QUEENSLAND have defeated NEW SOUTH WALES 24-14 in Game TWO - to claim a 4th successive State of Origin Series win!
Congratulations to the Maroons - simply a better side than the tripe NSW keep putting on the field. Man of the Match was Sam Thaiday - still dumbfounded as to how - on a night when no Queenslander really shone above the rest and only two New South Welshmen stood up to be counted.
To get a full Origin Two Video Review check out this site on THURSDAY 25 JUNE on the www.wdnicolson.blogspot.com front page.
Brand New State of Origin Video Preview for GAME TWO - CLICK HERE.
NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES - GAME II 2009
Backs: K Gidley (c), J Hayne, J Lyon, J Monaghan, D Williams, T Barrett, P Wallace.
Forwards: B Kite, R Farah, M Weyman, B Creagh, L O'Donnell, P Gallen.
Bench: C Wing, J Poore, G Stewart, A Watmough.
Extras: T Learoyd-Lahrs, M Ennis, J Morris.
GAME TWO PREVIEW TO COME MONDAY.
Video Previews of GAME TWO - TUESDAY 23 JUNE 2009.
IN DEPTH VIDEO PREVIEW OF GAME TWO
The New South Wales selectors have done it again!
Just when it seemed they were committed to building a side that could challenge Queensland's established combinations, a Game One loss has triggered the re-introduction of 31 year old Trent Barrett into the 2009 Series.
It's goodbye to Terry Campese who actually wasn't as ineffective as his Game One halves partner Peter Wallace and hello Mr Barrett who was outplayed by Campese for 60 minutes in Canberra on Sunday but that was conveniently forgotten by the Sydney papers pushing the Barrett cause.
The most frustrating thing here is that NSW can make a bunch of gutsy selections for Game One - be within a converted try with 15 seconds left - and then decide to push the panic button at the selection table in a key position they obviously HAD believed Campese was the right man for a few weeks ago.
Boggles the mind, but then again this is the same group of selectors who have presided over three straight Origin Series defeats so why do we expect anything more?
There are a total of 5 changes for the Blues with injured trio Luke Lewis, James McManus and Luke Bailey all out along with the dropped Campese and Anthony Laffranchi. Into the side come Barrett, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart, Paul Gallen and David Williams.
Shadow players include Joel Monaghan and potential Origin rookies in Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Josh Morris.
For Queensland just the once injury enforced change with Willie Tonga coming in for Justin Hodges and Neville Costigan named as the 18th man.
UPDATE 20 JUNE 2009:
NSW and Queensland have confirmed their line ups as of Saturday the 20th June with Michael Jennings being ruled out and shadow player Joel Monaghan coming in to the centres.
Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen, Craig Wing and Trent Barrett are under injury clouds but are expected to play.
Queensland are expected to be as named.
The SQUADS (Player profiles from Game One HERE Game Two New Players to be added):
QUEENSLAND LEAD SERIES 1-0 after a 28-18 win in Game One on June 4.
QUEENSLAND MAROONS - GAME II 2009
Backs: B Slater, D Boyd, G Inglis, W Tonga, I Folau, D Lockyer (c), J Thurston.
Forwards: S Price, C Smith, P Civoniceva, A Harrison, S Thaiday, D Johnson.
Bench: K Hunt, B Hannant, N Myles, M Crocker.
Extras: N Costigan.
VERSUS
The New South Wales selectors have done it again!
Just when it seemed they were committed to building a side that could challenge Queensland's established combinations, a Game One loss has triggered the re-introduction of 31 year old Trent Barrett into the 2009 Series.
It's goodbye to Terry Campese who actually wasn't as ineffective as his Game One halves partner Peter Wallace and hello Mr Barrett who was outplayed by Campese for 60 minutes in Canberra on Sunday but that was conveniently forgotten by the Sydney papers pushing the Barrett cause.
The most frustrating thing here is that NSW can make a bunch of gutsy selections for Game One - be within a converted try with 15 seconds left - and then decide to push the panic button at the selection table in a key position they obviously HAD believed Campese was the right man for a few weeks ago.
Boggles the mind, but then again this is the same group of selectors who have presided over three straight Origin Series defeats so why do we expect anything more?
There are a total of 5 changes for the Blues with injured trio Luke Lewis, James McManus and Luke Bailey all out along with the dropped Campese and Anthony Laffranchi. Into the side come Barrett, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart, Paul Gallen and David Williams.
Shadow players include Joel Monaghan and potential Origin rookies in Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Josh Morris.
For Queensland just the once injury enforced change with Willie Tonga coming in for Justin Hodges and Neville Costigan named as the 18th man.
UPDATE 20 JUNE 2009:
NSW and Queensland have confirmed their line ups as of Saturday the 20th June with Michael Jennings being ruled out and shadow player Joel Monaghan coming in to the centres.
Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen, Craig Wing and Trent Barrett are under injury clouds but are expected to play.
Queensland are expected to be as named.
The SQUADS (Player profiles from Game One HERE Game Two New Players to be added):
QUEENSLAND LEAD SERIES 1-0 after a 28-18 win in Game One on June 4.
QUEENSLAND MAROONS - GAME II 2009
Backs: B Slater, D Boyd, G Inglis, W Tonga, I Folau, D Lockyer (c), J Thurston.
Forwards: S Price, C Smith, P Civoniceva, A Harrison, S Thaiday, D Johnson.
Bench: K Hunt, B Hannant, N Myles, M Crocker.
Extras: N Costigan.
VERSUS 
NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES - GAME II 2009
Backs: K Gidley (c), J Hayne, J Lyon, J Monaghan, D Williams, T Barrett, P Wallace.
Forwards: B Kite, R Farah, M Weyman, B Creagh, L O'Donnell, P Gallen.
Bench: C Wing, J Poore, G Stewart, A Watmough.
Extras: T Learoyd-Lahrs, M Ennis, J Morris.
GAME TWO PREVIEW TO COME MONDAY.
