Strangest Origin of all time.
It didn't feel like an Origin game to me. Maybe I watched too many Origin replays before the big event but the play felt so structured and rehearsed that there was little room for the theatrics we're used to & when it came time for the brawl it was spoiled by a cheap shot from Jennings, more on that later. I'm not saying the game was low quality either, NSW played at a fierce pace and the completion rates were good considering but something was missing.
A first impressions run through...
NSW well and truly ambushed Queensland in that opening twenty. Qld didn't know how to handle them during that period & they were causing them all sorts in the middle. First points were a bit fortunate, but a just reward for their great start - Uate capitalising on Boyd's lack of confidence. I still have question marks whether Uate didn't get the slightest touch on it but based on the video we saw I couldn't see any conclusive evidence to say he did, so fair call.
Queensland started to get back into the game thanks to the boot of Smith and backline shifts to GI & Tate respectively. However, momentum didn't swing until Jennings was binned for running a good 20-30 minutes to blind side Tate with a cheap-shot. I'm really unsure how I feel about this. When it comes to Origin, I love the no holds barred interpretation of the rules and the theatrics of the brawls - even though Qlders invariably lose most of them. I would have been happy with a penalty & a few weeks suspension for Jennings but what kind of punishment is that really for Jennings? All he'd miss is a few Windsor matches and he'd be back to fight another day. So I can live with the ruling but would hate to see it become a habit at this level because that isn't my idea of Origin.
With Jennings off, Qld capitalise after a failed attempt down the right, targeting Uate on the left with a sweet backline to send Boyd over. They have a few more attempts at the vulnerable NSW line but a few kicks miss their mark and let NSW off the hook. 6-4 appears to be the final score heading into half-time until Bird gets penalised for an iffy tackle on Cronk. For mine, this is a black & white ruling and while this was well and truly on the lower scale, the refs. had little choice.
Qld off the back of that call target that right edge of the Blues again and it comes off beautifully with Boyd grabbing a double to well and truly put that early blunder behind him. JT kicks a very important conversion to take us to halftime, Qld leading 12-4.
At half-time I thought the first try scorer would win the match. If it was Qld, they'd run away with it, if NSW it was going to be a tight victory for them. Neither scenarios truly played out but they definitely dominated the majority of the half. Once again, sensing Slater was vulnerable under the high ball, they put it up high and he gifts them the valuable 6 pointer to put them well and truly back in the match.
From there, NSW well & truly take control of this second half but can't find that money pass to put a player over - resorting too much on cross field kicks that Tate did a fantastic job of defusing. Qld had a couple of rallies but never built on them, their best chance coming through a halfbreak on the right that ended in Thaiday spilling the ball when Qld could have scored.
After wave of attack, NSW grew frustrated and decided to take the two while they were offer. This was an incredibly confusing call at the time and it's perhaps a moment that will be capsuled in the wash up of the game. It appears the Maroons were on the ropes and cracks were starting to show. If the Blues had of managed to put on one good set they could have taken the lead & build on that lead. Instead, they took a risky penalty goal, missed & let Queensland off the hook.
NSW kept dominating and exposing Queensland down the right, Cronk in particular came up with a few bad reads that left his aged outside men exposed against the blistering speed of Jennings. After a scare from B. Stewart, the Maroons eventually held firm and through the good work of their backs & the boot of their 9 & 6 the Maroons finally put themselves in enemy territory.
It only really took one set and after going close on a few occasions, Qld found success off the Cronk/Slater aerial combination in a controversial try that has everyone talking. Technically I can see why it was awarded but I honestly didn't like seeing an Origin game decided on this call. While I was relieved Inglis sowed the game (and try record) up, for mine a try shouldn't have been rewarded. I don't believe GI ever had proper control and while I'm fine with the call going in Queensland's favour because Farah illegally lead with the foot I think a penalty would have sufficed and set up a far more satisfying conclusion. Either way, Qld take a victorious 18-10 lead. NSW try a couple of desperate plays but none of them come off and Qld take the important 1-0 for the series.
TL;DR - NSW ambushed Qld with their fierce pace but let themselves down with questionable decisions and poor plays in sets. While Qld weren't at their best, they can be proud of their resiliency & have plenty of room for improvement. Most of NSW put in top shelf performances, Qld can only say the same about 4 players.
So we don't need a HB because farah ran sideways on one or two occasions?
