STATE OF ORIGIN 2012
NSW 16 defeat QLD 12 in Game 2
By W D Nicolson, June 13, 2012
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| NSW 16 - 12 QLD |
OFFICIAL ORIGIN 2 RESULT - June 13, 2012 in Sydney.
NSW 16
(B Stewart 2, J Morris Tries; T Carney 2/4 Goals)
(B Stewart 2, J Morris Tries; T Carney 2/4 Goals)
Defeated
QLD 12
(B Hannant, G Inglis Tries; J Thurston 2/2 Goals)
(B Hannant, G Inglis Tries; J Thurston 2/2 Goals)
Official Man of the Match: Greg Bird (NSW)
"Well it's nice to see NSW finally understanding why it means so much to Queensland. Pre Origin Qld were continually thumped and ignored by pro-NSW Australian selectors. These are the key reasons we despise NSW and cherish every victory and this glorious streak. Finally getting a taste of feeling down trodden. Finally understanding what it was like to be a Qlder. Welcome at last to what Origin is about."
That was in response to the article posted earlier this morning that started out as a preview and ended up demanding that NSW men and women realise that if you still care after six straight series losses - Origin means everything to you. The 80-odd thousand at ANZ and the millions of Blues tuning in on TV at mate's places or family gatherings proved this, but we didn't need to win to show we care. It just makes caring a much more enjoyable experience.
Anyone can support a great team when they are winning, but people truly show they love their state by backing them when it seems hopeless, nay it is hopeless. But they hope nonetheless and you get rewarded with nights like tonight.
When the Blues beat down the Maroons 16-12 in an utterly enthralling Origin contest.
Mind you we all thought this 12 months ago when NSW comprehensively won Game 2 in 2011, but let's not dwell on Game 3 last year and instead talk about the big moments in Game 2 THIS YEAR.
New South Wales won - stick that up ya Cane Toad Queensland!
As much as you'd like to end the recap in that fashion it's not fair to how well Queensland hung in and then almost won the game, and conversely how much NSW improved from an already impressive Game 1 performance.
NSW didn't deserve to win Game 1 - anyone who tells you that was the case is kidding themselves - but NSW were denied a chance to win that game, this time however it was Queensland who were denied their chance to win the game by failing to crack the NSW defensive line for the final 18 minutes of the game with the Blues up by just 4 points.
That is your Stat that mattered. The Queenslanders - even with a hampered Billy Slater - still had ample opportunity to win the game when it was there to be won, but like the Maroons did to the Blues in Game 1 - the home team held out and Michael Jennings produced a superb play to knock the ball out of Brent Tate's hands when the lead was about to change.
The game was superb - Origin at it's best and not spoilt by the referees who got their only big call 100% right by not awarding a penalty try just after halftime to Todd Carney when Cooper Cronk pulled him back. NSW got the penalty - took the two points to level the score at 6-all and Cronk rightly sat for 10 minutes.
A stretch of time, that like Game 1's Michael Jennings sin bin - shaped the contest.
NSW struck with two tries - a second for Brett Stewart after Carney took the line on and a fortunate one when Jarryd Hayne ran over Johnathan Thurston only to have the ball raked out, hit Hayne's foot and Josh Morris swooped on it and outran Greg Inglis to give NSW a 16-6 lead in the blink of an eye.
Then Queensland came... and kept coming.
Inglis jumped all over another appalling Akuila Uate kick read (there were many) to score with 18 minutes left but NSW found their self belief and held out.
And now we get a decider, and a chance for the best player on the field - Robbie Farah to keep proving that NSW can win with class in their lineup.
Farah for PM.
If you've got a view - let us know in the comments below or via @NRLTweet
Game 3 is 8:00pm on Wednesday July 4 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
For the record: www.wdnicolson.com predicted a 16-12 NSW victory.
FB: Billy SLATER 6
WI: Darius BOYD 6
CE: Greg INGLIS 7.5
CE: Justin HODGES 6
WI: Brent TATE 5.5
FE: Johnathan THURSTON 5.5
HB: Cooper CRONK 7.5
PR: Matthew SCOTT 6
HK: Cameron SMITH (c) 7
PR: Petero CIVONICEVA 6
SR: Nate MYLES 7.5
SR: Dave TAYLOR 5
LK: Ashley HARRISON 6
Bench:
Matt GILLETT 5
Ben HANNANT 6
David SHILLINGTON 6
Corey PARKER 6
Coach: Mal MENINGA
The Good: They held NSW in the opening stages when the Blues had the run of the game, and they came like a freight train in the final 25 minutes to almost steal it. Cronk - bar sin bin - was their best.
The Bad: Forward pack lacked true impact on the contest, missed Thaiday's presence. Slater busted, Tate hurt, Parker hurt, Cronk binning (saved 6 points but did it cost them 12?), couldn't produce the big play late despite Uate gifting them chances.
FB: Brett STEWART 8
WI: Jarryd HAYNE 8
CE: Michael JENNINGS 7.5
CE: Josh MORRIS 7
WI: Akuila UATE 4.5
FE: Todd CARNEY 7.5
HB: Mitchell PEARCE 7
PR: Tim GRANT 7
HK: Robbie FARAH 9.5
PR: James TAMOU 7
SR: Glenn STEWART 7
SR: Greg BIRD 8
LK: Paul GALLEN (c) 8.5
Bench:
Luke LEWIS 7.5
Ben CREAGH 6
Trent MERRIN 6
Anthony WATMOUGH 6.5
Coach: Ricky STUART
The Good: Farah was a force in the middle - as much defensively as anything making a 60+ tackles and keeping NSW rolling, Tamou again impressive in limited minutes, Gallen as advertised, Bird had impact, Lewis made some huge hits, Jennings saved the game and Hayne was again big play city. Brett Stewart made two tries happen and the bench did what it needed to do. Plus Carney had his moments and made them matter.
The Bad: Uate's a liability right now, Grant and Merrin not used well by Stuart - not their performance, Creagh still not sure what role he's playing, Glenn Stewart and Morris aren't combining at all, Carney's goalkicking.
