THEY THINK IT'S OVER
Last night was not the proudest for our heroes in Maroon, but Queenslanders everywhere were left to ponder what could've been after an unbelievable sin-binning of enforcer Felise Kaufusi late in the first half. After a spirited win in Game 1 that's long been synonymous with Queensland teams, a combination of bad luck and questionable penalties saw the Maroons eventually succumb 44-12 to a NSW Blues side who evidently treated levelling the series like they'd already won the shield.
"The sin binning changed everything" said Darren Lockyer, just before defying gravity to lean off the roof the mighty Optus Stadium structure after losing a bet with public enemy #1 Paul Gallen before the game.
There can be no doubt that NSW coach Brad Fittler's clandestine meetings with the officials leading into Game 2 had a huge sway on the events of last night. Gone was the tight, even contest where it's understood that there's a difference between an Origin tackle and an NRL tackle. In bygone eras, nobody would think twice about Kaufusi's late efforts helping to defend the try line with his Maroon brothers in arms. However, State of Origin football in 2022 is a different beast, and the prevailing sentiment from the Qld dressing room and the Maroons faithful who packed out Perth was that this wasn't Origin as we're used to.
Coach Billy Slater has many big decisions to make leading into the July 13 decider- will Kalyn Ponga (HIA) be cleared to play? How will Josh Papalii be utilised? Surely a formal meeting with NRL match officials to understand the intended rule interpretations is a must, before it is corrupted beyond recognition by those south of the border who have conspired since 1980 to take away from us what is the rightful domain of every Queenslander born and bred.
And if Slater and his team needed any further motivation, they only needed to observe the arrogant manner in which NSW celebrated at full-time and could barely without their joy at winning a tainted contest and acting as if they had just won the series. Such behaviour has never been observed from our humble Maroon champions who (after 8 straight series wins) had more reason than anybody to display such arrogance and disrespect to their opponents.
But that is what makes us different up here, and NSW are going to experience an atmosphere like no other come the decider at the spiritual home of Origin on July 13.
Game on, cockroaches.
COMMENTS
Typical NSW grubs can't win fair so Freddy has to go and sook to the refs. They'll never understand Origin like we do!
- Bazza, Gympie
How much did NSW pay the refs? Seriously, Origin has become a joke. If NSW win the series then it's clearly rigged and I will be turning my back on Origin, having followed it passionately since day 1.
- Mal, South Brisbane
How quickly those cocky Bluesers forget we won 8 in a row. NSW can win the battle like they did last night, but Qld will always win the war. Never forget that.
- Broncofan, Brisbane.
If the game was fair dinkum last night then we should be celebrating our Queensland heroes winning yet another Origin shield instead of the absolute DISGRACE that was dished up last night. Even more shameful is the one-sided commentary from the NSW panel who can barely contain themselves whenever Nathan Cleary gets within a postcode of the football. Fact is, big chin isn't fit to lace the boots of any of our Maroon legends past or present. He wouldn't even make the bench in any of those teams that won 8 in a row!
- XXXX lover, Gordonvale
Same thing happens every time NSW have a sook after they lose. They lose Game 1 and rather than take it on the chin, they have to go whinge about the refs. It's why they don't get Origin. They look for the scapegoats to blame and cut players at the drop of a hat, rather that showing faith in who they've got and picking and sticking. It's why we won 8 in a row. We roll our sleeves up when the going gets tough and show that Qld spirit because (unlike NSW) we've got a beautiful state to be proud of. There's two types of people in the world- Queenslanders and those who wish they could be us! That's why they've made it so hard for us ever since that first Game in 1980 because it burns them to see us so successful and show something alien to that lot down south- ticker. Passion. Courage. So long as we get rid of Gagai and DCE for Game 3 (both hacks and past their use-by-date) and tell Ponga to aim up or he's gone, then we're right in this for Game 3. QUEENSLANDER!
- Lynne from Deception Bay
It wouldn't be Origin without NSW being arrogant and complaining the moment something doesn't go their way. Qld rightfully should've won last night and if it wasn't for the criminal sending off of Kaufusi, we would've won easily and Cleary would've faded back into obscurity like he deserves to. Can't wait to wipe the smirk off those smug faces in the decider!
- Kevin, Boonah
