2 things from Origin already

[Guest]

It was a midfield bomb, should always be the fullbacks ball, it is like a wicket keeper letting the slips fielder taking a skied catch over the top of middle stump.

Funny how every man and his dog are saying that it was Uates ball. Funny how even his own team are saying he will bounce back. Anyway, you never have been one to admit you are wrong, so keep telling yourself what you want to hear.

[stephenj]

did anyone call for it?

[Kurt Sherlock's Mo]

Cronk kicked from centrefield and the ball landed >10m to the left of the post, 10m out. So near as damnit it was a straight downfield bomb.

As said before, that's a fullback's ball. Stewart was caught out of position as he was defending too shallow and couldn't come forward to the ball.

Uate still muffed it though.

[Kingbilly]

Agree, it deffinately warranted an 8 point try.

Can only be an 8 point try if he actually scores the try.

I thought it was a 50/50 call. If it had been QLD, St George (2010) or Brisbane with Harrigan refereeing it would have been a awarded.

On Carney I thought, apart from a 5- 10 min period, he was missing and scared shitless in defense.

The last 20 mins I thought were wonderful, nerve racking but wonderful. First time in a million years NSW have actually stood up and pressured QLD when they needed to. How good was it to see Hodges stuff up in the last minute.

[Guest]

Cronk kicked from centrefield and the ball landed >10m to the left of the post, 10m out. So near as damnit it was a straight downfield bomb.

As said before, that's a fullback's ball. Stewart was caught out of position as he was defending too shallow and couldn't come forward to the ball.

Uate still muffed it though.

You cant just say whos ball it was depending where it will land. Stewart may have been out of position, but once the ball was kicked, stewart runs a block, and Uate was running onto the ball. His ball every day.

[Guest]

game plan or not Pearce struggled to take ownership of the game. In a few situations he could've placed a few grubber kicks into the in-goal that would've earnt us repeat sets. The "game plan" excuse isn't valid because at club level, Pearce earning us a repeat set is also a very rare play that he is yet to value. Just because a game plan exists and the circumstances of the match change, doesn't mean it has to be followed word for word.
Yes, i agree that smashing Slater and also compounding his injury probably was mentioned, but when QLD earnt so many repeat sets the blues could've got some of their own.
Check his kick at the 46th minute of play. 35 metres out and a very nothing kick that lead to very little territorial gain. It was neither a bomb nor a grubber. A terribly weighted kick which was easily swallowed. Gould immediately commented on how it was a very conservative and indecisive kick. Compare that to Carney's long kick which forced a Slater mistake under pressure close to the side line. That was a clever kick appropriate to the situation.

It's often said that Origin sorts out the boys from men. Who do you want to give the ball to in the crucial moments of the game. Right now we're seeing that Pearce and Carney are still boys who don't want to take ownership and lead with the ball in hand. And that's why Thurston still shits over both of them.

Whether Pearce will eventually develop into a true leader on the big stage remains to be seen.

Peter Sterling's analysis of his contribution is quite accurate:



But supposedly he's an organisational player?

I agree he did struggle to take charge of the game, but that's not what we were talking about, we were discusing his kicking game. Carney's kick was ok, but it was made to look better because Slater fumbled it. And the one time Carney kicked long Slater caught it on the full. I believe QLD's kicking game was helped by the fact Stewart took forever getting to the ball.

Chook.

[Guest]

One thing I have learnt from both of this years SOO games is that Snake Stewart is a has been, terrible in defence, doesn't help his wingers at all & slow, slow, slow! Is he playing busted? If he doesn't improve in game 3, I reckon it'll be his last go at SOO, have Manly re-signed him yet? They'd be mad to pay big money for him, anyone would, he looks as if he's only a run or two away from another season ending injury!

Talking of season ending injuries, I actually thought Beau Ryan was very funny last night taking the piss out of Sam Burgess on the Footy Show, funny how the truth can be so funny!

[Kingbilly]

. I believe QLD's kicking game was helped by the fact Stewart took forever getting to the ball.

Chook.

On the money there Chook, Hayne as well took his time retrieving kicks.
There was one instance where Tate got him ingoal and he turn to a team mate and said "i didn't know he was there" that is just poor, his team mates should have been communicating

[Chook Norris]

I agree he did struggle to take charge of the game, but that's not what we were talking about, we were discusing his kicking game. Carney's kick was ok, but it was made to look better because Slater fumbled it. And the one time Carney kicked long Slater caught it on the full. I believe QLD's kicking game was helped by the fact Stewart took forever getting to the ball.

Chook.

you are definitely right there with Stewart's shit positional play and the time it took him to recover kicks. Still think Pearce's kicking game was very average though

[Guest]

you are definitely right there with Stewart's shit positional play and the time it took him to recover kicks. Still think Pearce's kicking game was very average though

Yeah fair call, I just think peeps are being too hard on Pearce, he was a bee's dick worth of luck away from having two try assists from kicks in this game. The Carney one and later in the game he put in a cross field kick that took an act of sheer brilliance from Inlgis to difuse. Had either or both those kicks lead to tries he'd be hailed a winner.

Chook.