What a great game of footy Origin 2 was. This time around we got five star attack on five star defence.
Ok, perhaps it was four star defence by the Maroons, but it was five star in most departments, with many players from both States performing at, or near, their best.
>>>Read more from Brian Smith on Smithy Speaks.
It wasn’t fancy stuff. But the simplicity of ball movement that unsettled the D of both sides at times provided us all with tremendous entertainment.
I would suggest without any figures to back it up, just a coach’s intuition, that the ball was passed into, and out of, the outside edge of 10 meters of the field more times than any of us have seen in Origin footy for quite some time.
Phil Gould quoted post-game the number of times the Blues outside backs had run the ball. I reckon the Maroons might have matched those numbers.
But it was more than their runs that opened this match up.
More Origin 2:
» State of Origin full time report
» Origin highlights, scores, blog
» State of Origin results
» MCG sets record Origin crowd
» Video ref denies Queensland controversial try
It was the number of passes they received, and often where there was plenty of space and opportunity for them to strut their speed and footwork.
No one did this better than Michael Jennings.
The only thing that I can’t figure out with NSW is why do they pick Jennings if they’re not going to play with this style of attack always? Pick a different, more robust centre then.
If not, get him the ball just as they did this time. And also get it to Moz J and B.
Now, if the Blues are going to play this way again in Origin 3, tipping the ball on early even in their own half and offloading on early plays even if it hits the ground a time or two, let’s get James Roberts into the team instead of the steady but lacking in threat Hopoate.
Roberts is THE hottest player in the NRL at present and has been for way too long without recognition.
If you haven’t seen that play he put on against the Dogs last Saturday, holding hands with his own corner post on last play and at dummy half, you gotta see it!
I can’t remember a more important game-changing play in such a shockingly difficult position EVER.
But back to Origin, and what a try burly and brazen young Tiger frontrower Aaron Woods scored.
For once, just once, a frontrower carrying the ball off the ruck decided to play what was in front of him rather than pass it out the back to his halfback like the team had practiced for.
Woodsy noted his opponent Scott was a fraction too wide at A and drifting out slightly. Great footwork followed that great vision and the confidence required was abundant.
Here’s hoping that every young frontrower watching that great play will be having a crack at it at training this week and then on the weekend.
This wasn’t a Harlem Globetrotters display with outrageous attack over meek and mild defence. It was simple but expansive attack asking different questions of each other’s defence rather than what we have become far too accustomed to seeing in the bump, grind, and bash of Origin and the NRL.
This win was a triumph for Laurie Daley as a coach. It takes balls to make decisions like that in the face of the ugly trend in NRL footy to grind out wins.
This is coach speak for:
Don’t show your skills.
Don’t take any risks.
Don’t make errors.
Don’t lose the game.
I call this coaching DOWN.
It’s the opposite of trying to win the game.
That’s coaching UP. NSW played UP.
Queensland showed some good attack, too. However, I think there is a fear for them now that they lack the speed and agility across the board to deal with a team that attacks with such variety as the Blues do when they have that license to play UP when its on.
I can’t wait for Origin 3.
And James Roberts?
Mon
Guest
No he isn't.
Bulldog
Guest
I think Josh is referring more to Luke Patten who has been involved in quite a few controversial video ref decisions over the last couple of years (I think he may have been involved in the Hand of God Foran decision) . The forward pass involving Pearce was called by the on field ref. The point is that from a perception (QLD) point of view it looks bad having an ex NSW player as the video ref.
Brad. H
Guest
LMAO josh, you refer to NSW as whinge merchants and then proceed to give a text book definition of same
steveng
Roar Rookie
That wasn't me, and as far as your; 'a souths fan p1ssing and moaning after they won the premiership about refereeing decisions' I think that you are a bit harsh and hard on whoever that Souths supporter was, lol. Personally, I call the referees as I see them and the way that they look and seem and if you think that the refereeing in the NRL is anything but inconsistent and/or sometimes a disgrace then you are either a referee yourself or blind. Have a good day.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I noticed that Hodkinson kept copping some decent hits everytime he kicked.
Freighter
Guest
I don't get on here often, but a recall a souths fan p1ssing and moaning after they won the premiership about reffereeing decisions- I hope that wasn't you, as it's happening again. You won the game- enjoy and let's look forward to game 3. PS... It has been proven both passes were forward- the Jennings pass substantially so as it has been proven GI was offside.
Freighter
Guest
Cheers Brian- thanks for responding.
vadar
Guest
No no no - that is not how an origin game should be played. All refs to put the whistle in the pocket and let the game be decided by the players instead - matching a Team upfield when they run out of ideas how to get there is insulting to us fans. If NSW want to get upfield, let them get creative instead of the ref helping them especially in the last 15minutes when the game is in balance. Shame on you refs for the unnecessary use of your whistle.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1VpY91zroo The apology was great as well!
Bails
Guest
They overturned by video ref the decision of TRY saying Morgan knocked on and the image clearly shows the ball went back. https://imageshack.com/i/ip9FNd2Vj
Bails
Guest
There is no evidence that the ball touched the boot of Gillett. The ball last comes off Pearces leg which puts Inglis onside. That is why they didn't check or rule on that.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
All that image provides is clear evidence that Inglis was offside.
Paul
Guest
The awesome tackle on Thurston also changed the game. After collecting the kick, Dugan was off...and was then called back cos Thurston stayed down. Given all that space, Dugan (possibly with the help of Jennings or one of the Morris boys) would have been a definite try.
Bails
Guest
Especially because our internal rep games have different rules now to NRL and international competition
Minge
Guest
That's the problem with close games - plenty of consternation about 50-50 penalties which in 50% of the time lead to tries to the non-offending team. Great entertainment but always the suspicion that the decider was always in the plans...
Ken Hayes
Roar Rookie
What absolute rubbish. It wasn't just Queenslanders questioning it, sport, it was Gould and Sterling, but they're obviously not so biased as some roaches. Most surprising in the case of Gould of course. You must have vomited on the screen when he gave the try the all-clear.
Tomas Kelly
Roar Rookie
Quality game and review Brian. I'm hoping Game 3 is played in a similar style but not confident given both sides will likely play low-risk football due to the pressure of it being a 'decider'. The attack of Jennings and Inglis was a highlight and showed what both sides are capable of. Unfortunately I feel we will see a return to the grinding style of play Brain refers to in his article come Game 3. I hope I am wrong!!
Tomas Kelly
Roar Rookie
Agree that Jennings to Morris pass was forward, Morris to Pearce was fine though. Refs definitely called the wrong one
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yeah Qld got away with allot of 'hands on the ball' in tackles and the ref's call it a 'nock on' against NSW. There was one blatant incident when Woods was tackled and the ref called it a 'nock 'on'.
Albo
Guest
Lucky Cam Smith was kicker ! It was the only time all night he wasn't the one off side !