Adam SutcliffeNSW State of Origin side now under pressure in 2008 Series
June 14th 2008 05:58
www.nrlnews.com
It all started so well for the NSW Blues; Game 1 of the State of Origin 2008 Series in NSW at a crowded ANZ Stadium. The NSW side jumping out of the gates to run away to a solid start and eventually secure a good win against a much fancied Queensland Maroons side.
With the Queensland State of Origin side featuring the likes of Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Jonathan Thurston, Israel Folau, Karmichael Hunt and many more - most Rugby League experts including Wally Lewis, Paul Fatty Vautin and Peter Sterling all felt the Queensland side would be too good. Too much size, speed and flair they said.
But to their credit the NSW side played hard up the middle using their forward power and eventually went to Mark Gasnier and Anthony Quinn on the fringes to punch through the Queensland defence. Even Greg Inglis was made to look average as Gasnier ran riot.
The makeshift halves pairing of Greg Bird and Peter Wallace did their job and Bird was basically an extra running forward during the NRL Rugby League game.
But game 2 in Queensland at the old Lang Park changed all that. Suncorp Stadium came to life and Queensland were ready. They exploded from the first whistle and with the help of Tony Archer, they were well in control. The Blues got hammered in the penalty count and were on bad side of some horror calls as the strips and 50/50 situations went against them.
With the series now equal at 1-1, the NSWRL Selectors must not panic and trust the team that got the job done in Game 1. While Craig Fitzgibbon is not ideally a prop, they do need to get some harder known front rowers in there and build off that platform.
If the Olympic Stadium is not full of screaming NSW fans, then they will never fill the join. Time to get on board and help the Blues home to Origin glory. NRL Results
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