Gee i hate Queenslanders at Origin time.
NSW was too strong for them in game 2, now they are scared.
Jonathan Thurston gets charged buy the judiciary and is a chance to miss origin 3. Queensland calls it a conspiracy. Luke Lewis missed Origin 2 in 2010 through suspension, but I don’t remember any New South Welshman whining about it too much. As it turns out, Thurston is cleared to play in the decider, and so he should have been.
Many might recall back in 2005 after NSW had won their third straight series, many Queenslanders were whining that Origin was dead, NSW was too dominant for the competition to continue, NSW had too many players to pick from and there was talk QLD didn’t want to compete anymore. Since QLD has won Origin the last 5 years running I have not heard one NSW person say or read one NSW paper report that QLD are too good and that NSW should just give up. You know why? Because we are not sooks. It’s what happens in sport, sometimes teams just dominate for years and others struggle.
New South Wales sure didn’t struggle in game two, mainly through the courageous efforts of their captain Paul Gallen who has a cracker of a game playing the full eighty minutes out of position in the front row, while getting through a mountain of work. Leading into game one and two I heard a lot of people saying that Beau Scott should not be in the side. I believed he should have been picked for game one, two and three which of course he has been. Scott is in the mould of an Origin player. He is aggressive, versatile, tough and can play the entire eighty. In the early exchanges of game 2, Scott copped a knee to the side of the head which perforated his eardrum, which lead to a big decrease in his hearing ability especially after his ear was filled with gauze to protect it from further damage. It can also affect a players balance. He played the rest of the game only to pick up further injuries to his knee and ankle while on the way to making 37 tackles and 10 hit-up’s. He missed the Dragons next clash because of his injuries and remains in doubt for game 3 with his knee still not 100%. I know that he is the kind of player I want representing NSW. One that puts it all on the line and will not take a backwards step.
Another player who I believe has copped a lot of unfair flack is Mark Gasnier. Some people believe if a player isn’t coming out and blitzing QLD they should not be there. Gasnier was one of the first picked players in the side, and rightly so. He is has consistently proven to be one of the most dangerous players that is available for NSW selection. Has great attacking flair and is also a good defender, making more or as many tackles than anyone in the NSW 1-9 jerseys in game 2. Even with the likes of Jennings, Idris, Hopoate and a fit Chris Lawrence in the centre ranks for NSW, I believe he would have been the first centre picked. It is highly unlikely anyone from NSW can come out and blitz QLD. They are an awesome team. State of Origin is said to be the panicle of Rugby League, so you are pretty damn good if come out and have 5 series wins in a row. The QLD team from the past 5 years will go down as one of the best teams I will have ever seen.
The 20 man squad that has been picked for the decider up in Brisbane is pretty much as good as it can get for NSW, barring a couple of unavailable players. If The Blues can grind QLD out of the contest like they successfully did in game 2, I will be one smiling New South Welshman.
