Who Said Origin Was Dead

I hate to say it with so much Origin football still to play but I Told You So!!!

It was "The Night To Fight" and the Blues did New South Wales Proud. 82, 000 fans showed up to see a contest in the truest sense of the word and they werent dissapointed. Two teams fought for what they believed in and on the night the better team won. NSW for the first time in 2 years defeated the Maroons.
I said before the concept of Origin might have been questioned if Queensland won in Sydney, But once again we have a decider.

Remember: There is no finish line in Origin.

Gallen said all week he would lead from the front and look every bit a prop. He did that and more. His performance was nothing short of phenominal. He ran the ball more than 20 times for a whopping 234 metres. It will be up there with one of the most damaging performances in New South Wales history alongside the likes of Andrew Johns in 2005 and Anthony Watmough in 2009.

I predicted that the Blues would play to the strengths of their back row. They did and it worked so a big pat on the back goes out to the coach Ricky Stuart. It was the variety on the edges and in the middle that got them home.

Lewis was outstanding once he came onto the field. Scored a try and looked dangerous with every touch of the ball. His biggest moment in the game came when the Maroons were looking like breaking the heart of the blues and scoring another come from the dead try. Lewis saves the game as he comes from nowhere and hammers Cooper Cronk on the last tackle to give possession back to his team. As Gus would say, "it was an Origin play".

Watmough did what he does best. He ran very well on the edges and looked to promote the football with every touch. He tackled very well and most importantly kept his discipline in line.

Beau Scott played a majority of the game with a perforated ear drum and was solid as a rock. There wasn't a moment where he looked like a liability. His commitment in doing the hard work for his team is second to none.

Greg Bird again just keeps proving why he should be playing Origin football. Although not his best game by his standards, it was a work-man like performance. Continually showed up to get the Blues out of their half.

Ben Creagh looks strong again. He played most of the game up front when Tim Mannah was off the field and did a great job with Gal. You know what you get every time Ben Creagh turns up to play.

Enough about the back row.

Pearce's defence was simply awesome. He proved once again he belongs in the Origin arena.

Minichiello on return with a try to top it all off was the 'Mini' of old. Safe as a house and never too far from the ball.

Hopoate is to be congratulated for an outstanding debut. Uate continues to Flourish.

Finally. For anyone who believes Kurt Gidley should not be in this team, think again. He comes onto the field and starts at hooker. In the last half hour of the game he was playing at left centre and packing in at lock in the scrum. He might not be the best player in any one position but guys like him are invaluable to a teams success.

Cattledog!!!

Bring on Game 3.