My analysis post Game 1.

I honestly have NFI how QLD managed to win this game with the field position we had. Every time we looked like pinning NSW down or turning the tide and gaining the upper hand, our defence slackened off and the Blues once again gained dominance. We lost the battle of field position. No doubt in my mind. I thought Tamou and Gallen were superb.

I think tonight showed better than ever that QLD need a defensive workhorse. Our defence was nothing short of horrendous. Piss poor technique, not moving up, poor reads, not putting the ball carrier on his back. It was excruciating to watch. Taking no credit away from the Blues, they were very strong through the middle, but I thought QLD's defence helped. It was just ridiculously bad. Something needs to be done.

Justin Hodges can go and fuck right off. I am so sick of this nothing human being. Cunt was so average, yet again. Did absolutely nothing in attack, defended like pus and showed about as much interest and urgency as a sloth. He should never play Origin again.

And confirming the above is the man outside him. Brent Tate showed why it was a disgrace to not select him since 2008. And why he should be playing in Hodges' stead. He was tremendous. Really surprised me under the high ball. He was rock solid. Made great metres out of acting half. Made a very nice sneaky little break down Hayne's wing. And just never looked like making a mistake. Covered Slater's arse too. Best player on the field IMO along with Paul Gallen.

Benny Hannant was great. As was, to a lesser extent, Shillington. Helped us get forward when we were really struggling. I also thought Ashley Harrison was great. Made good metres, chimed into the set plays and defended sensationally.

Slater and Cronk were terrible. Cronk had no direction, raced up out of the line, and didn't find the ground with a single kick all night. Slater showed why it's a joke to call him the greatest fullback ever. Couldn't catch a bomb to save his life, and threw ridiculous and dangerous hospital passes every second kick return. Other than one good break, I didn't like what I saw from Cronk at all.

I thought the Blues were superb in the opening 20 minutes. QLD just couldn't get forward. They did a superb job on Civoniceva and Scott for the most part.

NSW's attack looked fatuous though. Although they made quite a few half-breaks and genuine breaks, when in attacking position they looked clueless. Even when there were overlaps, they couldn't get the ball to right man. Buhrer threw a shocker to Tony Williams, which ruined an overlap.

I really was at a loss with QLD's attack too. They exploited Uate's flank twice and then didn't go back there for almost the entire second half. Inglis and Boyd were virtually unspotted in the second 40 until the last 10.

I think Uate and Morris were woeful in defence. Morris wasn't as bad as I thought he would be but really, the pair of them had no communication whatsoever and it cost the Blues two rather pedestrian tries. The second of which was, admittedly, RL genius - Using Inglis, the go-to man as a decoy.

Regarding the officiating. Let me first say that I agree, Inglis's try should not have been given. But afaic, neither should Uate's. Both were knock-ons IMO. As was Luke Lewis' error that was allowed to go because Hodges happened to touch it. It's time to stop rewarding ball carriers and punishing defenders simply for making, often incidental, contact with the ball.

Jennings's sin binning was fine. It was a fucking dog act. Thaiday's 3rd man efforts have been piss poor as well, no doubt. But the nature of it - Throwing a blind, superman punch is much worse than say, Thaiday pushing someone. He deserved what he got. He should also have been penalised for holding Slater back without the ball.

The absurd penalty on Bird for a great, textbook RL lifting tackle is cancelled out by the absurd latitude he was given moments later. Worst non-penalised ruck penalty of the game. He was all over Myles, I think it was and then had the audacity to climb back over and harbour-bridge him too. The first was clearly not a penalty and the second clearly was.

Hayne should've been penalised for giving Thurston a little jab in the face too. Other than that he was very good. Farah also got away with a blatant sheppard. Harrison treaded close to the line with a little forearm action on Glenn Stewart but I don't think it was worth a penalty.

I think both teams got some terrible calls but I think it's a bit rich for anyone to suggest the Blues deserved to win more than QLD did. And both teams were allowed a ridiculous amount of time to lay in the ruck and hold the ball carriers arm.

I thought Carney was okay at times, and pretty poor at others. Should definitely be persevered with. The choice by Gallen to go for the two was one of the most retarded things I've seen in Origin for a while. Even if he kicks it they still have to score again. I was very, very happy that the Blues didn't press on the attack and try to win it right there because our boys were buggered and missing tackles all over. They know 12 points isn't enough to beat QLD so why the fuck would you take the penalty goal? Very poor captaincy I thought.

I can't really think of any Blues player who was really poor. Some were better than others but no one, apart from maybe Josh Morris, was garbage. Mind you, I haven't seen the replay yet and was focusing mainly on QLD players.

All in all I was quite surprised at how ordinary QLD was. We will have to be a lot better to win in Sydney.

 

lol, wasn't too flash. Did you happen to notice how easily he was picked off running from acting half? Did you happen to notice all the woeful errors in defence technique he made which resulted in continual missed tackles? Did you happen to notice the complete lack of urgency he showed to get to that ball which he left Thaiday to cover?

He and Slater were our worst.

 

I'm watching the game now so we'll see. Out of 13 kicks I reckon maybe 2 found the turf. Other than his good break he really wasn't very good IMO.

 

Yeah good on Hodgo for producing a quick play-the-ball after making about 3m. Tate was much better. He got quick play-the-balls but actually made metres (6 runs for 65m for Tate as opposed to 6 runs for 39m from Hodges).

He made one good one on Hayne in the first. And made some one-on-one tackles in the second. But there were just as many if not more piss poor arm-grab attempts. He was not good in defence, mate.

 

Smith's kicking kept us in the game IMO. Superb stuff that got us down the other end even if only briefly.

 

I haven't seen the replay yet. What was your first impression?