State of Origin

mountain

first match on today,
got the sky box set and hoping to avoid the score until tonight,

hoping for a series win for the maroons,

anyone else watching?

daftdave

mountain wrote: »

first match on today,
got the sky box set and hoping to avoid the score until tonight,

hoping for a series win for the maroons,

anyone else watching?

yeah i watched it down here in Sydney , game 1 was an absolute belter of a game , although the ref's kinda ruined it by awarding a dodgy try and penalizing Greg bird for a great tackle which was deemed to be dangerous , im really looking forward to game 2 !!

old gregg

yea following it as well as the weekly NRL games.
The refs made a few dodgy decisions for sure. Looking forward to game 2. Queensland look so strong it's hard to see them losing the series.

daftdave

old gregg wrote: »

yea following it as well as the weekly NRL games.
The refs made a few dodgy decisions for sure. Looking forward to game 2. Queensland look so strong it's hard to see them losing the series.

i can see NSW winning game two but i cant see them going to QLD and winning up there in game 3 , everything hinges on game 2 , its gonna be a blockbuster !!

old gregg

daftdave wrote: »

i can see NSW winning game two but i cant see them going to QLD and winning up there in game 3 , everything hinges on game 2 , its gonna be a blockbuster !!

agree with you there all round.
Have to say, is there any sporting event anywhere that tops Origin?

Dozen Wicked Words

If Queensland win it for the ?7th year in a row it wont add much to its appeal outside Australia, or if they were to win another couple of years, it wouldn't add much to its appeal outside Queensland. :pac:

daftdave

dont think so , this time 3 years ago, i didnt have the remotest interest in rugby league , i now watch it more than i watch football which was my first love sports wise!!

origin is unreal !

old gregg

daftdave wrote: »

origin is unreal !

Origin is the only time of year when I entertain thoughts of a man-crush

Dozen Wicked Words

Quite a good article from a NSW point of view shooting down my theory!

http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/04/13/nsw-time-to-embrace-our-origin-failure/

Personally I enjoy the origin series, but don't feel as into it as an aussie, or someone immersed in the build up living in Australia with wall to wall coverage. If someone gets into RL because of it, great, but to me it's just 3 games, admittedly of the highest quality and intensity, of Rugby League. Regardless of the standard, I will always prefer watching NRL or Super League or International Rugby League to the origin.

old gregg

Origin 2 in 35 mins this day just keeps getting better.

old gregg

now that was epic to say the least. Sets things up nicely for Origin 3 in July.

Dozen Wicked Words

Qld had a fair few errors that game, only a couple from NSW that I can remeber anyway, good game and worthy winners. Can't see past QLD for last game in their own place though.

daftdave

that was some game , cant friggin wait until origin 3 , reckon QLD will win but i really hope nsw do !

mountain

getting ready for this in the morning,

have to say that as a queensland supporter, i am feeling a little nervous....

old gregg

yep, not long to go now. Go Queensland

mountain

A great game to finish a great series,

queensland just scraped home, think we were the better team on the day,
game had it all, traditional fights, controversy, great trys, and nail biting finish.

old gregg

yea it was a great closer to this year's series. Glad it came down to the last few mins.

hsbc

Come on the Blues!

daftdave

really looking forward to this one, if nsw dont win tonight, they can forget about the rest of the series.

toomevara

Great win for NSW, sets the series up brilliantly. The Maroons seemed below par for much of the game. Thought Slater, Thurston, Smith looked off...or perhaps it was just the Superb NSW defence? Gallen was magnificent for the light blues (but following that flurry of punches on Myles might be in trouble) and how good were Hayne, Ferguson and Maloney? I sense NSW are in with a genuine shout this year and reckon the next game is going to be a stormer...

alfalad

Was it shown on Sky here? Is there anyway I can see the next two games from Ireland?

toomevara

alfalad wrote: »

Was it shown on Sky here? Is there anyway I can see the next two games from Ireland?

Sky certainly aren't showing it live. I get Premier Sports here in the UK for the NRL and as far as I know they've got exclusive Origin rights.

hsbc

Setanta are showing it over here...

Great game - although i though Queensland were very poor. Looks like the team needs some fresh faces. There didn't seem to be any spark there. Usuallt that spark comes from Thurston & Slater but i've never seen them play quieter games.

Hats off to NSW though - they were by far the hungrier side. There defense was superb and they fought for everything.

Can't see Queensland winning it this year - maybe a year too many for them.

AngryHippie

Its going to be a real contest this year after that first game.
Hard to believe both sides kept that intensity up to the the end.

Paul Gallen could be a big loss if he gets heavily penalized.
I hate to admit it, but the blues are in with a real chance there.
Having two home games is always a big advantage. It's a shame that the Melbourne leg was a wet welly, it added a lot of balance to the series.

I'm really glad that they've got their win under their belt. Outstanding performances from so many players, Brett and Josh Morris, and Ferguson were definite stand out workhorses.

The Danger is that it was on off-form Maroon side, in a hostile venue. It will definitely be a different kettle of fish at Lang Park, I just hope it doesn't slip away from QLD in the second leg.

Great showcase of Aussie Rugby League talent

toomevara

AngryHippie wrote: »

Great showcase of Aussie Rugby League talent

Astonishing levels of skill and intensity (even if the maroons were a bit off). Here in the UK people talk about the England team having a genuine chance at the world cup this year (perhaps largely off the back of brits playing in the NRL, The burgess bros, Reed, Widdup, Graham etc...) but both those teams yesterday played a level above anything over here, international or club.....

scatman carruthers

Queensland will destroy them at the Suncorp

Taco Corp

I don't watch a whole lot of League but I decided to watch the match from yesterday to see what the craic is with Origin.

Can someone tell me how the incident towards the end of the first half did not result in a red card to Gallan?

toomevara

Captain_Hindsight wrote: »

Can someone tell me how the incident towards the end of the first half did not result in a red card to Gallan?

I can't, it should have. My only response is no one wanted origin 1 ruined 5 mins before the end of the first half with a red card. Also culturally there is a higher tolerance for a bit of a punch-up in league generally but in NRL in particular. There is a 'report' system in RL, which allows a ref to refer something he's not sure of or hasn't seen for retrospective consideration which has been done. Gallen won't have heard the last of it, that's for sure

hsbc

Gallen got a weeks suspension - so he'll miss this weekends game against the Storm.

Pretty lenient penalty considering the offence so i doubt Gallen has any regrets. He probably would have sat out this weekend anyway so he could rest his bad knee.

Origin II is gonna be a good one...

toomevara

Gallens been banned for one week. He'll miss next week's Cronulla sharks game. Next time he an Myles meet, should be interesting...

Dozen Wicked Words

Mad that 2 Refs could only manage to put it on report, maybe they need another 2 or 3 Refs. Not a hard one to call, Origin or not.

Hopefully Qld will do the business next game (and I think they will), its great for the series that NSW got the first win though.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

Blake Ferguson out of Origin II, charged with indecent assault on a woman in Cronulla bar. Was with Josh Dugan when it occured on the beer, these lads are just so bad for each other going on the last 2 seasons being filled with alcohol related incidents. Dugan has been cleared of any wrong.

On the other side, Dugan has been named in the NSW squad along with Aaron Woods from the Tigers, QLDs squad named soon

toomevara

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Blake Ferguson out of Origin II, charged with indecent assault on a woman in Cronulla bar. Was with Josh Dugan when it occured on the beer, these lads are just so bad for each other going on the last 2 seasons being filled with alcohol related incidents. Dugan has been cleared of any wrong.

What is it with NRL players and alcohol? I know its not the only sport with a drink problem but its such an issue for so many of these guys, and as for their attitudes to women, like something from the 1950's. alot of work to be done with these players when they're up and coming I think, before the damage gets done.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

Additions to NSW squad to replace Ferguson are Nate Merritt, George Tafua and another that i can't think of off the top of my head. The locals in Oz seem to have a major drinking problem, not knowing when to stop seems to be a huge issue! Seem with Beale and others in Union. Dugan and Ferguson were both on last warnings and now Ferguson's been temp de-registered from the Raiders so his future is majorly hanging in the balance.

Its a shame that a lot of these guys publicaly carry on like this, the recent one of the all merciful cock-ups was Dugan posting a picture of himself and Fergo on his roof drinking when supposed to be at a team recovery session on twitter, your just asking for trouble. But nevertheless far play to Dugan for showing some control recently and deservedly been named in the NSW squad instead of Hayne

toomevara

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

But nevertheless far play to Dugan for showing some control recently and deservedly been named in the NSW squad instead of Hayne

True, played well against the cowboys this weekend...

toomevara

Reckon at this point we could start an "NRL drunken idiocy" thread;

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/ive-let-my-team-and-family-down-souths-star-burgess-sorry-over-vehicle-damage-charge-20130618-2of1u.html

Don't know what I find funnier/more pathetic, Georgy getting pished and fecking a road sign through the window of a car or the fact that the NRL has an 'integrity unit'...

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

I cannot fathom how John Sutton isn't at least an interchange in the NSW squad, plays 5/8, Loose Forward and big enough for back row, would give NSW everything Corey Parker does for QLD and more, was outstanding this morning for Souths again as was Adam Reynolds. Seems te balance of power will drastically swing in the NSW direction as the years move on

toomevara

Well, Origin 2 had a crushing inevitability about it. NSW totally out-classed/out-muscled and outplayed in virtually every facet of the game. I think the Maroons' winning streak looks set to continue barring an absolute miracle....NSW were game and there were some good individual performances to be gleaned among the rubble but they were utterly blown away today.

toomevara

toomevara wrote: »

Reckon at this point we could start an "NRL drunken idiocy" thread;

sigh...Now they don't even need to be drunk....Georgie 'bleedin' Burgess seems to be losin' the plot....

http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/george-burgess-in-more-trouble-10295/

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny

NSW side for game III: Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Brett Morris, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, James Tamou, Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen (c), Ryan Hoffman, Luke Lewis, Greg Bird. Interchange: Anthony Watmough, Andrew Fifita, Trent Merrin, Josh Reynolds, James McManus, Boyd Cordner, Aaron Woods

Still no John Sutton, who again showed why he should be there for Souths. Is a joke, delighted for Cordner tho, fully merited on performances. Hayne has pulled outta tomorrows Manly game and is in doubt for Game III, McManus in for Merritt.

daftdave

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

NSW side for game III: Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Brett Morris, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, James Tamou, Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen (c), Ryan Hoffman, Luke Lewis, Greg Bird. Interchange: Anthony Watmough, Andrew Fifita, Trent Merrin, Josh Reynolds, James McManus, Boyd Cordner, Aaron Woods

Still no John Sutton, who again showed why he should be there for Souths. Is a joke, delighted for Cordner tho, fully merited on performances. Hayne has pulled outta tomorrows Manly game and is in doubt for Game III, McManus in for Merritt.

hayne has ruled himself out,big loss for NSW