**Official** NRL 2009 Thread

[chaminda_00]

Gidley did all the little things right, like a few other players for NSW. Made the odd mistake. But as captain, fullback and major play maker there a bit too much expectation on him to preform, as well as the fact that he is one of few players that capable of playing up to Queensland standard.

In general play he wasn't that great, not bad. Kick returns weren't anything special. Though unlike Slater he didn't have every kick down his throat and had a free passage to the defence. He held back on a lot of kick returns, and didn't attack as much as he could. Understandable considering the shocker he had late in Game One and the errors from players all around him. In attack he didn't really offer the spark NSW were looking for. He did better at dummy half yes, but that was when Queensland were at their weakest in terms of fatigue around the ruck. They should have taken off a backrower for Morris and let Gidley have a free role. Farah would have carved up during that period as well.

Basically he did a lot better then most, but not to the level we probably needed or to the higher level of expectation on him.

 

[DaRick]

Well, I'm chuffed. 4-in-a-row. Excellent stuff from QLD.

That being said, NSW were horrible for much of the match. There were amateurish mistakes aplenty in the first half (most notably from David Williams, although blokes like Robbie Farah weren't much better). They did come back into the game, due to Barrett's thuggery and some brilliance from Jarryd Hayne, not to mention some appalling referring decisions (worse than in Melbourne, even), but Queensland, despite the effect of the stomach virus becoming increasingly obvious, managed to shut them out at the death.

Although QLD were indeed beatable and NSW twice lifted themselves when it looked as if they were going to get annihilated, you need more than that to win a series. Frankly, QLD are the better side and deserved the victory.

I do feel that the 24-14 margin flattered NSW a tad (unlike the first game, where it seemed about right).

 

[Mister Wright]

If it wasn't for the refs it would have been a 50-0 scoreline.

I wonder if the Channel 9 execs were in the ears of the video refs, to get a decider in Brisbane in 3 weeks - that is the only way you could explain their decisions.

QLD just have so much more passion than NSW, and it is only fair that the first side in Origin history to win 4 straight are QLD.

It is a great night in the History of Origin. It makes up for all those many decades that the Sydney teams stole QLD player for big pokie money and then have them role up against their own state.

I can honestly say, other than my wedding night this is the greatest night of my life. We had to overcome everything to win.

QUEENSLANDER!

 

[Mister Wright]

4th straight series win to Queensland. Mister Wright blind drunk and hungover AWS. Surely he will call in sick tomorrow?

I feel Burgey will log on and have one almighty rant.

Nah mate. Haven't had a day off this year, and like my QLD brethren, even with injury (albeit self inflicted) will fight until the last whistle. Will be a tough day, but I'll get through it!

 

[James90]

Game was eventful enough. Can make plenty of judgements from it, even if the standard was a little lower than usual.

Wallace was half-decent in defence but really had nothing at all in attack that could break a lethargic Queensland line. Lockyer had one of his better games in attack of recent times and Thurston gave it 110% even though his timing was a bit out and people had to slow down to catch his passes.

Not sure how Barrett playing the whole game while Inglis could barely walk is justice tbh. Really important win for Queensland. Was there for NSW to take but they held on in spite of illness, injury and brutal officiating.

 

[Son Of Coco]

If it wasn't for the refs it would have been a 50-0 scoreline.

I wonder if the Channel 9 execs were in the ears of the video refs, to get a decider in Brisbane in 3 weeks - that is the only way you could explain their decisions.

QLD just have so much more passion than NSW, and it is only fair that the first side in Origin history to win 4 straight are QLD.

It is a great night in the History of Origin. It makes up for all those many decades that the Sydney teams stole QLD player for big pokie money and then have them role up against their own state.

I can honestly say, other than my wedding night this is the greatest night of my life. We had to overcome everything to win.

QUEENSLANDER!

What a ****...they always have 'more passion' when they win. It's never mentioned on the rare occasions they go down 50-6. QLD have a far better team than NSW can put together at the moment. It's that simple really. I'd say this is the most one-sided the gap between the two teams has been (over the past few years) for some time. It shows in the series results. To be honest, I was surprised we got close the past couple of years. Must have been 'NSW passion' keeping us in it

We seem to have occasions of players going up against their own state now still, and while QLD did play well, NSW were very poor for the first two games. QLD deserve every credit for reeling off their 4th series win, don't get me wrong, but this 'QLD passion' thing is a crock.

A well deserved victory though. It's a pity NSW couldn't give them a decent game really. A bunch of guys as talented as this QLD team deserve to be the team that breaks the record.

Edit: Just logged back in after I realised how bad 'What a ****' would look with the word censored. Was lying in bed trying to drift off to sleep when I thought about it I'd just like to clarify, seeing as though the word could be anything, that it's not a word I'm using to describe Kyle. It's a word I'm using to describe the idea of 'QLD passion' being so great. It starts with 'w'.

Now that I've come back to post this I feel like deleting the whole post...I don't really care that much. Kyle might be right after all

 

[howardj]

lol

The world's worst journo, in the world's worst paper.

It was sort of like game 1. That is, when the game was up for grabs (at the start and towards the end) we came up trumps. I honestly think the scorelines in both games flattered NSW. Rarely has there been such a chasm between the two teams. NSW just seem to have no authority in the halves.

They have a team of good players, but lack any champions.

By contrast, we have about five champions. Two of whom are in the halves.

 

[Mister Wright]

What a ****...they always have 'more passion' when they win. It's never mentioned on the rare occasions they go down 50-6. QLD have a far better team than NSW can put together at the moment. It's that simple really. I'd say this is the most one-sided the gap between the two teams has been (over the past few years) for some time. It shows in the series results. To be honest, I was surprised we got close the past couple of years. Must have been 'NSW passion' keeping us in it

We seem to have occasions of players going up against their own state now still, and while QLD did play well, NSW were very poor for the first two games. QLD deserve every credit for reeling off their 4th series win, don't get me wrong, but this 'QLD passion' thing is a crock.

A well deserved victory though. It's a pity NSW couldn't give them a decent game really. A bunch of guys as talented as this QLD team deserve to be the team that breaks the record.

Edit: Just logged back in after I realised how bad 'What a ****' would look with the word censored. Was lying in bed trying to drift off to sleep when I thought about it I'd just like to clarify, seeing as though the word could be anything, that it's not a word I'm using to describe Kyle. It's a word I'm using to describe the idea of 'QLD passion' being so great. It starts with 'w'.

Now that I've come back to post this I feel like deleting the whole post...I don't really care that much. Kyle might be right after all

I don't care at the moment. You can call me anything...

This is such a great feeling. It's always great waking up after an Origin win, it makes the hangover just that much better. But, it is simply amazing waking up after four series in a row. I hope it is a feeling you will never experience as a Blues supporter.

 

[Simon]

Awesome win for the boys. So much spirit.

Just shows NSW can pick whomever they like but they still wont win. Halves in game 2 should be Mullen and Campese, TLL into the side, Andrew Ryan should be picked too. But it wont make any difference as we'll win anyway.

 

[Burgey]

Well, I'm off to court so can't post my summary of the game here (like you all care anyway, but I need to do it for my own sanity).

Might get on the Blackberry from Court and do it later.

 

[Craig]

Well, I'm off to court so can't post my summary of the game here (like you all care anyway, but I need to do it for my own sanity).

Might get on the Blackberry from Court and do it later.

I can't wait

So who is more over-rated? David Williams, Peter Wallace, or Brett Kite?

 

[howardj]

Well, I'm off to court so can't post my summary of the game here (like you all care anyway, but I need to do it for my own sanity).

Might get on the Blackberry from Court and do it later.

Are the Blues filing for bankruptcy?

 

[Simon]

I can't wait

So who is more over-rated? David Williams, Peter Wallace, or Brett Kite?

Kite from that list. He has been ****house fior 6-7 years but pretty much never gets called on it. Hes a modern day Michael Vella.

David Williams, who seriously actually rates him? He gets picked because he has a beard and puts bums on seats. Hes media hype nothing else.

Wallace has shown he is not up to origin, hes a good club half probably in the class of Brett Finch. Has good games, has shockers but overall most clubs would have him but leading an Origin side is a step too far.

On the NSW team this is why I think they should pick for game 3
1 Jarryd Hayne
2 Brett Morris
3 Matt Cooper
4 Michael Jennings (if fit - otherwise Josh Morris)
5 Joel Monaghan
6 Kurt Gidley
7 Jarrod Mullen
8 Justin Poore
9 Michael Ennis
10 Michael Weyman
11 Luke O'Donnell
12 Andrew Ryan
13 Paul Gallen
Reserves
14 Tom Learoyd Lahrs
15 Anthony Watmough
16 Luke Bailey (if fit - otherwise any other prop that isnt Kite)
17 Craig Wing (if fit - otherwise Farah gets a chance from the bench)

 

[Johnners]

NSW have had 14 different halves combinations in the past 6 series, compared to QLD's 5. Might be worth trying to get 1 combination, and at least give them a series to get it right. Lockyer/Thurston didn't win the first series they played together (2005 iirc).

 

[99*]

On the NSW team this is why I think they should pick for game 3
1 Jarryd Hayne
2 Brett Morris
3 Matt Cooper
4 Michael Jennings (if fit - otherwise Josh Morris)
5 Joel Monaghan
6 Kurt Gidley
7 Jarrod Mullen
8 Justin Poore
9 Michael Ennis
10 Michael Weyman
11 Luke O'Donnell
12 Andrew Ryan
13 Paul Gallen
Reserves
14 Tom Learoyd Lahrs
15 Anthony Watmough
16 Luke Bailey (if fit - otherwise any other prop that isnt Kite)
17 Craig Wing (if fit - otherwise Farah gets a chance from the bench)

Reckon they're going to put Gidley in at 5/8 or halfback before the end of the series.

That would be a shocking move, Gidley is great in one position and thats fullback. Hes an average first grader in the halves.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I don't care at the moment. You can call me anything...

This is such a great feeling. It's always great waking up after an Origin win, it makes the hangover just that much better. But, it is simply amazing waking up after four series in a row. I hope it is a feeling you will never experience as a Blues supporter.

The way we're playing at the moment I'd happy to wake up and experience the feeling of winning one game in a row

 

[Son Of Coco]

lol

The world's worst journo, in the world's worst paper.

It was sort of like game 1. That is, when the game was up for grabs (at the start and towards the end) we came up trumps. I honestly think the scorelines in both games flattered NSW. Rarely has there been such a chasm between the two teams. NSW just seem to have no authority in the halves.

They have a team of good players, but lack any champions.

By contrast, we have about five champions. Two of whom are in the halves.

Yeah we were ridiculously ordinary. At least in the past two years with the big gap in talent we still put up a fight. This year was ordinary and we were lucky not to get done by 50 twice. There's no direction whatsoever. Andrew Johns to come out of retirement for Game 3?

Not sure where this guy got the idea that we were a chance...we couldn't even put it together against a team with guys that had been sick and were missing Inglis after 20 mins or so. I actually replied to him on his blog today where he is critical of the team Bellamy had (he got the team he wanted apparently) and of keeping Wallace on so long with a link to his article - 'Why NSW will win Origin II'.

 

[Craig]

Kite from that list. He has been ****house fior 6-7 years but pretty much never gets called on it. Hes a modern day Michael Vella.

David Williams, who seriously actually rates him? He gets picked because he has a beard and puts bums on seats. Hes media hype nothing else.

Wallace has shown he is not up to origin, hes a good club half probably in the class of Brett Finch. Has good games, has shockers but overall most clubs would have him but leading an Origin side is a step too far.

On the NSW team this is why I think they should pick for game 3
1 Jarryd Hayne
2 Brett Morris
3 Matt Cooper
4 Michael Jennings (if fit - otherwise Josh Morris)
5 Joel Monaghan
6 Kurt Gidley
7 Jarrod Mullen
8 Justin Poore
9 Michael Ennis
10 Michael Weyman
11 Luke O'Donnell
12 Andrew Ryan
13 Paul Gallen
Reserves
14 Tom Learoyd Lahrs
15 Anthony Watmough
16 Luke Bailey (if fit - otherwise any other prop that isnt Kite)
17 Craig Wing (if fit - otherwise Farah gets a chance from the bench)

I think he is over-rated purely for the fact he has played rep footy.

 

[Simon]

Still think its a shocking move but its one I think they'll make for 2 reasons, get Hayne more ball playing fullback and they dont have other 5/8 options as I doubt they'll pick Campo and Barrett wont have played between Origins 2 and 3 if he takes the early plea/

 

[Burgey]

Back from court.

First thing I want to say, is Qld did not and have not been winning these matches and series due to their all star backline (though of course they help). They win these games because, when there's a dropped ball, they fall on it; when one of their mates misses a tackle, they cover for him; when some down-and-dirty work needs to be done, they get in and do it; and because they refuse to play the game in a ****ing dinner suit.

Last night was an embarrasment, not because NSW got beaten, but because of whom the selectors deemed worthy of wearing the shirt, and because of the limp-dicked way the team rolled over.

Let's rate the NSW players from last night:

Gidley (c): tried hard as always, and had a better impact than game one. Actually seemed to get better once Farah went off and he moved closer to the action, a point worthy of consideration IMO.
Hayne: arguably best on ground in a side which, despite the score, was well beaten. When his forwards were soft, he stepped it up with some big tackles. When a half break was made, he dragged Folau down. Made some great defensive reads as well. A great performance from a player we must somehow get more ball to. I never thought I'd see NSW adopt as their main attacking play the Parra option, namely "Where's Jarryd? Get him the ****ing ball!" But it seems we need to.
Lyon: so help me, if this useless sack of **** ever pulls on a rep jumper again, I will need persuading not to neck myself. Stole valuable oxygen from the fans at the stadium last night, and is a waste of his father's sperm. I'd run through his mistakes, but cbf, save for the idiotic being tackled into touch late in the game, which frankly deserves its own thread. I'd like him to catch fire near me, so I could refuse to piss on him. Papers stamped (as they were years ago).
Monaghan: Limited opportuniities and did little wrong with them, imo.
Williams: How long have you got? ********. School boy errors from a player whose appeal lies mostly with, well, schoolkids. His kick ahead on tackle one in Qld's half goes down as the Sigsworth-Duke moment of the 09 series so far. No doubt if picked for game three he'll somehow top it. Did show great strength in scoring his try, but no more so than any other winger in the NRL. Papers stamped, after only one game.
Barrett: Best shot of the night to take out Inglis, showing he really is from the 80s-90s school of player. Shame he ran as fast as a 1980s player does these days though. Kicking game better than Campese's in game one.
Wallace: Bringing a little bit of the Jim Beam Cup to Origin. Completely and utterly not up to standard, and looked scared half the time. The other half he was trying to work out how to pass without the ball hitting the ground. By game's end, he still hadn't worked it out.
Kite: This useless, sad sack of **** should be forced into immediate rep retirement. Honestly, how this ****er ever got a game is beyond me. Entire career summed up by tha one brilliant (even for a NSW supporter) moment when he had a shot on Inglis, but didn't even try to tackle him in the lead up to the first try, leaving his fullback and captain posted. Gidley should have head butted the ****er in the in-goal. No coincidence he went off the ground and we got back into it. Bellamy right to despise him. Papers marked (again!),
Farah: Really thought this bloke was the proper deal, but he's gone a long way to dispelling that. Was obviously playing injured so that may be an excuse, but if he couldn't do his job he shouldn't have been there. His attempted "pass" for Lockyer's try was a close runner up to Williams for the Sigsworth-Duke award. TBF to him though, when Folau scored Robbie really did get a fair touch on him, so the ref should have called that back. Papers not marked yet, but I'm filling up the ink in the fountain pen.
Weymann - I'd stick with him despite him doing nothing special. Has ability to make ground, unlike Kite, who struggles to find the abillity to run onto the ground.
Creagh - meant to be our backrow attacking weapon, but misfired. Dud game. He's a lot better than that though - given nothing by way of opportunity.
O'Donnell - played hard, done strong. Bad luck it was him who had to lose the ball for Qld's last try.
Gallen - tough man? Tough **** I say. Ran across field and got dispossessed of the ball early on and did **** all for the rest of the game. Punt him. Unless he's picking on some newbie in grade, he's got nothing.
Interchange:
Morris: under-used but looks the goods. Then again, so did Wallace last year.
Poore: bad miss on Folau, but had a crack at least. Enjoyed him putting one on the chin of Crocker. Good stuff.
Stewart: Better than I thought, but then I thought nothing of him.
Watmough: best game I've seen him play in rep footy. Really ripped and tore in. Didn't miss 15 tackles either. Probably a career defining game - better of retiring after it.

Coach Bellamy: **** him off.

Selectors: see Coach Bellamy.

FWIW (ie nothing), i think they should run with this:
Hayne
Morris
Cooper
Jennings
Monaghan
Gidley
Barrett or Kimmorley
Hindmarsh
Creagh
O'Donnell
Poore
Farah/ Ennis
Weymann
Interchange:
TLL
Watmough
Houston
Wing

I'm sick to ****ing death of people saying we have so many great backrowers and players like Hindmarsh don't offer enough. I'm biased towards him but I don't give a ****. The bloke does all the hard, ****ty work these other pampered poodles are too soft to do, or can't be bothered having a crack at. When Folau ran at (and indeed past) Poore and Farah, Hindmarsh is the type of player to at least make an attempt on him as he would have been trailing across. Why? Because he doesn't take anything for granted on the field, that's why. When Farah threw that **** pass for Lockyer's try, Hindy is the type of player who'd commit himself to diving on the ****ing thing instead of just looking at it. Andrew Ryan is made of much the same stuff, so I'd see no problem in him being there either.

Anyway, that's my two cents worth. You can talk all you like about your Inglis, Folau, Slater et al, the point is Qld won because their blokes who are supposed to be stars also get in and do the little, important things which our women aren't preared to do. I wouldn't feed half our players. As far as I'm concerned they can all walk into an open sewer and die.