropping on his shoulder earlier. Since that moment he didn't ever look sharp in attack, or his passing. He didn't seem 100%
Cowsboy
Guest
Dugan's effort was fantastic (the whole match). Am so glad he missed the drop goal but it would have made for a great ending if he slotted it. Calm heads on old legs won the game over big legs on young heads.
turbodewd
Guest
Farah also forced a silly pass at Pearce's feet at 41min mark when the Blues were leading. This was knocked on. Bad move by Farah. I also recall his lameo kicking in 2013. I think he tries too hard to copy Cam Smith.
GPR
Guest
I think you'll find NSW and especially Parra did a lot of losing with Hayne. Fact.
turbodewd
Guest
Id like to slam the Ch9 coverage. 1. They never gave us a graphic on the interchanges, nor did they really tell us. 2. The coverage in Std def is so grainy in the 2nd half i couldnt work out which Blue failed to find touch at the 44min mark. Channel 9 you suck! And pls drop Lockyer, he is as interesting as old wet carpet on black and white TV.
jamesb
Guest
Despite the terrible pass he received, Dugan actually did very well to get a field goal shot away.
Fairdinkum
Roar Rookie
History has shown that farah in the big moments can have a rush of blood & tries to come up with big play & last night was another example of this with his wayward pass to an unexpectant dugan instead of hodkinson.There was a game in origin a couple of years ago when nsw were leading late in the game & all that was needed was to play their set out & kick deep but he decided to go for the big play early in the tackle & shoot for a 40/20 which missed & qld scored shortly after to win.I'm not placing the blame on him for losing but these moments do seperate the good players from the great. As for moving forward i would make a few changes,gallen & morris are probably due back from injury so they come in for fifita & tupou,frizell for cordner/jackson.It's a pity reynolds is injured as his kicking game probably wins that game even soward would do better than hodkinson & jennings might be lucky to hold on as well.
Mike from Tari
Guest
No Lewis, Bird or Gallen, experienced forwards, that's what was needed, Qld backs got away with murder in defence, never on side, should have been a draw & Hodges should have got a slap, not a sportsman.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
2nd best. Tamou was Huge that game.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Dugan was prob best blue on the park And a mighty good attempt at drop goal considering he shouldn't have got it
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Farrah said he made an error by not passing to Hodkinson and blamed it on fatigue. Can't really argue with that.
Chui
Guest
When it comes to the high pressure times of the game, Queensland have the smart players to steer it around the field. Whole sets and even multiple sets are pre-determined. Every player knows their role. NSW just don't have this at critical times. They lack that level of leadership. Farah's decisions make you wonder if he was concussed.
Chui
Guest
When it comes to the high pressure times of the game, Queensland have the smart players to steer it around the field. Th