2020 Origin I - QLD 18-14 NSW @ Adelaide

[Captain Apollo]

NSW's ball control was terrible overall. I've never seen so many sloppy passes or pushed passe which just weren't on as I did last night, and Qld punished them for it.

Now whilst statistics don't tell the full story they do give an indication of things. Last night who were the best yardage getters for NSW? It was Tedesco with 262 meters from 30 runs and Tupou with 236 meters on 27 runs. Only 2 NSW forwards cracked the 100 metre mark - (1) Saifiti with 154 meters from 18 runs; and (2) Cordner with 131 meters from 18 runs. No other NSW forward made more than 67 meters.

By comparison Qld had 4 forwards crack 100 meters - (1) Arrow with 118 meters from 13 runs; (2) Faasuamaleaui with 112 meters from 16 runs; (3) Papalii with 112 meters from 14 runs; and (4) Collins with 104 meters from 11 runs.

To me that says Qld just rolled up the middle using a power game, and it worked. You have to go forward before you can go sideways, and NSW tried going laterally before going forward way too often.

This problem was exacerbated by this continual issue of only having one specialist front rower on the bench with two second rowers and a utility. You basically concede the middle to the opposition as you wind up playing players in positions that they are not used to in club football, and Origin is a big step up from club football in speed and intensity.

Finally just because Tom T can make a fist of playing centre, when he regularly plays fullback, does not mean every other player can do it. Last night both Wighton and Gutherson were caught out defensively. Also they looked like they had zero chemistry with their wingers. In my opinion we need specialists in these positions too.

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

Funny seeing some of the Captain Hindsight champions going back and laughing at the people in the 1st half saying the scoreline would be a blowout. I mean, NSW weren't playing well in the 1st half and yet were still a whole level better than Qld in attack AND defence.

What reasonable person wouldn't have been watching and thinking "When NSW clean up their ball handling this could get ugly?"

Unless you're Gus, and you just KNEW Qld would come out in the second half hitting the line at speed and spending the first 15 minutes up their end of the field?

I sort of agree. I did think NSW would pile on more points, but being a QLD fan I’m just used to QLD finding a way to have a crack.

That corny line of the QLD jersey being special to QLD players is correct.

 

[Silent Knight]

NSW has always loved picking blokes out of position. Goes back to the days of putting Joey at hooker so they could fit Kimmorley in.

Hell they've even had a go at starting the captain from the bench ffs.

I hope Klemmer never returns to the Origin arena, at least until we have a coach who isn't a space cadet and knows what he's doing. Fittler thinks he can demand respect, but doesn't offer it to some of our accomplished players. Respect is a two-way street.

 

[no name]

Foxsports report refs earpiece had a countdown, nein clock and siren irrelevant.

What’s the point of having the clock at the ground then?
Qld rolled the dice with negative tactics at the end and it paid off.
I’d also expect NSW to do the same thing in the same situation.

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

NSW's ball control was terrible overall. I've never seen so many sloppy passes or pushed passe which just weren't on as I did last night, and Qld punished them for it.

Now whilst statistics don't tell the full story they do give an indication of things. Last night who were the best yardage getters for NSW? It was Tedesco with 262 meters from 30 runs and Tupou with 236 meters on 27 runs. Only 2 NSW forwards cracked the 100 metre mark - (1) Saifiti with 154 meters from 18 runs; and (2) Cordner with 131 meters from 18 runs. No other NSW forward made more than 67 meters.

By comparison Qld had 4 forwards crack 100 meters - (1) Arrow with 118 meters from 13 runs; (2) Faasuamaleaui with 112 meters from 16 runs; (3) Papalii with 112 meters from 14 runs; and (4) Collins with 104 meters from 11 runs.

To me that says Qld just rolled up the middle using a power game, and it worked. You have to go forward before you can go sideways, and NSW tried going laterally before going forward way too often.

This problem was exacerbated by this continual issue of only having one specialist front rower on the bench with two second rowers and a utility. You basically concede the middle to the opposition as you wind up playing players in positions that they are not used to in club football, and Origin is a big step up from club football in speed and intensity.

Finally just because Tom T can make a fist of playing centre, when he regularly plays fullback, does not mean every other player can do it. Last night both Wighton and Gutherson were caught out defensively. Also they looked like they had zero chemistry with their wingers. In my opinion we need specialists in these positions too.

Id suggest a factor in all this is that many players hadn’t played a game for over a month (in teams that didn’t play semis), others a few weeks, and they had to fly in on the day of the game ...

But both teams had these factors. Qld played more to their potential than the blues, who botched lots of stuff.

I agree about selections. The dally M medal winner was put out in the centres, where the five/eighth selected had last played 3 weeks ago and busted his arm... and it happened again last night even though he played on. I’m sure it’s why Fittler had Walker on the bench, coz Keary is an injury risk.

I don’t fault the effort of the blues, they all seemed willing, even if sloppy.. but when the factors of recent game time, and flying in on the day come into account - not selecting players who are familiar/regulars in their position is just plain wrong. Qld centres owned ours... but ours were a five eighth and a fullback.

 

[Sans Souci Sainter]

Fittler's selection policy is all over the place

Some guys picked on form rather than class (Tupou)

Some guys picked on class rather than form (Frizell)

Some guys picked with little going for them in both areas (Cordner)

Class players who have done the job for years left out (Klemmer and Vaughan)

A guy with a huge motor best played in the starting side, started off the bench (Haas)

Gutherson at centre when he's got Lomax and Crichton available

Cody Walker on the bench - I mean he was dangerous, but if he's picked why is he on the bench?

This is the dead shit who left out Maloney at the start last year, despite for years being NSW's best player, only to realise his monumental f**k up just before it was too late, and then nearly did the same with Klemmer - before doing it this year with him.

The guy is trying to be too smart for his own good. He has all the players available to him. Just stick to the f**king basics and you'll win you merkin.

Nail. Head.

 

[Bazal]

Simply put, there are two centres in the squad, Crichton and Lomax. Neither of them were picked. But both of them are far better centres than Gutherson.

Yep, one missed tackle, but was made a fool and it led to a try to get Qld right back in the contest. He doesn’t defend in the line for parra and without support around him in the defensive line he got found out. The bloke is a fullback.

Lol Crichton is an appalling defender and Lomax is good in the air but can't catch or tackle very well either.

Unfortunately NSW have been hit with injuries to their first choice centres. Any of the four options have their own weaknesses at that position. Freddy picked the strongest defenders, Wighton had an uncharacteristically terrible night in that regard and Gutherson missed a bad tackle which people will (rightly) remember over the 34 other efforts that stuck.

Centre will be our main weakness regardless of which player we pick. You just hate Gutherson and have been very vocal in that, so he's an easy target. It gets a bit old tbh.

Again, he wasn't near his best and if he's dropped then so be it, but the issue was attitude across the board and Lomax or Crichton aren't going to suddenly save the day.

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

Lol Crichton is an appalling defender and Lomax is good in the air but can't catch or tackle very well either.

Unfortunately NSW have been hit with injuries to their first choice centres. Any of the four options have their own weaknesses at that position. Freddy picked the strongest defenders, Wighton had an uncharacteristically terrible night in that regard and Gutherson missed a bad tackle which people will (rightly) remember over the 34 other efforts that stuck.

Centre will be our main weakness regardless of which player we pick. You just hate Gutherson and have been very vocal in that, so he's an easy target. It gets a bit old tbh.

Again, he wasn't near his best and if he's dropped then so be it, but the issue was attitude across the board and Lomax or Crichton aren't going to suddenly save the day.

Whether I like him or not, it has nothing to do with it. The bloke is a fullback playing out of position.

 

[Munted]

Anyone else think that a clearly unfit Tedesco was a poor option?

Without the burst of acceleration after a tackle break he is the equivalent of a Gutherson or Dylan Edwards at full back,

I dont think Teddy was that bad, he still caused a few headaches and always looked a half chance even on one leg.
Just needed more people creating to support. Was either him, or throw it out wide to JAC.

 

[Munted]

9 seconds is wasted from blowing the whistle to the clock stopping for Kafusi to f**k off.
Teddy is tackled at 79:53 by 2 defenders, 3 more pile on late. Ref calls time 6 seconds later.

Sutton ya cheap merkin.

 

[Reflector]

I sort of agree. I did think NSW would pile on more points, but being a QLD fan I’m just used to QLD finding a way to have a crack.

That corny line of the QLD jersey being special to QLD players is correct.

What it came down to last night was Bennett (clearly) pointing out at h/t that the Maroons players weren't hitting the line fast enough. NSW needed to snap out of their conservative mode after the second Qld try and not leave it until the last 10 minutes. Last night came down to pure ball handling and tactics.

 

[Reflector]

regardless it should have been a penalty before the ball was played, and possibly another sin bin, which would of given nsw a shot v 11 men.

definitely didn’t cost them the game, but how it wasn’t a penalty and a chance for the win is the issue.

Shades of the Manly v Knights game at Brookvale a few months back. Manly couldn't say it cost them the game, but they deserved to be given a penalty and one last chance to snatch the game on f/t.

 

[Reflector]

Fittler's selection policy is all over the place

Some guys picked on form rather than class (Tupou)

Some guys picked on class rather than form (Frizell)

Some guys picked with little going for them in both areas (Cordner)

Class players who have done the job for years left out (Klemmer and Vaughan)

A guy with a huge motor best played in the starting side, started off the bench (Haas)

Gutherson at centre when he's got Lomax and Crichton available

Cody Walker on the bench - I mean he was dangerous, but if he's picked why is he on the bench?

This is the dead shit who left out Maloney at the start last year, despite for years being NSW's best player, only to realise his monumental f**k up just before it was too late, and then nearly did the same with Klemmer - before doing it this year with him.

The guy is trying to be too smart for his own good. He has all the players available to him. Just stick to the f**king basics and you'll win you merkin.

Fair points for the most part, but keep in mind that Maloney very nearly cost NSW the series last year. He was great when on-form, but it seemed that for the 50% of times he was a major asset, the other 50% he was a major liability. Game 3 last year was a classic case of blowing penalties to contrive a close contest, but without some of Maloney's stuff-ups the game would've already been out of sight long before the entire country got to find out that McGuire has a tramp stamp...

 

[Hutty1986]

Still did more work than Frizell and put his hand up when the hard hit ups were needed.

He also put his hand up to gift qld a match-winning lead. And Frizz is absolutely cooked-not only has he lost any semblance of impact he once had, his workrate has gone to shit too.

 

[Big Pete]

9 seconds is wasted from blowing the whistle to the clock stopping for Kafusi to f**k off.
Teddy is tackled at 79:53 by 2 defenders, 3 more pile on late. Ref calls time 6 seconds later.

Sutton ya cheap merkin.

I never understood why the referee's don't call time off, or reset the clock in instances like the above. Time is such an underrated commodity in Rugby League yet everyone is happy for teams to waste it when penalties are blown and other instances where the ball isn't in play. I've seen some teams take 20 seconds to figure out what they want to do with a penalty, it's ridiculous.

 

[Big Pete]

If we say that's 4 seconds and Tedesco was tackled at the 53 second mark, then Gagai had 3 seconds to lay on Tedesco after making a dominant tackle.

 

[Munted]

I never understood why the referee's don't call time off, or reset the clock in instances like the above. Time is such an underrated commodity in Rugby League yet everyone is happy for teams to waste it when penalties are blown and other instances where the ball isn't in play. I've seen some teams take 20 seconds to figure out what they want to do with a penalty, it's ridiculous.

Last night showed the difference between two play the balls, or one hail Mary.
Qld managed the clock and the ref didn't pull them up.
Cameron Smith wasn't playing so I can't blame him. Has to be the ref.

 

[Munted]

If we say that's 4 seconds and Tedesco was tackled at the 53 second mark, then Gagai had 3 seconds to lay on Tedesco after making a dominant tackle.

All that does is buy back 4 seconds wasted by Kafusi, of which he wasted 9.
Still a penalty for the 3rd,4th and 5th men into the tedesco tackle.

 

[isaiah]

He also put his hand up to gift qld a match-winning lead. And Frizz is absolutely cooked-not only has he lost any semblance of impact he once had, his workrate has gone to shit too.

My three favourites bits from the last 24 hours. Andrew Johns saying as a supposed expert that one side ‘couldn’t win.’
Paul Gallen saying that Queenslanders playing better in a maroon jersey is a fallacy and Gagai showing again the opposite.
And, this board tearing into each other over who to blame.

 

[isaiah]

Funny seeing some of the Captain Hindsight champions going back and laughing at the people in the 1st half saying the scoreline would be a blowout. I mean, NSW weren't playing well in the 1st half and yet were still a whole level better than Qld in attack AND defence.

What reasonable person wouldn't have been watching and thinking "When NSW clean up their ball handling this could get ugly?"

Unless you're Gus, and you just KNEW Qld would come out in the second half hitting the line at speed and spending the first 15 minutes up their end of the field?

The game was won in the first half when they repelled 3 or 4 sets on their own line.