Immediate reflections on Game 3.

First let me say I think NSW and Stuart deserve a lot of credit and should be very proud. You can hold your heads up for sure. I don't agree with his player selections, and I don't agree with their structure of not being able to create points from genuine creativity, but nonetheless, they played with serious determination and discipline and truth be told were probably the better side over the course of the entire series.

On QLD, I thought we improved but our defence was again disgusting. And I really mean disgusting. The technique was pus, line-speed was pus, ground-work was pus, reading was pus. The only saving grace is that Nate Myles, who tackled his arse off all series and used proper technique, won the Wally Lewis medal. Love him and deserves it heaps. Our attack was better because Thurston and Cronk ran the ball. And because our forwards were better through the middle. I really would've liked a relief hooker to exploit the tiring Blues forwards because they were ripe for it in the last 30.

On the officiating, look. We can go on and on. Both sides got away with murder in the ruck. Both sides got some dud calls in terms of high shots which were really accidents. And both sides got some shocking error calls. On Hodges's try, 50/50 call, maybe a 60/40. It's not a try afaic despite the fact that Creagh misread and Farah wouldn't have got to him. It was a shepherd. I actually don't think Josh Morris's try should've been awarded either. You can't use an opposition player's back to maintain possession - That's the only thing that stopped him from losing control. And I thought the non-penalty on Inglis after he made that break, and then NSW intercepted the dud pass, was beyond a joke. But again both sides could point to things that went against them. I don't think there was any great disparity. The officiating was garbage.

As far as individuals go I thought Corey Parker was absolutely sensational. He ran hard, tackled well, and produced offloading reminiscent of the great man Artie himself, two of which lead to QLD tries. He was best on-ground afaic. Meninga needs fucking shooting for starting Taylor over him. Inglis was a combination of ethereal and granite - So light on his feet yet so devestatingly powerful. He broke more tackles than anyone all night and was swatting Blues players like flies. I thought Thurston was better and no surprise, showed his best play when playing as a traditional second receiver. Made Pearce look positively muggish (that's for you, Magic ). I honestly can't believe how little kicking Smith did given how effective it's always been. He played strongly though. Cronk's field goal was amazing.

Sam Thaiday was the worst player on the field bar none. Missed the tackle that let Morris run 80m which resulted in a Blues penalty goal. Then he and Smith showed no urgency whatsoever and allowed Morris to score one of the most pathetic tries we've ever conceded. And then he strips the ball like a fucking idiot on last tackle, which lead to another NSW try. The cunt cost us 14 points with his stupidity and laziness. I couldn't believe Meninga took Parker off rather than Thaiday, for Te'o.

On NSW, I thought Brett Morris finally stepped up. He played very well. Pearce and Carney didn't take the line on enough, for mine and rarely looked like really creating anything. Farah was excellent despite a few glitches. He tackle very well, ran well and created two tries with well-placed kicks. And all that after a concussion. Gallen and Bird were good. Beau Scott was very, very quiet. As were Watmough, Creagh and Williams - All of them seemed to get bad knocks. I think overall, NSW's outside backs probably outplayed QLD's. Their pack was just too light though IMO and their halves lacking creativity.

I suppose it was a sensational game for those who wanted an epic, climactic finish. It was pure torture for myself but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Up the Maroons. The magnificent seven.

 

I thought big Shillo was gun off the bench again, despite that one error. He made much more impact than any other player IMO.

126m from 16 runs and 17 tackles.

 

I also can't believe how many tries QLD bombed or nearly bombed this series by the fullback not throwing a cut-out pass. Slater did it several times in Game 2, and Inglis nearly blew it tonight by passing to Parker with Nielsen and Boyd unmarked, after JT's break. No surprise that when JT threw the cut-out to Boyd, Hayne was found out.

 

Inglis did it twice iirc, the one where he passed it to Parker, and earlier when he'd passed it to Neilsen with Boyd wide-open.

 

Best thing Thaiday did all night was catch that kick-off with one foot on the sideline.

 

Yep. True. I can forgive him though . At least he didn't make any clangers like Slater did in the first two games.

Cunt is such a freak. That fend is just violent.

 

Broke the line once too, but yeah aside from that did sfa.

 

Fair point. I didn't really notice at first. On replay, it may have been forward. Hard to tell at speed.

 

Haha no doubt, comfortably my favourite player in the QLD lineup, and he killed it for the most part tonight. (That miss on Morris early on aside...)

 

Pretty rich considering I conceded the shepherd. I genuinely think the pass was a 50/50. Could've gone either way.

Regarding Tate. Grant first hit him high and then used his fore-arm and elbow to grind down on Tate's face. So the penalty goes QLD's way regardless. I can see why he reacted the way he did. As for his punch on Bird whilst being held down. Yeah that was a dog act, no doubt about it. However, if NSW don't want to get retaliation then perhaps they shouldn't grind forearms and knees into the heads of QLD players, which they routinely did all night. I don't think it's anywhere near as bad as what Jennings did to Tate though. It wasn't in the back of the head, and it wasn't exactly a full force punch.

Gotta a fucking lol at Gallen shaping up to Tate and falling straight on his arse.