Don't get me wrong on my earlier comments, the refs last night were definitely horrible and it did look for all intents and purposes like they had been told pre-game that game 3 needs to be a decider with Thurston's last game etc etc. But the simple fact remains that NSW blew it last night.
They had a 16-6 halftime lead and lost 18-16. As bad as the refs were, NSW were just as responsible for their own inept second half performance.
Hayne is a show pony who loves seeing his name in the headlines. Sometimes he does it right, last night his glory hound self got it wrong.
Mitchell Pearce is a good halfback.....in club football. He has proven out of his depth time and time again in Origin though. Sure he scored a try like any good backing up halfback should do. But when it came time to ice the game and win NSW the 2017 series, where was he? As has always been the case during his Origin career, he was MIA when the game was on the line. Cronk and especially JT were battered and bruised, but they were there when it counted, Pearce was not. And the NSW media has been proclaiming that he is the one who should take over from the Qld duo in the Australian team? He can't even get Origin right, he doesn't deserve a chance at a test jumper.
Only about 5 players can really hold their held up for NSW after last night, especially in the 2nd half. Jackson, Jake (who was awesome when on), Dugan, Peats and Cordner. Maybe Woods and Morris.