New South Wales Blues vs Queensland Maroons – Wednesday night – ANZ Stadium
New South Wales
- Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels)
- Brett Morris (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- Michael Jennings (Sydney Roosters)
- Josh Morris (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Blake Ferguson (Canberra Raiders)
- James Maloney (Sydney Roosters)
- Mitchell Pearce (Sydney Roosters)
- Paul Gallen (c) (Cronulla Sharks)
- Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers)
- James Tamou (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Ryan Hoffman (Melbourne Storm)
- Luke Lewis (Cronulla Sharks)
- Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans)
- Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
- Josh Reynolds (Canterbury Bulldogs)
- Trent Merrin (St George Illawarra Dragons)
- Anthony Watmough (Manly Sea Eagles)
Queensland
- Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)
- Darius Boyd (Newcastle Knights)
- Greg Inglis (Melbourne Storm)
- Justin Hodges (Brisbane Broncos)
- Brent Tate (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Jonathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)
- Matt Scott (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Cameron Smith (c) (Melbourne Storm)
- David Shillington (Canberra Raiders)
- Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos)
- Nate Myles (Gold Coast Titans)
- Ashley Harrison (Gold Coast Titans)
- Corey Parker (Brisbane Broncos)
- Ben Teo (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Matt Gillett (Brisbane Broncos)
- Chris McQueen (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
The last New South Wales State of Origin series win pre-dates European settlement in this country. There isn't a child younger than 10 that has any recollection of the men in blue celebrating a victory in song (unless they watch 'The Smurfs'). The lads from south of the Tweed are well and truly overdue. They must be getting hungry....really really hungry, and I'm tipping them. It certainly won't be easy, as they have to beat a side that includes (arguably) the five most important players in the NRL, but the Ben Teo (and Darius Boyd) situation has to be unsettling for the northerners. The players and coaching staff will say the right things before the game - "we're focussed", "we're not distracted". I hope they are, but I fear they are not. If Queensland are off their game, even slightly, they'll get beaten in Sydney. I certainly hope I'm wrong, but I'm here to tip winners, so I'll tip this one through gritted teeth...I like the cockroaches.
Verdict : NSW 16 - QLD 12
First try scorer : Blake Ferguson
Man of the Match : Greg Bird
Result - NSW 14 defeated QLD 6
Comments
Submitted by Guru Craig on
My Favourite time of year is upon us, for those of you who don't know, The Guru is a born and breed dyed in the womb Queenslander. At present Mrs Guru has thrown the anchor out in NSW and im stuck between a hard woman in a rather cold place..(hope she doesn't read this or..) and there's no better time of year to exploit my Maroonness with co-workers and friends, being a bona-fide Qlder it’s my duty to correct all the ill-informed Cockroaches every chance i get, you see i know several of them that support the greatest state yet are bluer than the sky...but here we are, seven in a row soon to be eight .
Queensland will win this series. Laurie Dailey isn’t the right bloke for the job, I’ll say that straight off the bat. He was a tremendous player and makes a half decent commentator but the images from the Blue camp strangely seem to have a common flavour, blokes talking about other blokes naked. Now you can think what you like about that but what would concern me 'if' i were a Blues supporter is the lack of concentration and seriousness. They've lost SEVEN years in a row and their new immortal in his interview last night on the footy show…every question he asked the players was related to same gender private activities. Joey should get a job with the Greens not the Blues he seems to have similar interests.
But as im championing seriousness I’ll get with my own program. QLD have the playing talent to clean sweep the series and most of those blokes are also in top form. JT has been doing it tough with Matty Scott up in Townsville and i really believe he will unload for QLD, The Storm big 3 will do likewise. Club football has week to week pressure and the expectations on those men to better near perfect performances builds stress as we have seen in their last 3 or 4 games. But Origin is pure, there's no need to worry about that stuff here, this is championship football of the highest level and after 7 in a row the QLD team know they can win, they have that rock solid confidence in each other with the added magic that pulling on the Maroon jersey provides, It’s almost unthinkable to envision them losing. The only way i can see it happening is through complacency, Mal knows that and so far he has dealt with those issues as a true champion does, QLD faced a series without Lockyer and they had a few surprises, they realised how much the Great #6 brought to their side and they had to adjust in a few areas. This year QLD will be better than they ever have.
QLD 20 - NSW 8 MOTM Inglis
Submitted by Pete on
I'm a Maroons man through and through. Sadly I think the Maroon men will stuggle in the forwards this year and not be able to match the young angry Cockroaches. Along with that the Thinker is generous in his Sydney score line. I would like to be proved wrong but doubt it.
Submitted by Guru Craig on
I will say Pete that im surprised by The Thinkers tip, i know last year was close, particularly game 3 and going by that NSW are well overdue. However i look at the same game and think QLD were underdone without Lockyer, Scott was very emotional for the 2nd and 3rd game, Petro's selection while deserved on past effort wasn't justified on form and NSW were doing their thing with the media, Harrison never lets QLD down but the guy is past this physically. That is QLDs only weakness, the same place they find strength, unity and loyalty. Mal and the QLD selectors have noticed this and they chose a few newer blokes last year, Gillett and Teo were probably not ready, might still not be. I expect Papilli to take Teo's place and that bloke will cause trouble for NSW, he flattened Gal last year when they met in the finals and ive a feeling Gal doesn't have the legs he used to, he still posts huge numbers but with far less energy, i wonder why?
We will find out next week if those signs were of an aging team in need of a fresh perspective or if the win still came, on the back of those events because the squad are just that good. Obviously i think the latter but i can respect the unknown and everyone is entitled to their opinion, we wont know until the siren sounds on game 3, but until then i think NSW have gone the wrong way. Fafita and Ferguson are green, they've no idea what is coming, like wise BBQ boy. Pearce has proven to me over and over that he isn't up to Origin level. The Morris boys..well, they just don't seem to back up club form on the big stage, likewise Hayne, he has had one good Origin game, his debut. NSW will have the advantage of a big home crowd and they will have the refs, its possible they may win on refs decisions if QLD allow them to get close enough. I wouldn't have any of the Blues in the QLD team though, not one. If its a cold rainy night next week then NSW will have it to lose.
I like that NSW have selected the matched halves, i like that they have a few new angles i just don't think it will be anywhere near enough, QLD know they can win, NSW hope they can. I cant wait.
Submitted by ponniah on
NSW-8
QLD-12
MOM-J/THURSTON
Submitted by Johnny Ray on
NSW to win by 8, NSW awarded controversial try/penalty in first half, that helps lifts momentum and leads them to win game ! Robbie Farrah, man of match ! Go NSW ! ;-D
Submitted by a on
At he 9th minLuke Lewis is going to score the 1st try after breaking through a tackle converstion sucessful NSW 6 QLD0
The 17th min Greg Ingls is not called GI for anything Conversion missed QLD 4 NSW 6
The 25th miniute Blake Fergueson scores on debut after suvering a tackle conversion sucessful NSW 12 QLD 4
The 28 min Nate Myles scores after a break from Darius Boyd conversion sucessful QLD 10 NSW 12
The 33 miniute Billy Sleater scores for QLD Conversion successful QLD 16 NSW 12
The 40 min Darius Boyd crosses the line Converstion missed QLD 20 NSW 12
Half Time QLD 20 NSW 12
44th min Trent Merrin in after a break from Robbie Farah Convrsion successful QLD 20 NSW 18
60th min Darius Boyd scores his 2nd after breaking a tackle Conversion good QLD 26 NSW 18
64 min Darius Boyd gets his hat trick after another break Conversion successfull QLD 32 NSW 18
68 min Josh Renoldys cross to give NSW a hope Conversion successful NSW 24 QLD 32
72 Min Ryan Hoffman crosses to set a good finish conversion successful NSW 30 QLD 32
75 Min Micheal Jennings give NSW a lead just at the right time Conversion missed NSW 34 QLD 32
Full time NSW have come from behind to beat QLD 34-32
Submitted by J.S on
Hey A,
Very high scoring game for S.O.O :)
QLD 16 NSW 12
Go QLD..!!!
Submitted by The Thinker on
Very detailed as always A. If you are 100% correct I'm going to be freaked out for a very long time.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Hey Mr Thinker you told me at the beginning of the season not to give up on the Broncos as" they are a very professional club" Well I'm trying not to and here you are giving up on the Maroons. It's anyone's game but I say Queensland by 6. G I to be MOM
GO you mighty Queenslanders!!!
Submitted by The Joker on
34-32 !!! HA. I predicted all 3 games to total 72 points.
Late mail tells me: NSW 17 QLD 16
Submitted by The Thinker on
I know I tipped them, but I'm absolutely gobsmacked that the Blues have been backed into heavy favouritism
Submitted by Guru Craig on
Go the Mighty Queenslanders!!!!!!!..yep 7 exclamation marks.
Submitted by Rob on
cant believe blake ferguson wasnt MOM. also, i smell a NSW win on game 2 aswell. they look hungry and passionate.
Submitted by Rob on
on second thought, gallen wont be there on game 2. i say QLD by 2 at suncorp.
Submitted by mark ashford on
Well the Maroons now know what a sluggish start will do to you in origin.AND you can't take players into this game that aren't 100% fit. Gallen has always been a thug and should of been sent off, if not for the "king hit" then for being the ugliest bloke on the field. Bring on game 2 we won't make the same mistake twice!! Queensland by 10
Submitted by mark ashford on
Sorry Gal I take that back. you're not the ugliest bloke on the field Ryan Hoffman just shades you, but at least he's a clean player.
Submitted by Steel Panther on
Gallen = thug!! He's always the first to complain and whines like a two year old yet puts in a cheap shot on Myles. Thurston was dreadful and was Inglis even playing?
Submitted by Guru Craig on
QLD were out played and out 'Origin-ed'. The Blues certainly brought their best and I thought the Maroons for a great part of that game were playing reactionary football; The play, speed and ferocity of the game were all dictated by NSW.
Gallen - Love him or hate him, played a captains knock. Paul certainly has his detractors but the incident with Myles was a tactic to break the QLD momentum, as 'The King' himself suggested in commentary when Cronk attempted his version of a Gal, there's a time and place for a bit of biff and poor ol Nate happened to be johnny on the spot. Its worth noting that Gal paid a price for his actions, have a look at his left cheek bone, The Guru thinks Mr Parker perhaps landed an uppercut or 3 and I hear he can throw 'em..poor old Nate was waiting for Brent Tate...
It's not all doom and gloom for the Maroons though, the boys cut NSW at will with ball movement and strong individual runs, but were unable to convert the opportunities. Hodges was outstanding, Thiaday and Slater as well. I could get into the kicking and all the other areas QLD fell short but....in the end NSW won and deservedly so.
I take a bow to the Boss, he's not called 'The Thinker' for nothing. Bring on game 2, Mal will have the boys ready to equal the score.