NSW looked the goods, QLD suffer the consequences
May 22nd 2008 09:23
The Blues celebrate after a fine performance
Taking a risk in a game of football is something not usually warranted unless you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
It seems the Queensland selectors have just lost their way in the past week or so with very weird selections in a Queensland side that was outgunned, outmuscled and outplayed in every facet of the game last night.
Approximately 70,000 Blues faithful turned out to watch their Origin heroes put on a display of passion and determination that would have made the most hardened Maroons supporter hide in their toad infested cane fields.
Such was the dominace of New South Wales performance last night, the Maroons simply became bereft of any ideas and structure and that in the end put them behind the eight ball from minute one.
Queensland fullback Billy Slater was bashed by a Blues defence that literally showed no mery, making the Storm fullback's night one of pain and suffering.
Karmichael Hunt at five-eighth offered tremendous starch in defence but rarely troubled in attack. Although the passion of the man can not be questioned, there is a time where Origin football needs a fair bit of creativity and skill.
In the end, this derived Hunt's partner in crime, Johnathon Thurston, any real opportunity to take the game by the throat and this dented the Maroon's backline into nothingness.
Queensland certaintly had the ammo to worry the Blues last night but no one in that side was capable of pulling the trigger on the night.
The selectors north of the border tried to experiment last night and it failed miserably. The next course of action must be made immediately with the introduction of either Lockyer or Prince.
Both of these men posess the best passing game that Rugby league has to offer and will be called upon to save the Maroons from complete humiliation.
Hunt has to either win a place on the bench or miss the side completely in order for the Maroons to unleash their awsome backline. Putting him at five-eighth was a tragic waste of both his skills on the ball and that of a Queensland backline built for the ages.
Fellow Origin legend Paul "fatty" Vautin said that Queensland can't play any worse than what they showed in Sydney last night.
If they fair dinkum do not want a repeat of those comments, Maroon selectors must show some common sense. It could make all the difference in three weeks time.
On the other side of the spectrum, NSW look to be building very dangerously indeed.
Their pack of forwards produced an outstanding display of energetic and power football that just gave their rivals no chance.
Their onslaught on the Maroons pack never ceased, and that was the key in their best performance in Origin football since 2005.
Laffranchi was superb off the bench while Ben Cross and Brett White did all that was required to destroy Queenslands credibility on the night.
Greg Bird is a man for the occasion and his combination with debutant Peter Wallace was something very special.
Wallace in particular displayed nerves of steel and in the end produced a performance that will keep him the sky Blue for the rest of his career.
At the back, Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper relished the challenge against a star studded Maroons backline.
Gasnier was lethal to say the least and Cooper was nearly unplayable in defence such was his composure. It really was a pleasure to watch those two turn in really professional performances for their state.
NSW winger Anthony Quinn was super aswell, both in attack and defence. He can really sniff out a try but his defence is what sets him out from most wingers in the NRL.
On his day, there is no better defensive winger in the competition and Quinn showcased this theory with stinging hits on Thurston and Storm teammate Billy Slater.
I have to say that New South Wales performance on the night was close to perfect. Their squad should finally be maintained one to seventeen for game two.
It's time for Queensland to use their heads and make the right decisions. Risks cannot be taken at this level now. The stakes are far to high.
Bring on game two.
| 68 |
| Vote |
