This year’s Origin series comes down to the final match at Suncorp Stadium. Who wins this year’s series?
The Maroons have been rocked with star players Cameron Munster and Murray Taulagi withdrawing with COVID-19.
In come Tom Dearden and the rejuvenated Corey Oates.
No Munster definitely makes us south of the border feel more optimistic, but, beware.
In Game 1, the Maroons (boo!) controlled the ruck and pushed their luck with the officials who were reluctant to penalise them. The Blues (hooray!) played by the rules and learnt a valuable lesson for the following game.
In Game 2, with the Blues controlling the ruck, the Maroons decided to test the referee again by cheating defending their line.
Penalties, set restart after set restart after set restart.
I was thinking at the time the ref hasn’t got it in him to call a professional foul. That whole Queensland conspiracy theory would have reignited.
Boy, was I wrong.
And that is the problem for all Blues fans.
NSW ran away with the game because Queensland ran out of petrol. 10 minutes in the bin at this level, at this pace, will sap any team.
- Yes, Game 1’s man of the match Cameron Munster is not playing.
- Yes, Game 2’s man of the match Nathan Cleary is playing.
But, the decider is being played at Suncorp Stadium (aka Lang Park) and NSW have only won a decider there twice since SOO started in 1980.
Queensland are also underdogs (just like every game) and they feel empowered with that tag. I’d like $1 every time Queensland were named favourites, but, I wouldn’t be able to buy a bag of mixed lollies.
NSW’s biggest danger is that Queensland have an ace up their sleave with Ben Hunt.
Benny is officially playing hooker but will move into first receiver on the opposite side of the field to halfback Daly Cherry-Evans. Just watch the change in attack when Harry Grant comes onto the field as hooker and Hunt moves into the backline.
Hunt was great in Game 1 and his involvement in the sweep that led to Cameron Munster’s try in Game 2 rings alarm bells. Queensland led at that point.
Bent Hunt is the key to a Maroons victory.
For the Blues, it is again the Penrith connection. Halves Cleary and Luai need to be on song again. Isaah Yeo will be pivotal at lock and playing at first receiver.
As usual, the team that controls the ruck will go along way to winning. This game will not be what we saw in Perth.
NSW will defy history and win by 4.
-Rob
