2017 Origin I - QLD 4-28 NSW @ Suncorp

[Danish]

Replaced by Mcguire.

Maguire isn't fit to clean Myles' hallway

 

[grouch]

No it isn't. Going for repeat sets is building pressure and fatiguing the opposition in order to crack the opposing team and increase try scoring options.
I'm sure everyone was happy with not getting the repeat set on Pearce's first grubber and his stab in goal to Gagai on the full.
NSW dominated field position and didn't get a repeat set for the whole first half.

Outside of his kicking game, Pearce did a good job. If he stays, which he will, I think the strategy around who kicks when needs to be reviewed.

Yep. It was the 31st minute when Pearce kicked to Gagai's breadbasket. Instead of building pressure, he relieved it, and gifted Qld a 7 tackle set. They scored a few minutes later.

 

[chrisD]

Outside of his kicking game, good job. If he stays, which he will, I think the strategy around who kicks when needs to be reviewed.

Pearce is a more talented kicker than Maloney in every situation. Pearce f**ked two attacking kicks up, everything else was very good. Being able to land a high ball in the corner within the last 10m without ever going ingoal or out is not a common skill. If Maloney was better than him at it, he'd have the job.

 

[RazorRam0n]

i thought pearce was starting to come into his own after his try, it certainly settled him.

unfortunate timing with the injury, but the team will be unchanged and i think that try is his turning point in his origin career

 

[grouch]

Pearce is a more talented kicker than Maloney in every situation. Pearce f**ked two attacking kicks up, everything else was very good. Being able to land a high ball in the corner within the last 10m without ever going ingoal or out is not a common skill. If Maloney was better than him at it, he'd have the job.

I thought I detected a strategy from NSW - running it on the last. I suspect the short kicking deficiencies was a key reason for that. It's not a terrible idea

 

[Pedge1971]

Oates is the most overrated player in the NRL.

On another note: one thing you can say about Queensland - they won't shitbag their team after a big win.

They already are. Huge sulking from up north and they dont have many options to go to for change. Origin is dead.

 

[chrisD]

I think the same thing happened to him as happens to him every time in SOO. He had his kick planned but the QLDers dropped back on him where he didn't expect it and when he realised his attempt to adapt ends up looking geniused.

He should run it yes, they drop back into his kicking lanes every time. He should run it until they don't. Just give it early to Cordner/Friz/Hayne/Graham (Not Dugan).

 

[Pedge1971]

If NSW had a half who could kick well, we would have got 50 put on us, no doubt about it

If Cronk was playing for NSW it would have been 20+ to nil instea of 6-4 just before half time.

Sugar coat it any way you want but if NSW dont score right on HT they go into the sheds knowing they dominated but had f**k all to show for it. From there the outcome could have been very different.

A lot of that dominance was stymied by Pearces poor 5th tackle options. We won and he will be rightly selected for the next game. But far from convinced he has the game to be successful in this arena long term.

 

[Bgoodorgoodatit]

So what does the rap sheet look like for this one? I reckon:

David Klemmer - grade 2 careless high tackle, 1 week
Blake Ferguson - 2 x grade 1 careless high tackle, 1 week
Boyd Cordner - grade 4 contrary conduct, 8 weeks
Jarryd Hayne - grade 2 head slam, 3 weeks
Andrew Fifita - grade 2 reckless high tackle, 4 weeks

Josh McGuire - grade 2 striking, grade 1 dangerous throw, grade 2 careless high tackle, 6 weeks
Will Chambers - grade 2 shoulder charge, 4 weeks

Is Skeep a QLD supporter or just a f**kwit? in fairness those two things aren't exactly mutually exclusive....

 

[rockcod]

Tedesco v Boyd was a massive stand out, Tedesco was buzzing around everywhere in defense stopping try's and shutting down plays, Boyd was nowhere to be seen on nearly all the NSW tries.

Having Slater at the back, Boyd on the wing and losing O'Neil as everyone thought before the game would have made it much closer.

Maroons missed strike power in the middle without Slater sniffing around, Smith and Cronk nearly pulled off a try but not having the Smith/Cronk/Slater combo is madness, should easily be worth a couple of tries.

 

[grouch]

Just give it early to Cordner/Friz/Hayne/Graham (Not Dugan).

I do love Duges... but imagine if NSW had picked James Roberts or Dylan Walker at right centre!

 

[Bronco18]

Credit to the Blues, they killed us all over the park. Absolutely no answer to Fifita and Klemmer, even Woods provided some handy offloads. Everyone else was an obvious beneficiary of that. Qld's wingers were probably their best players which says something about NSW's dominance.

I feel QLD stuck too solid with a conservative attacking plan for much of the game and failed to adapt to match the Blues. It's all well and good to go hit up after one out hit up in the middle of the field and bomb on fifth to trap the opposition down in their territory when you have Price, Petro or Scott in your pack, but you can't grind out a victory when your forwards are outmuscled that badly.

Perhaps the early kick so Morris/Fergo/Tedesco couldn't take the ball on the full was the option, or an earlier spread to Milford was the way to go. Milf looked very strong on his edge but stayed there. Not sure if he was overawed, or Walters told him to stay there to simplify his role.

Hard to see where QLD improve from here. They'll never match NSW's firepower in the middle of the field, but Wallace and Hess seem like an obvious upgrade from Lillyman/Myles/Guerra. Perhaps Thurston as another kicking option would improve things too. O'Neill was picked as a solid player and because Gagai was given a bath at centre by Hayne when the Knights played him. Perhaps throwing Gagai in there couldn't be worse given what O'Neill dished up.

As a one-eyed Bronco I defended Boyd's selection, but he'll be dissapointed with that performance tonight. Slater's involvement around the ruck was missed, but he was by no means the difference. Forwards were absolutely pummeled.

 

[moffla]

Maroons missed strike power in the middle without Slater sniffing around, Smith and Cronk nearly pulled off a try but not having the Smith/Cronk/Slater combo is madness, should easily be worth a couple of tries.

It still baffles me that QLD selectors didn't pick Slater based on this alone. There's a reason why Storm are top of the pile, and these three might have something to do with it...

 

[RazorRam0n]

If Cronk was playing for NSW it would have been 20+ to nil instea of 6-4 just before half time.

Sugar coat it any way you want but if NSW dont score right on HT they go into the sheds knowing they dominated but had f**k all to show for it. From there the outcome could have been very different.

A lot of that dominance was stymied by Pearces poor 5th tackle options. We won and he will be rightly selected for the next game. But far from convinced he has the game to be successful in this arena long term.

it's funny how much criticism cronk has avoided because of his reputation, his kicking game was diabolical not counting the crossfield oates try. it was one of his most ordinary games i've seen and the reality is pearce outplayed him

 

[Fangs]

Agreed. It is a deplorable tactic, worse than the kick dead tactic that lead to the 7 tackle rule. At least that kick dead tactic you have to find space.

Had me thinking last night...would the NRL try and implement a rule change to combat this? I've got no idea what they can do. But what used to be a spectacular part of our game is now easily one of the worst.

 

[Fangs]

Smith won't get sighted for this but anyways..

Smith also won't get cited for some lazy ruck defence. He exploded out of the line to try and spear Pearce again late in the first half and left a gaping hole for our second try.

 

[Pedge1971]

it's funny how much criticism cronk has avoided because of his reputation, his kicking game was diabolical not counting the crossfield oates try. it was one of his most ordinary games i've seen and the reality is pearce outplayed him

Gee, let me think about that for a second. Oh, maybe it is because Cronk has had one off night in 20 origin games with a badly beaten fwd pack in front of him whilst Pearce has had one passable (not great or good even) game in 16 appearances behind a rampant pack? His other 15 have been diabolical.

Qld had one chance in the 1st half and Cronk put the ball on a dime for Oates to score.

What is it with all the Mitch apologists?

 

[RazorRam0n]

Gee, let me think about that for a second. Oh, maybe it is because Cronk has had one off night in 20 origin games with a badly beaten fwd pack in front of him whilst Pearce has had one passable (not great or good even) game in 16 appearances behind a rampant pack? His other 15 have been diabolical.

Qld had one chance in the 1st half and Cronk put the ball on a dime for Oates to score.

What is it with all the Mitch apologists?

i'm not an apologist, have a look at my ratings thread, i had him down for a 6. not great but not awful. like fox i think summarised not enough to vindicate or disprove his doubters. my point is get a grip of yourself.

 

[Pedge1971]

i'm not an apologist, have a look at my ratings thread, i had him down for a 6. not great but not awful. like fox i think summarised not enough to vindicate or disprove his doubters. my point is get a grip of yourself.

You were defending him before the game and are still defending him. You clearly have a firm grip on yourself. Cronk plays for NSW the game is well over by HT. Fact.

 

[carcharias]

Wade Graham has Cronk completely f**ked in the head
3 in a row