Origin game one thread. (Realistically)

[HoldenV8]

No gallen and no Farrah the hogs and look at the score

I notice the Gallen and Farah loving NSW media are completely ignoring that. First time in a long time that neither has played and low and behold, NSW actually looked like a team. Neither was out there padding up their stats at the expense of a team trying to win football games.

 

[Terry Zarsoff]

Paul and Robbie are combining their talents via a test tube. With the aid of sports scientists, they have created a prototypical 21st Century media loving ballhog called Raoul Galah.

 

[ricardo]

NSW played as a team and destroyed them through the middle. No JT, Billy, GI comeback was going to stop that.

 

[manlyfan76]

OK, now i feel physically ill. I joked during the game after Gus blurted out that this was Pearce's "best origin game". I figured it was just a bit of commentary blah blah blah to create hype. Well, knock me over, I just read the players' ratings for the game on the League Live app and sure enough, The nufty who wrote it just stole Gus' quote and said it was "the best origin game" by Pearce and gave him a rating of 8. To put it in perspective, Woods was given 7. FMD!

They gave Pearce 2 of his 8 for leaving the field!

 

[globaleagle]

Boy, if Qld win the next 2 games...NSW is going to explode!

Some media need to wait a bit before announcing the new nsw dynasty I reckon.

 

[mave]

Pearces short kicking games was useless.
2 or 3 good long kicks and the rest bombing it to Oates, which was obviously the coaches gameplan (hopefully).

Maloney outplayed Pearce in every aspect.

 

[cherry_poppins]

Can I punch the bloke at work who loves the Boncos and said DCE should never be picked for Qld ever, ever, ever again?

Absolutely he sounds like a Muppet

 

[HoldenV8]

For mine, player ratings from last night.

NSW:
Tedesco - He surprised me. Could easily have won Man of the Match. 9/10
Ferguson - Didn't get a lot of opportunity, but not his best night. 5/10
Dugan - Fragile as expected. A 'centre' who won't pass. Try saver saved his night. 5/10
Hayne - Good with the ball in hand, if a show pony. Not a centre's backside in defence. 5/10
Morris - Did surprisingly well until hurting his knee and fading out. 7/10
Maloney - Should have done more kicking, but was otherwise in most of the Blues tries. 8/10
Pearce - Still doesn't have a short kicking game. Could have been better but could have been worse. 5/10
Woods - Not sold on him as an Origin player. Ran with a pack against a well beaten pack that made him look better than he was. 6/10
Peats - Its amazing what a hooker who doesn't think he's hooker, half and 5/8 all rolled into one Robbie will do for a team. 8.5/10
Fifita - Best game by a prop since Kitey in the 2008 Grand Final. 9.5/10
Jackson - Never stopped. Strong running and strong defence. 8/10
Cordner - Very good game from the new captain. 7.5/10
Frizell - Where was his running game? 5/10
Klemmer - Ran well off the bench. 8/10
Graham - Solid effort. 7/10
Trbojevic - Good debut. Not sensational, but good. 7/10
Bird - Combined well with Maloney when he came on. 7/10

Ok, now for Qld.

Boyd - Very quiet night for the so-called worlds best fullback. 5/10
Oates - Handled everything they threw at him. 7/10
Chambers - He's had better games. 5/10
O'Neill - Should never have been picked. 3/10
Gagai - Started well but drifted out. 6/10
Milford - Lack of any kicking game put extra pressure on Cronk. 5/10
Cronk - Class but could do little behind a beaten pack. Targeted when kicking as they had no one else. 7/10
Napa - Another who started well but faded. 6/10
Smith - Not his usual influential self. 6/10
Myles - Got a bit grubby did old Nate but really made little impact. 4/10
Papalli - Looked like he had a few counter meals at the Claxton pre-game. A handful early until he ran out of petrol. 6/10
Gillett - Relatively subdued game from him. Serviceable. 6/10
McGuire - Didn't stop trying. 7/10
Morgan - And he's better than DCE? Yeah, ok. 4/10
Thaiday - Got 2 for 1 on counter meals with Papalli. Getting past it IMO. 4/10
Guerra - Robbed of a certain try. Otherwise relatively unsighted. 5/10
Lillyman - I'd give BJ his spot for Game 2. 4/10

I can't really see NSW changing the team for Game 2 unless injury or suspension dictate otherwise.

For Qld....Slater has to come into the side. Boyd to the wing, Gagai to the centres and O'Neill left right out. Myles will be lucky to survive, and (if Thurston is still out, which I doubt it) I think they should drop Morgan, move Milford to the bench as the utility and bring in DCE to play 5/8. Cherry gives them more attacking options than Milford or Morgan and has what Qld lacked tonight, an alternative long or short kicker. Can't see it happening though. Thurston should be back and for Cherry's sake I hope he's not selected because he'd be on a hiding to nothing.

 

[Simonmyers11]

For mine, player ratings from last night.

NSW:
Tedesco - He surprised me. Could easily have won Man of the Match. 9/10
Ferguson - Didn't get a lot of opportunity, but not his best night. 5/10
Dugan - Fragile as expected. A 'centre' who won't pass. Try saver saved his night. 5/10
Hayne - Good with the ball in hand, if a show pony. Not a centre's backside in defence. 5/10
Morris - Did surprisingly well until hurting his knee and fading out. 7/10
Maloney - Should have done more kicking, but was otherwise in most of the Blues tries. 8/10
Pearce - Still doesn't have a short kicking game. Could have been better but could have been worse. 5/10
Woods - Not sold on him as an Origin player. Ran with a pack against a well beaten pack that made him look better than he was. 6/10
Peats - Its amazing what a hooker who doesn't think he's hooker, half and 5/8 all rolled into one Robbie will do for a team. 8.5/10
Fifita - Best game by a prop since Kitey in the 2008 Grand Final. 9.5/10
Jackson - Never stopped. Strong running and strong defence. 8/10
Cordner - Very good game from the new captain. 7.5/10
Frizell - Where was his running game? 5/10
Klemmer - Ran well off the bench. 8/10
Graham - Solid effort. 7/10
Trbojevic - Good debut. Not sensational, but good. 7/10
Bird - Combined well with Maloney when he came on. 7/10

Ok, now for Qld.

Boyd - Very quiet night for the so-called worlds best fullback. 5/10
Oates - Handled everything they threw at him. 7/10
Chambers - He's had better games. 5/10
O'Neill - Should never have been picked. 3/10
Gagai - Started well but drifted out. 6/10
Milford - Lack of any kicking game put extra pressure on Cronk. 5/10
Cronk - Class but could do little behind a beaten pack. Targeted when kicking as they had no one else. 7/10
Napa - Another who started well but faded. 6/10
Smith - Not his usual influential self. 6/10
Myles - Got a bit grubby did old Nate but really made little impact. 4/10
Papalli - Looked like he had a few counter meals at the Claxton pre-game. A handful early until he ran out of petrol. 6/10
Gillett - Relatively subdued game from him. Serviceable. 6/10
McGuire - Didn't stop trying. 7/10
Morgan - And he's better than DCE? Yeah, ok. 4/10
Thaiday - Got 2 for 1 on counter meals with Papalli. Getting past it IMO. 4/10
Guerra - Robbed of a certain try. Otherwise relatively unsighted. 5/10
Lillyman - I'd give BJ his spot for Game 2. 4/10

I can't really see NSW changing the team for Game 2 unless injury or suspension dictate otherwise.

For Qld....Slater has to come into the side. Boyd to the wing, Gagai to the centres and O'Neill left right out. Myles will be lucky to survive, and (if Thurston is still out, which I doubt it) I think they should drop Morgan, move Milford to the bench as the utility and bring in DCE to play 5/8. Cherry gives them more attacking options than Milford or Morgan and has what Qld lacked tonight, an alternative long or short kicker. Can't see it happening though. Thurston should be back and for Cherry's sake I hope he's not selected because he'd be on a hiding to nothing.

Yeah, pretty much agree with those ratings. We won so they wont change much if at all. Unless injuries happen of course.

 

[Fluffy]

Yeah, i respect you saw it differently (and you obviously weren't alone).

I have different expectations of a kicking game. In my opinion, Pearce just bombed away ad nauseam to a more than capable winger under the high ball. There was the occasional kick down field which found grass (which was good). And the only time he was called upon to improvise a kick, he gently lobbed it on the full in goal to kill our attack and give Qld a get out of jail free card with 7 tackles. I just expect more from a half steering the ship (cue the master, JT).

His defence was solid I agree, though I challenge the "few good runs" claim. I just expect so much more from a pivotal position in the team, despite the dross we have suffered for the last decade. IMO, Maloney played all over him that game and we suffered from not giving Maloney more ball control in that first half.

I thought Pearce controlled the game extremely well and was a big reason we played as a team rather than individuals like previous years. Didn't overplay his hand and let other players do what they were paid for, plenty of X factor out there at this level. Maloney was great but it was Pearce who saw something to start with and chose to get the ball out the left with plenty of time to allow Maloney to work some magic. Compare that to previous years where Farrah would do his thing and then put tons of pressure on the halves or Gallen gets in the way and runs away from the opportunity.

The kicking to Oates was obviously a game plan concocted by the brains trust prior and the execution of that was good. You may disagree with the plan itself but it did pin their least dangerous kick returner in the corner all night thus blunting their attack and reducing the risk of broken play line breaks. Another benefit if Oates couldn't take the next hit up as the big powerful winger (think Jorge and Uate), also means their forwards have to return further to get back into the play. Look at our game plan against the faiders in Canberra - this sort of thing can work well. Yes he stuffed up the one kick which was caught on the full but outside of that a good solid game as a team player. I am glad he didn't kick to Gaigai who was on fire and easily Qlds best.

 

[The Who]

I thought the referees had a terrific game.
Very few penalties and made quick decisions on tries without going to the video ref.
Allowed the game to flow and didn't overreact to niggle.
Rarely do the refs get a rap but these ones contributed to the great spectacle.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

Andrew Fifita may or may not be a quality human being and he can carry on like a bit of a dick on the field, but Jesus H. Christ, the guy can play football. I can only think of one other runner that destructive in the NRL, and that's Jason Taumololo, and Fifita is probably a good 15kg heavier than Taumololo. Fifita won that game for NSW, just like he won the grand final for Cronulla last year. Yes, he had help, but he was the difference both times.

 

[COMMANDER]

@COMMANDER

Finally, the tide has turned!

The youngsters from NSW will now create their own dynasty as the pensioners from Queensland move into their Zimmer frames!

PS: I still think it's a bit of a wank these days, nothing like the old days but better than watching My Kitchen Rules!

Mate when the QLD superstars are fit and firing they make guys like Myles, Guerra, Lillyman and Thaiday look good. When they are absent they look like busted old pugs. These contests will now go back to being coin tosses again, which will be good.

 

[HappilyManly]

Teddy's defence is what a great fullback effects in their game.

Hope Turbo took notes and incorporates them into his ever maturing game

 

[Fluffy]

I thought the referees had a terrific game.
Very few penalties and made quick decisions on tries without going to the video ref.
Allowed the game to flow and didn't overreact to niggle.
Rarely do the refs get a rap but these ones contributed to the great spectacle.

Interesting that they "can" ref like that so therefore getting chechinned is a conscious decision

which makes it even worse

 

[Fluffy]

Andrew Fifita may or may not be a quality human being and he can carry on like a bit of a dick on the field, but Jesus H. Christ, the guy can play football. I can only think of one other runner that destructive in the NRL, and that's Jason Taumololo, and Fifita is probably a good 15kg heavier than Taumololo. Fifita won that game for NSW, just like he won the grand final for Cronulla last year. Yes, he had help, but he was the difference both times.

Big Marty goes alright as well, has more tackle busts per game this year than both of them, think it was 14 per game with Tamalolo second at 10 per game average.

 

[eaglebuzz]

NSW just need some better wingers. In coming years or even this year I expect Mansour and Trbojevic to replace Ferguson and Morris. Dugan also not a centre Walker can take his spot.

Mansour and Turbo would've been the wingers if they weren't injured. I also think Walker deserves Dugan's spot.

 

[The '47ers]

I thought the referees had a terrific game.
Very few penalties and made quick decisions on tries without going to the video ref.
Allowed the game to flow and didn't overreact to niggle.
Rarely do the refs get a rap but these ones contributed to the great spectacle.

As i said elsewhere, with a Manly player on each side they couldn't bring themselves to award a penalty to either side

 

[wombatgc]

For mine, player ratings from last night.

NSW:
Tedesco - He surprised me. Could easily have won Man of the Match. 9/10
Ferguson - Didn't get a lot of opportunity, but not his best night. 5/10
Dugan - Fragile as expected. A 'centre' who won't pass. Try saver saved his night. 5/10
Hayne - Good with the ball in hand, if a show pony. Not a centre's backside in defence. 5/10
Morris - Did surprisingly well until hurting his knee and fading out. 7/10
Maloney - Should have done more kicking, but was otherwise in most of the Blues tries. 8/10
Pearce - Still doesn't have a short kicking game. Could have been better but could have been worse. 5/10
Woods - Not sold on him as an Origin player. Ran with a pack against a well beaten pack that made him look better than he was. 6/10
Peats - Its amazing what a hooker who doesn't think he's hooker, half and 5/8 all rolled into one Robbie will do for a team. 8.5/10
Fifita - Best game by a prop since Kitey in the 2008 Grand Final. 9.5/10
Jackson - Never stopped. Strong running and strong defence. 8/10
Cordner - Very good game from the new captain. 7.5/10
Frizell - Where was his running game? 5/10
Klemmer - Ran well off the bench. 8/10
Graham - Solid effort. 7/10
Trbojevic - Good debut. Not sensational, but good. 7/10
Bird - Combined well with Maloney when he came on. 7/10

Ok, now for Qld.

Boyd - Very quiet night for the so-called worlds best fullback. 5/10
Oates - Handled everything they threw at him. 7/10
Chambers - He's had better games. 5/10
O'Neill - Should never have been picked. 3/10
Gagai - Started well but drifted out. 6/10
Milford - Lack of any kicking game put extra pressure on Cronk. 5/10
Cronk - Class but could do little behind a beaten pack. Targeted when kicking as they had no one else. 7/10
Napa - Another who started well but faded. 6/10
Smith - Not his usual influential self. 6/10
Myles - Got a bit grubby did old Nate but really made little impact. 4/10
Papalli - Looked like he had a few counter meals at the Claxton pre-game. A handful early until he ran out of petrol. 6/10
Gillett - Relatively subdued game from him. Serviceable. 6/10
McGuire - Didn't stop trying. 7/10
Morgan - And he's better than DCE? Yeah, ok. 4/10
Thaiday - Got 2 for 1 on counter meals with Papalli. Getting past it IMO. 4/10
Guerra - Robbed of a certain try. Otherwise relatively unsighted. 5/10
Lillyman - I'd give BJ his spot for Game 2. 4/10

I can't really see NSW changing the team for Game 2 unless injury or suspension dictate otherwise.

For Qld....Slater has to come into the side. Boyd to the wing, Gagai to the centres and O'Neill left right out. Myles will be lucky to survive, and (if Thurston is still out, which I doubt it) I think they should drop Morgan, move Milford to the bench as the utility and bring in DCE to play 5/8. Cherry gives them more attacking options than Milford or Morgan and has what Qld lacked tonight, an alternative long or short kicker. Can't see it happening though. Thurston should be back and for Cherry's sake I hope he's not selected because he'd be on a hiding to nothing.

As always @HoldenV8 , another very insightful wrap up of the game.
Ive gotta give a wrap to two players who I thought were lucky to be there. Klemmer and Graham. Klemmer made some damn tough metres in the middle, and Wade got some great balls away, and tackled like a demon.
My only complaint is the Breezer Bros.
Dugan has to pass that bloody ball!

 

[eaglebuzz]

The forward pack was picked exactly right. I wouldn't change a single forward based on last night's game. The backs got the job done but they're the weak link for sure. Dugan and Hayne are terrible centres, at least in defence. I don't know why they don't just pick specialist centres. It's not like there aren't any in form.