How the return of City vs Country can revitalise league in Australia
Rugby league is facing the content conundrum.
Match Highlights: The Queensland Maroons have bounced back in State of Origin Game 2 against a disappointing New South Wales Blues side.
It was all New South Wales in the first half as they jumped out to a 16-6 lead at half time.
State of Origin 2 coverage
» Match report: Maroons win to force series decider
» Five talking points from Queensland’s last-gasp win
» Check out all the highlights from the thrilling Game 2
» WATCH: Andrew Johns unleashes a furious rant about the Blues’ woeful second half
The Blues run rampant over a flat Queensland outfit – Brett Morris, Jarryd Hayne and Mitchell Pearce all crossing over in the first forty minutes.
Uncharacteristic mistakes by the usually reliable Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk meant New South Wales went into the sheds full of confidence and sensing a series victory.
But the Blues dropped their bundle in the final half hour as the Queenslanders stormed home with two unanswered tries.
Johnathan Thurston kicked a clutch conversion in the 78th minute to give the Maroons a two-point lead.
Needing a try to win the game, Boyd Cordner’s men could only dish up two insipid sets of six as Queensland sent the series to a historic decider.
Dane Gagai was outstanding for Queensland, crossing over for the first and last tries and consistently punching holes in the New South Wales defence.
Andrew Johns was furious with the New South Wales performance after the game, unleashing a furious tirade after the Blues’ collapse.
Rugby league is facing the content conundrum.
James Maloney made headlines yesterday after announcing his departure from the NRL at season’s end, signing a three-year deal with Catalans Dragons in France.
Origin is a special competition, from its unique nature fostered by a state duopoly on the NRL to the passion it ignites that is generally reserved for only the fiercest international sporting rivalries.
NSW’s State of Origin victory has led to dominance in a Kangaroos merit team picked by Australian selectors from performances in the interstate series.
Much has been made of the perpetual pariah Mitchell Pearce and his recent Origin success after more than a decade of failure, and it is easy to see why.
State of Origin is over for another year, and for the second year in a row it is New South Wales who are victorious.
