STATE OF ORIGIN 2012
QLD 18 defeat NSW 10 in Game 1
By W D Nicolson, May 23, 2012
 |
| NSW 10 - 18 QLD |
In this day and age you'd think that with enough replays a video ref could pick up a simple error... but in this day in age a video ref is looking for so much doubt so they can award a try - they forget to look for the simple error that can make their decision easy in the first place.
That's what happened in the final 10 minutes of State of Origin 1 in Melbourne on Wednesday night, when a ridiculous and flat out wrong (www.wdnicolson.com believes in objectivity and that's as objective as we can describe the incident) decision by Sean Hampstead ruined what had - up until that point - been a cracking Origin opener for 2012.
Queensland went on to win the game 18-10 but sadly, the quality of their (and NSW's performance) will be lost due to an unforgivable error by Hampstead not to actually look for an error.
Now it is important - vitally so - to point out that when Greg Inglis 'touched down' for his Origin record 13th try in the 73rd minute, that Queensland led NSW 12-10. Yes by 2 points with 7 minutes left.
Queensland aren't behind, they aren't even with the Blues - QUEENSLAND LEAD BY 2 POINTS.
But the game wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
The decision by Hampstead to not even look for the contact that the ball had with the left arm of Inglis AFTER Robbie Farah had - rightly or wrongly - dislodged the ball from Inglis's grasp after a Cooper Cronk cross kick had been knocked back by Billy Slater near the line - wrecked a superb game of Rugby League.
Now in no way am I saying NSW would or should have won the game, but that decision to ignore the clear evidence - essentially I am declaring that Hampstead was so busy trying to decide if Farah's foot contact was intentional or not, that he didn't even look for the second touch by Inglis - did stop NSW from having a chance at winning the game in the final minutes.
It should cost Hampstead his job... if only for a few weeks given the NRL Ref heirachy is prone to such action - and he'll never video referee another game of Origin - you should almost be sure of that.
And before Queenslanders or simply the delusional try to point out that NSW Coach Ricky Stuart agreed with the decision - please watch the press conference, take into account his demeanour and open 'I will not be making any comments on the refereeing' and realise that Stuart is deliberately saying the opposite to what he thinks because in it's own way - it says more than 'the video ref is a cheat' will ever do for his or NSW's reputation.
Anyhoo... the game itself was a cracker - Player Ratings below - well a cracker for 73 minutes at least... let's hope Game 2 is officiated a little more correctly.
And for 80 minutes (or more?) we get a game like we saw for 73 minutes tonight.
Congratulations Queensland.
If you've got a view - let us know in the comments below or via @NRLTweet
Game 2 is 8:00pm on Wednesday June 14 at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
For the record on Tuesday: www.wdnicolson.com predicted an 18-12 QLD victory
OFFICIAL ORIGIN 1 RESULT - May 23 2012 in Melbourne.
QLD 18 (D Boyd 2, G Inglis Tries; J Thurston 3/3 Goals)Defeated
NSW 10 (A Uate, M Jennings Tries; T Carney 1/3 Goals)
Official Man of the Match: Nate Myles (QLD)
FB: Billy SLATER 7
WI: Darius BOYD 8
CE: Greg INGLIS 7.5
CE: Justin HODGES 6
WI: Brent TATE 8.5
FE: Johnathan THURSTON 7.5
HB: Cooper CRONK 8
PR: Matthew SCOTT 5.5
HK: Cameron SMITH (c) 7
PR: Petero CIVONICEVA 7
SR: Nate MYLES 8
SR: Sam THAIDAY 7
LK: Ashley HARRISON 8
Bench:
Matt GILLETT 6.5
Ben HANNANT 6
David SHILLINGTON 5
Dave TAYLOR 5
Coach: Mal MENINGA
The Good: QLD's forwards tackled their guts out - Myles, Harrison, Smith dug in. Cronk's kicking game was great, Inglis a beast even if he did eventually knock on, Slater with some class and some barry crockers, Everyone was talking Tate, JT moment or two of quality + goalkicking, Petero not past it, Gillett useful.
The Bad: Scott short of a quality run, bar Gillett QLD's bench struggled to get into the game esp rolling forward, Hodges quiet, Thaiday being Thaiday. Meninga claiming the journos were 'searching for controversy' re: the Inglis try - go back to politics big Mal!
FB: Brett STEWART 6.5
WI: Jarryd HAYNE 7.5
CE: Michael JENNINGS 7.5
CE: Josh MORRIS 6
WI: Akuila UATE 6.5
FE: Todd CARNEY 5
HB: Mitchell PEARCE 7
PR: James TAMOU 8
HK: Robbie FARAH 8.5
PR: Paul GALLEN (c) 8.5
SR: Greg BIRD 8
SR: Luke LEWIS 6
LK: Glenn STEWART 7
Bench:
Jamie BUHRER Did he even take the field? 4
Ben CREAGH 4.5
Trent MERRIN 7
Tony WILLIAMS 6
Coach: Ricky STUART
The Good: Farah superb, Jennings and Hayne a constant threat, Bird and Tamou big impact, Gallen excellent, Glenn Stewart, Merrin and Pearce good.
Uate 50/50 good/bad.
The Bad: Carney a step behind all night, Brett Stewart forgot what support play is, Ricky Stuart's use of interchanges, Morris doesn't know how to tackle below the chest (and he can't tackle above it either), Williams wasted, Creagh out of position and impotent, Lewis played busted and Buhrer... Buhrer.... anyone seen Buhrer?
If you've got a view - let us know in the comments below or via @NRLTweet
