That’s Johnathon Thurston showing Luke O’Donnell how to tackle. BTW Thurston is 5kg lighter than the lightest NSW player (Ennis). It comes from a Courier Mail gallery. It’s also the preferred Qld response to niggling tactics from the Blues.
Three main culprits have been named but honestly I thought it went way beyond Barrett, Ennis and Gallen. It’s had the expected response, so maybe I’m just a maroon-eyed Quincelander.
Meanwhile the Blues are said to be fuming over arch enemy Tony Archer because in nine games under him the Blues have won the penalty count only once.
On team selection, for Qld the only change is that Civoniceva is back and Ben Hannant drops out. In game two Warren Ryan thought David Shillington should have been man of the match. His statistics were impressive and I believe he was Qld players player of the match.
NSW have brought in Michael Jennings into the centres and Michael Gordon on the wing, presumably going for greater strike power.
There is also a bunch of new forwards I’m not familiar with. Warren Ryan reckons NSW need ball-playing back-rowers so I’m not sure whether they’ve got them.
Having Trent Barrett as captain on the field is clearly better than Gidley on the bench. But whether Barrett should be in the team at all is an interesting question. Warren Ryan has selected a team that he points out will never be beaten (because it will never play in the real world.)
He says in Game Two NSW went too wide too early. They need to tire out the Qld forwards and draw them in. With Barrett he reckons they have a pivot who angles outwards and takes the defence with him. He prefers John Sutton of Souths, who he says is streets ahead in putting outside players through holes.
Another interesting choice is the top try-scoring kid from Penrith, Lachlan Coote, at fullback. Jarryd Haynes figures on a 6 man bench with the suggestion that he would be culled.
There’s no doubt Qld want to win. It’s unfinished business. Meninga showing them a video tape of elbows, forearms and knees in tackles is no doubt part of his plan to fire them up. But you can never tell how these games work out. If you give them an inch they’ll beat you 56-16.
I may not even watch the match. My daughter, up from Adelaide with her family for a short holiday, is coming to dinner. They have a two year-old and a ten-year old in tow, so will want an early night, but wouldn’t be impressed with competition from the TV.
I’ll leave you with two images. The first is the Maroons celebrating the fifth consecutive series win, also from the Courier Mail gallery linked to above.
We want more, of course. Ten in a row would do for a start, but we’d only be truly happy if this Warren cartoon from the Daily Telegraph proved prophetic:
The apparent failure for Bellamy of the niggling tactics used so successfully at the Storm must imply that you need a certain breed of player – one that isn’t available for him to select at this level.
There’s an argument that this QLD side is the best other. I say this can’t be evaluated. Not so much because of the difficulties of comparing eras, but because a team can only be evaluated by their competition, and an under 20s team could have beaten the NSW teams of the Bellamy era.
The apparent failure for Bellamy of the niggling tactics used so successfully at the Storm must imply that you need a certain breed of player – one that isn’t available for him to select at this level.
There’s an argument that this QLD side is the best other. I say this can’t be evaluated. Not so much because of the difficulties of comparing eras, but because a team can only be evaluated by their competition, and an under 20s team could have beaten the NSW teams of the Bellamy era.
I believe QLD’s game plan centre, as it usually does, of baiting Gallen into a few cheap penalties. At times, I think he is a QLD mole sent deliberately into NSW to sabotage their chances.
But my Blue heart still hopes for a minor miracles this evening.
Go the Blues!
I believe QLD’s game plan centre, as it usually does, of baiting Gallen into a few cheap penalties. At times, I think he is a QLD mole sent deliberately into NSW to sabotage their chances.
But my Blue heart still hopes for a minor miracles this evening.
Go the Blues!
How important will that one point be?
How important will that one point be?
Did it have to be Bird?
Did it have to be Bird?
Well done QLD. But I want to take back what I said about Gallen. He had a great game and resisted a lot of niggling in the tackles. It was a great performance by him and he continues down that path, he’ll be a great player for NSW.
As for Ennis, he is never to play Origin again.
Well done QLD. But I want to take back what I said about Gallen. He had a great game and resisted a lot of niggling in the tackles. It was a great performance by him and he continues down that path, he’ll be a great player for NSW.
As for Ennis, he is never to play Origin again.
Omigod, how did we do that! When the Blues hit the lead they said on radio that they’d had 19 possessions to Qld’s 9. The football gods seemed against us.
Generally speaking there wasn’t a lot of niggle, but Ennis was gold for us. he used to embarrass when he played for the Broncos, so I don’t think he’s going to change.
Richard, I think it’s a good team but agree you can’t really compare across different periods. I heard an informed opinion today that 1987 and 1989 were perhaps the best of former times.
But it’s true that you can only play what’s in front of you although I don’t think NSW are all that bad.
I understand that all of the present team are young enough to be there in five years time with the exception of three – Lockyer, Civoniceva and Harrison, who is 29. Probably not what NSW wanted to hear.
They are going to have to keep Gidley, I suspect.
Omigod, how did we do that! When the Blues hit the lead they said on radio that they’d had 19 possessions to Qld’s 9. The football gods seemed against us.
Generally speaking there wasn’t a lot of niggle, but Ennis was gold for us. he used to embarrass when he played for the Broncos, so I don’t think he’s going to change.
Richard, I think it’s a good team but agree you can’t really compare across different periods. I heard an informed opinion today that 1987 and 1989 were perhaps the best of former times.
But it’s true that you can only play what’s in front of you although I don’t think NSW are all that bad.
I understand that all of the present team are young enough to be there in five years time with the exception of three – Lockyer, Civoniceva and Harrison, who is 29. Probably not what NSW wanted to hear.
They are going to have to keep Gidley, I suspect.
Brian, how can you say there wasn’t much niggle?
I lost track of the number of tackles when Qld blokes were on the ground in a headlock…the buggers were sly enough to only do it under a pile of other tacklers.
And then there’s Beau Scott’s hit on Slater…the scumbag didn’t even try for the ball, but just went it to cause damage. You’d think it would have been 10 in the bin, but when the refs were too gutless to even do that for O’Donnell in the last game you know that it’s a fantasy.
At least the superior team won…and “superstar” Hayne was another non-event. You can bet he’ll be in the Australian team though.
Brian, how can you say there wasn’t much niggle?
I lost track of the number of tackles when Qld blokes were on the ground in a headlock…the buggers were sly enough to only do it under a pile of other tacklers.
And then there’s Beau Scott’s hit on Slater…the scumbag didn’t even try for the ball, but just went it to cause damage. You’d think it would have been 10 in the bin, but when the refs were too gutless to even do that for O’Donnell in the last game you know that it’s a fantasy.
At least the superior team won…and “superstar” Hayne was another non-event. You can bet he’ll be in the Australian team though.
I was sorry NSW wasn’t flogged, but I’ll take it
I was sorry NSW wasn’t flogged, but I’ll take it
Massivespray, I may have been in a generous state of mind. Certainly the tackle on Slater was worthy of 10 in the bin. It was blatant and intentional.
I was annoyed at the ref’s calling strips when they weren’t, specifically one against Lockyer when the momentum of the bodies pulled the ball loose at a time when we were on our last gasp after they’d had the ball for about 25 tackles.
NSW also milked a few by trapping the tackler’s arm, but I wasn’t going to comment on refereeing. I’m sure they try, but it’s not getting any better.
Massivespray, I may have been in a generous state of mind. Certainly the tackle on Slater was worthy of 10 in the bin. It was blatant and intentional.
I was annoyed at the ref’s calling strips when they weren’t, specifically one against Lockyer when the momentum of the bodies pulled the ball loose at a time when we were on our last gasp after they’d had the ball for about 25 tackles.
NSW also milked a few by trapping the tackler’s arm, but I wasn’t going to comment on refereeing. I’m sure they try, but it’s not getting any better.
I’m not convinced they’re trying at all…as an example the one where Matt Scott has his jumper held by the NSW player on the ground and was penalised.
Surely the touchie had a clear view of what was going on, so why didn’t he intervene?
I think it’s going back to the bad old days where any 50-50 calls are automatically awarded to NSW…as well as the 40-60 and 30-70 to tell you the truth.
I’m not convinced they’re trying at all…as an example the one where Matt Scott has his jumper held by the NSW player on the ground and was penalised.
Surely the touchie had a clear view of what was going on, so why didn’t he intervene?
I think it’s going back to the bad old days where any 50-50 calls are automatically awarded to NSW…as well as the 40-60 and 30-70 to tell you the truth.
Well, Warren Ryan often says that the refs suddenly find themselves with an unbalanced penalty count and then try to even things up. Penalties heavily favoured Qld in the beginning and then one was given to Qld, wrongly I thought, when we were 12-0 in front, and I said to my wife sarcastically that perhaps the ref was trying to even up the game. Then going into the second half there was, I heard, 6 in a row to NSW. Some were wrong and some were marginal.
But several times the refs missed stuff in a way that favoured Qld, at least one of which mattered, so it would be interesting to have a disinterested, expert review of how things worked out. I was watching with my son, who is pretty sharp-eyed, and was made aware of the bias in my own perception a couple of times. Because of this I’m reluctant to make any generalisations about bias.
Well, Warren Ryan often says that the refs suddenly find themselves with an unbalanced penalty count and then try to even things up. Penalties heavily favoured Qld in the beginning and then one was given to Qld, wrongly I thought, when we were 12-0 in front, and I said to my wife sarcastically that perhaps the ref was trying to even up the game. Then going into the second half there was, I heard, 6 in a row to NSW. Some were wrong and some were marginal.
But several times the refs missed stuff in a way that favoured Qld, at least one of which mattered, so it would be interesting to have a disinterested, expert review of how things worked out. I was watching with my son, who is pretty sharp-eyed, and was made aware of the bias in my own perception a couple of times. Because of this I’m reluctant to make any generalisations about bias.
Go on Brian…generalisations about bias are all part of the State of Origin experience.
We could always start in of the
NSWRLChannel 9 commentary team…there a rich vein of bias just waiting to be tapped.Go on Brian…generalisations about bias are all part of the State of Origin experience.
We could always start in of the
NSWRLChannel 9 commentary team…there a rich vein of bias just waiting to be tapped.BTW the CM picture gallery is here.
My favourite is Greg Bird, sat on his butt which is currently @ 24. The keep adding new shots in so the numbering changes, but that’s where it is right now.
BTW the CM picture gallery is here.
My favourite is Greg Bird, sat on his butt which is currently @ 24. The keep adding new shots in so the numbering changes, but that’s where it is right now.
Part of queenslands success has been to go into every game expecting nothing from the referee and last night that is exactly what they got. One of the attributes that make this side a champion team is there ability to take poor refereeing on the chin and just get on with the game. The game as a spectacle last night was ruined by the referees refusal to police the ruck and also their complete indifference to headlocks, raised forearms and facials being performed on the player holding the ball.
The tackle on Slater which was a blatant hit on a player totally unprotected and airborne trying to take a bomb was summed up by Gould as being “part of origin”. When Thaiday came into a melee and pushed some players in Gould’s eyes it becomes a “low act”. Thats Rugby League for you though, a series of contradictions and tribal loyalties.
Part of queenslands success has been to go into every game expecting nothing from the referee and last night that is exactly what they got. One of the attributes that make this side a champion team is there ability to take poor refereeing on the chin and just get on with the game. The game as a spectacle last night was ruined by the referees refusal to police the ruck and also their complete indifference to headlocks, raised forearms and facials being performed on the player holding the ball.
The tackle on Slater which was a blatant hit on a player totally unprotected and airborne trying to take a bomb was summed up by Gould as being “part of origin”. When Thaiday came into a melee and pushed some players in Gould’s eyes it becomes a “low act”. Thats Rugby League for you though, a series of contradictions and tribal loyalties.
FWIW this is what a combined 1989/2010 team might look like:
Fullback: Billy Slater
Wing: Darius Boyd
Centre: Greg Inglis
Centre: Mal Meninga
Wing: Israel Folau
Five-Eighth: Wally Lewis
Halfback: Allan Langer
Prop: Martin Bella
Hooker: Cameron Smith
Prop: Petero Civoniceva
Second Row: Sam Thaiday
Second Row: Gene Miles
Lock: Paul Vautin
Bella for Matt Scott and Meninga for Willie Tonga are about the only clear winners of their positions from 1989. It’s hard to go past Lewis and Langer, but when they are replacing Lockyer and Thurston it’s not like you gain that much!
FWIW this is what a combined 1989/2010 team might look like:
Fullback: Billy Slater
Wing: Darius Boyd
Centre: Greg Inglis
Centre: Mal Meninga
Wing: Israel Folau
Five-Eighth: Wally Lewis
Halfback: Allan Langer
Prop: Martin Bella
Hooker: Cameron Smith
Prop: Petero Civoniceva
Second Row: Sam Thaiday
Second Row: Gene Miles
Lock: Paul Vautin
Bella for Matt Scott and Meninga for Willie Tonga are about the only clear winners of their positions from 1989. It’s hard to go past Lewis and Langer, but when they are replacing Lockyer and Thurston it’s not like you gain that much!
Much as we in Qld might like it, this team won’t be round for ever. As well as Lockyer, Civoniceva and Harrison moving on, Folau (if only he had steered that last kick just to right) is off to Kevin Sheedy and Western Sydney and Inglis might be off to Essendon.
Where are the remaining challenges for a team as successful as this one? How do they motivate themselves?
On the ARL/NRL generally, a good clean-out or, to be polite, a renewal would see
1. The proposed commission running the game
2. Women as on-ground officials
3. New commentary team on the ABC (apart from Warren Ryan)
4. New commentary team on Channel 9 (sack all of them)
5. Some rule changes to speed up the game (a lot!) at the tackle
6. Better integration of technology to assist the officials on the ground
7. More consideration in some way of players and clubs who contribute to representative games (especially Origin)
Much as we in Qld might like it, this team won’t be round for ever. As well as Lockyer, Civoniceva and Harrison moving on, Folau (if only he had steered that last kick just to right) is off to Kevin Sheedy and Western Sydney and Inglis might be off to Essendon.
Where are the remaining challenges for a team as successful as this one? How do they motivate themselves?
On the ARL/NRL generally, a good clean-out or, to be polite, a renewal would see
1. The proposed commission running the game
2. Women as on-ground officials
3. New commentary team on the ABC (apart from Warren Ryan)
4. New commentary team on Channel 9 (sack all of them)
5. Some rule changes to speed up the game (a lot!) at the tackle
6. Better integration of technology to assist the officials on the ground
7. More consideration in some way of players and clubs who contribute to representative games (especially Origin)
“Lock: Paul Vautin”?
Probably THE most overated player of all time.
“Lock: Paul Vautin”?
Probably THE most overated player of all time.
Maybe, lock and second row positions didn’t seem particularly clear either way.
Maybe, lock and second row positions didn’t seem particularly clear either way.