Anasta, unlike Carney, injected himself into the game & was always trying to make things happen. I still think they will move Bird to 6 to accommodate NSW's amazing backrow depth, but Braith had a blinder.
Rooney played well by his recent standards, but Hayne & Quinn outplayed him. From the centres, Harris, Delaney were pretty average so i stand by what i said about them not deserving selected (Jennings or Lawrence must have been better), Pomeroy tried hard and showed plenty of toe but is still inconsistent. I did rate Monaghan's performance though. Very strong.
John Sutton started well but fell off, whilst Mateo got better and better, as did Mini Mini. Lewis was average, so was Robinson, surely Cuthbertson and Galloway would have been better options. Cashmere has played a LOT better than that in recent times too. Gibbs & Ogre were solid, Ogre wound up and hit the line hard whilst Gibbs worked all night. Corey Hughes was average, Wallace's injection sparked NSW.
As for Country's pack, Hindmarsh & Ryan are simply not up to it anymore and tonight proved it, Sims & Creagh were jipped. Buderus wasn't great either. Laffranchi, White, Cross, Heighington all impressed, Stewart didn't get enough game time but we all know he is a quality player, Hornby was quiet. Fitzgibbon surprised all, was very effective at prop, i think Douglas was unlucky to not make the team, but his performance surely couldn't have topped Fitzy's tonight.
Good game.