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State of Origin II live blogging

June 10th, 2008 by Shaun · 120 Comments

I know I should do a proper preview but pushed for time. I’ll just say that NSW are going for the 3-nil whitewash and Bellamy will have them primed. The Prince/Thurston experiment in the halves will be interesting. I’m just not sure it will work unless their communication is spot on.

Tune in between 7:30 and 8:00 Wednesday evening when proceedings will commence with the now traditional bagging of Ben Ikin.

And so it begins!

Cat sez “Can I has your lap to sit in.” Not tonight. Go and get warm elsewhere.

No Ikin yet. Good.

Over at LP, Brian in his Origin post mentions the story of Don Bemrose who is Australia’s only indigenous opera singer and will be singing the national anthem. Great story.

Bugger. Ikin didn’t call in sick today.

Oh god, Nine is trying to get more blood from the Chappell Corby story. I though 7 had already reached the gutter with this?

So, does any else think there is something creepy about Todd’s girlfriend?

QLD have named their team of the century. Lockyer is the only contemporary player to make the side.

Ikin has buggered off. Gould is in his place. Not that will placate half the viewers. But I like Gus.

Tonight’s live-blogging assisted by Bluetongue Traditional Pilsner.

Can we leave Ikin in the sheds?

Hmm, Hunt seems to be in the run on side and Slater on the bench for QLD. Interesting.

Here they come. The Blues come out to a traditional QLD welcome of hail fellow, well met.

Dressing room shot of the QLD players clinging to each other for dear life.

All that cheering for QLD. So many deluded people up north.

Don Bemrose to sign the national athemn.

Good stuff and game on! NSW to kick off.

1st minute: QLD milk a penalty.

2nd minute: QLD surrender the advantage with a knock on. Scrum to NSW.

4th minute: QLD are defending with intent but so are NSW.

TRY TO QLD!

Out of nothing really. Ball sent to the left side of the field and Inglis puts the fend on and breaks through over the halfway. Darius Boyd completes the movement.

Thurston converts and 6-0 after 8 minutes.

10tn minute: Wallace’s kicking game has been good so far compared to Prince.

12th minute: Should be 10 minutes in the sin bin for that professional foul. NSW on the attack on QLD’s 40 metre line.

14th minute: Another poor kick from Prince. QLD knock on but they are looking the better side. Thurston seems to have found his form again.

17th minute: A deserved penalty to NSW. 30 metres from the QLD line.

19th minute: NSW force a line drop out.

Gallen you muppet!

Now QLD score. Well constructed try. Inglis and Boyd are on fire.

22nd minute: Thurston converts and 12-0

24th minute: Lucky break as QLD drop the ball just 5 metres out.

Turner has the defensive capabilities of Eric Grothe.

25th minute: Hunt monster Bird and QLD force the error.

26th minute: NSW get another penalty. Let’s see if they hold onto the pill

28th minute: Offside?! Looks like QLD have given the ref the largest cash stuffed brown envelope

29th minute: Bloody hell. QLD throw a forward pass and then knock on and the ref still allows play on. NSW then get caught in goal and then penalised for interference.

31st minute: High shot on Thaiday incures the ref’s ire and QLD going to take the two points.

32 minute: 14-0 to QLD. Blows my prediction away.

33rd minute: Memo to NSW. You won’t win the game by dropping the ball

35 minute: A relieving for NSW. They need to score soon.

36th minute: Oh, Gidley. Why did you go the blind on the last?

39th minute: QLD convert another penalty and 16-nil

40th minute: The first half ends and QLD go into the sheds 14-0 ahead.

A total reversal from last game. QLD have out powered and out enthused NSW. Inglis has been devastating on QLD’s left. Thruston has been directing traffic and the best I’ve seen him play. As for NSW, they have dropped way to much ball. Being on the back foot means they lack penetration. Got to agree with gilmae’s comment about Mason. He only likes it when the going is good.

But Origin tends to throw up surprises and Bellamy is one sharp coach. The first 10 minutes of the second half will shape the game.

Players entering Suncorp for the second half. Come on Blues!

42nd minute: NSW give another penalty away. Their lack of discipline is handing the game to QLD.

43rd minute: Driving trackle on Johnson. Ref had called held.

47th minute: NSW get caught in their in goal after a good kick by Smith. Line drop out. NSW under a lot of pressure.

48th minute: Inglis almost gets into the corner. Another great run and Turner is exposed again in defense.

50th minute: A forward pass from Buderus kills NSW’s momentum.

Cooper you idiot!

51st minute: A gift penaly to QLD after Cooper goes on to long in the tackle. However NSW saved as QLD drop the ball.

52 minute: Nooo! A penalty to QLD when the ball is ruled to have been raked out. This is stupidity.

Thurston converts the penalty. QLD lead 18-0 nil in the 53rd minute.

56th minute: Gidley is tackling his heart out

58th minute: NSW get some luck. QLD knock on after a kick and NSW get the scrum 25 metres out. Then get a penalty from the first tackle.

59th minute: NSW first attacking raid in god knows when falls apart.

61st minute: FFS! Mason makes a good run and then loses the ball in the tackle.

61st minute: Boyd goes over in the corner but called back for a forward pass. Lucky for NSW.

Hannatt seemingly over after a bust from Folau. Gone to the ref in the sky.

After an eternity the video ref gives up and goes “Ref’s Call” who then awards the try. QLD 22-0.

Thurston converts and QLD lead 24-0 in the 65th minute

QLD in again. Back to the video ref though as he needs to justify his pay.

Doesn’t look good for the blues.

TRY! And QLD lead 28-nil with a kick to come.

Thurston converts and the score is 30-nil in the 69th minute.

71st minute: Gidley drops the ball and this could be an embarrassing score line.

Thurston off. Prince has a chance to show his stuff.

Mason drops the ball again. QLD 30 metres out with 5 minute to go.

76th minute: Hunt tries for a drop goal and fails in an epic manner.

77th minute: Mason drops the ball again but ruled as a steal. NSW get one last shot to put some points on the board.

78th minute: Tate busts down field. Passes to Boyd and Crocket knocks on with the line wide open.

79th minute: NSW’s night is summed up when NSW going forward pass the ball straight to QLD

80th minute: It is all over! QLD win 30-0.

QLD simply out played NSW in all aspects of the game. Inglis was unstoppable in the first half and Thurston was superb. All the QLD forwards stood up especially Thaiday and Crocket. Brent Tate also had a blinder. But I couldn’t fault any QLD player. They all did their job superbly.

As for NSW, they were woeful. No cohesion and no discipline. Some major weakness have been exposed. Anasta must come into game 3 and Bird to lock. A few of the forwards may find themselves watching the next game from the pub.

But full credit to QLD. They wanted this game and the some. A great win.

Tags: Rugby League

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