Origin 1 - NSW 17 QLD 16

Origin 1 has come and gone and what a game. NSW were quite superb, I thought they played brilliantly. Willie Mason looked in a league of his own looking virtually unstoppable at a time of the game which is meant to be at its tightest.

QLD outplayed NSW in most areas of the game except in metres gaines(1527-1404) and offloads (16-2) and missed tackles (24-44). This can be put down to the NSW forwards who pretty much ran rampant as well as defending with a sting that I have only ever seen from the mighty maroons.

So where do we go from here? NSW were fantastic and I thought QLD lacked cohesion around the halfback, 5/8 position and no forward looked as though they were capable of taking the game by the scruff.

Sounds drastic but have no fear I beleive the rookies will play with more grunt now that they have a game under their belt. Thurston and Lockyer are two brilliant players, that will play better together in Origin Two. Sam Thaiday is our answer to counter attack bullocking runs by Mason so I would give Sam more game time.

Congratulation NSW you played above yourselves and QLD you have alot of improving left in you. With NSW playing above themselves and having the home ground advantage and smashing QLD by a whole point, I feel NSW was lucky to win so am confident QLD will take this 2006 series.

One last point. People are reporting that QLD is lacking in passion and don't have the same hatred as past origin generations. I tend to agree. The best way to deal with this scenario is, at kick off in the Melbourne Decider every QLDer should run up to their opposite number and punch the living daylight out of them. That would put the passion back into origin.


Tip for game 2 - QLD 28 NSW 0


Thanks everyone who attended Origin 1 it was great fun despite the result. Origin 2 is in Brisbane so will be at the game. Game 3 Wed 5th July will be at the same place this time with a digital projector.

Go Maroons!!