That first 20 minutes of football from Queensland was literally perfect. A little reminder of how good this team really is. I just hope the boys can shake this off and get back to the basics in Sydney. Penalties kill in Origin. Part of me feels bad for Nathan Merritt, he's a really good bloke, and that's coming from a Roosters fan, but tonight showed why he should never play origin again.

Not to mention the headbutt thrown by Inglis or the elbow from Slater. Queensland defiantly deserved the win but it's disgraceful that there's two sets of rules for two different teams.

Go watch the replay he threw some body shots.

I didn't see Tate throw a punch, but at the same time you can't run in and push the opposition captain over in Origin and not expect retaliation. Hodges and Bird were the ones hard done by. Honestly, all banning the biff will do is lead to a rise in dirty shit in the ruck. Maybe they should go down the ice hockey road

:lol: Hodges hard done by when he clearly threw punches. That's a good one.

Don't quite know how Jennings wasn't binned for doing exactly the same thing as he did in game 1 last year :lol:

Complaining about the refs are we? You guys were the ones who wanted them in the first place. :lol:

On the Slater/Pearce incident even Gus was calling it a penalty for QLD. :lol:

Yep. Same old soup.

Slater got put on report for swinging an elbow while eating grass.

Gallen got put on report for sucker punching.

Balance is retained.

-PB

Yeah but it was Trent Merrin on Brent Tate, and as much as Tate should of been, he wasn't expecting it. Hodges was only evening it up, and then Bird likewise. I just don't think once a fight has started in Origin you can punish those who join, because it is expected that you have your teammates back. Imagine the shit Hodges would cop off his team mates, coach and fans if he stood there and did nothing.

Being 3rd man in has always been looked down upon in Origin, even before these stupid rules came in. The 3rd man in has usually always been the one to cop the punishment in Origin.

That being said Hodges look of shock when he got binned last night was nothing short of fucking hilarious, especially since he was caught on camera clearly throwing punches :lol:

I actually feel sorry for the referees in this instance. They sin bin 4 players, adhering to the rules they have to enforce to the best of their ability, and they get slammed for it. Yet if they didn't do anything, like in Game 1, they'd be slammed for it anyway. Have to actually give them some credit for actually going through with the sin bins, I didn't think they'd have the balls to do it at all, let alone sin bin two QLD players in Brisbane.

Also one thing that was confirmed last night, Billy Slater is officially the clumsiest player in Rugby League history. The amount of shit that cunt supposedly does 'accidentally' is ridiculous.

He is the exact definition of a protected species.

It was a boring game. I don't think either team was pulled back far enough so it became a game of who has the most enthusiasm to beat the shit out the ball carrier, which Queensland clearly won. People complain about the send offs but they were the only thing that made the game interesting. It opened up space for both teams, only NSW were stupid and kept running back into the ruck instead of using it.

On the NSW side of things, I wouldn't change to much for Game 3, I'd just get rid of Merritt, guy clearly can't hack it at Origin level. Who knows what could've happened had Blake Ferguson not been a complete fuckhead.

As for who you replace Merritt with there's a couple of options. The obvious one is to leave Dugan at fullback and bring Hayne onto the wing, which is probably what they will do. I've mentioned it before, and I know they won't do it, especially for a decider, but I'd like to see Josh Morris out to the wing and bring Jamal Idris into centre.

I hate league, and rarely watch it, but everytime I do watch it I notice Billy Slater doing something that I genuinely feel he should get multiple weeks suspension for. Most of the time it's the attempted "tackle" where he comes flying in feet-first studz-up on a guys face.

My team for Game 3 for NSW, provided there aren't anymore injuries/suspensions, would be

1: Hayne
2: B Morris
3: Jennings
4: Idris
5: J Morris
6: Maloney
7: Pearce
8: Gallen
9: Farah
10: Fifita
11: Lewis
12: Hoffman
13: Bird

14: Woods
15: Watmough
16: Grant/Tolman
17: Merrin

If Fifita's twin brother plays anything like him for the Sharks in the next few weeks I'd be tempted to find room him in the squad.
I'd also rather Carney than Pearce.

If we replaced Pearce I'd be going straight for Adam Reynolds, guy is playing out of his mind and is probably by some distance the best NSW halfback we have at the moment. Although I can't see them changing a halves combination for Game 3

Must admit watching last night, every time Lewis got the ball I swear he was going to break the line and score, guy is an absolute beast.

Hope his arm is ok, would love to see a full strength side in Game 3 for NSW.

-PB

Lewis is a freak. To play well in Origin on the wing, then a decade later play it as one of the best back rowers is insane. I feel for Pearce and Reynolds. Pearce is playing well at club level, and hasn't been bad in origin, but Reynolds club form is insane. He is one of the best players in the comp and his game screams state of origin. Those two will be battling for that 7 jersey for a decade

How did we lose that.

adam reynolds is NSW's future, he is an amazing player and he is only 22 or something. he has had two very solid seasons, he is in the top team and he has the most try assists in the NRL this year. He needs to be in origin next year.

Edited by shallow hal wants a gal: 30/6/2013 04:11:43 PM

[youtube]SU9awxJCKZc[/youtube]
Wish I could go back in time. :cry:

Another day, another NRL off-field scandal.

David Williams from the Eagles has been charged by Kings Cross Police following an incident in the Cross at the Sapphire Lounge last night. Apparently he was out with Andrew Johns. :lol:

Maybe they should start reporting about NRL players who DON'T play up.

So it looks like Tomkins is off to the Warriors. :(

Wouldn't mind poaching Locke, quality player.

More and more talk of Barba returning to QLD, if the Broncos don't make a big offer I'll be pissed.

A back three of Hoffman, Barba and Locke. =p~

Well if he does leave us and go back to QLD it'll only be to either you or the Titans.

Yep, if we miss out on him to them we have some major problems.

Don't rule out the cowboys. A solid squad and a lot less off field pressure. JT sacrificed money and to an extent a better shot at a premiership to stay up there, purely for the lifestyle and as a way to keep him out of trouble. I think he is a long way from leaving the Dogs though

Wayne is one of the greatest coaches of any sport this Country has ever seen.

-PB

Only ruled out the Cowboys because of the amount of money they've spent re-signing JT, Tamou and Matt Scott probably means they couldn't afford what the Broncos and Titans would be able to offer Ben.

Yeah I don't think he's leaving anytime soon but I think it's worth preparing for the eventuality of it because I think it will happen eventually, or at least it seems that way and if we could get Folau it would definitely soften the blow of him leaving.