Queensland seemed to have nothing in the first half. DCE was a bit tentative with the ball in hand, though his defence was first class. He came alive in the 2nd half though and you could see he wanted the ball more.
Jake was Jake. Just a machine, he never stopped tackling. I don't think I saw him miss a tackle all night. They ran at him, they hit the deck. But I'll say this ... I'd love to see him run to the line more than playing first receiver and passing.
The Qld halves, especially in the second half, completely outplayed the NSW pair. Other than his kicks at goal, Cleary was hardly sighted.
Most of the 25,218 in attendance (Covid Capacity) were definitely backing Queensland. NSW had their fans and they were loud ... but outnumbered. And despite the ground only being just under half full (it officially holds 55,317), the atmosphere was amazing. I'd love them to come back in the future and be able to play in front of a full house.
Quite a few 6 again's in the first half, they died off sharply in the 2nd.
Cherry's first kick at goal from in front was a dead set shocker. Had a bit of a breeze against him and it went both wide and almost short from just 20 out. His sideline conversions in the 2nd half though ... you'd have thought he was kicking a FG to ice the game for Manly. They were never going to miss.
Damn it was good seeing Queen Gutho get palmed off in the run to Qld's first try. He wasn't doing some stupid looking dance then was he lol. And Jack Wighton? Well, on either side lets just say NSW missed being Turbo charged.
NSW looked out on their feet in the second half, shock horror, apart from Jake the Energizer Bunny (yet while the other NSW forwards were gasping for breath like they'd been 30 year, 2 pack a day smokers, Fittler chose to give Jake a rest. Go figure?) which was most of why Qld came back to win. They just had fresher legs. The NSW pack though did have the handicap of Cameron Murray's injury (happened right in front of me). He lasted less than 5 minutes. And Cordner going off early for a HIA didn't help their cause either. Still, Qld did look the fresher side in the 2nd half.
Addo-Carr's 76th minute try should never have been. The pass from Cody Walker to Gutherson was directly in front of me and almost a metre forward. Even NSW fans around where I was were saying it was forward. Actually, its amazing how many forward passes at this level are let go.....
I have been to around 100 or so sporting events at the Adelaide Oval over the past 35 years, and tonight was the first time ever that I've been there where the old scoreboard was not used. I was disappointed in that. I'd have liked to have seen the scores up on that grand old scoreboard.
After 30 years, it was worth the wait. Especially so seeing Cherry playing a dominant role.
