Origin II the worst I’ve seen: Buzz

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

It's interesting to watch a replay of State of Origin without the emotion when you know the score and there is none of that edge-of-your-seat exhilaration.

It's probably the best way to judge last Wednesday night's game purely as a rugby league spectacle.

BLOG WITH BUZZ FROM 9AM

Your columnist is just back from 10 days in Brazil and has finally caught up with a replay of the Blues' victory.

The fact NSW won and ended eight years of pain and misery made it one of those extra special occasions.

Greg Bird lets out all that pent-up emotion for NSW players and fans. Source: News Corp Australia

We will forever be talking about the night that NSW won and the emotional scenes that followed as Jarryd Hayne ran the football into Blatchy's Blues.

The mental toughness and courage was absolutely incredible.

But, still, we should pause for a moment to examine the game at ANZ Stadium for what it produced in sporting skill and entertainment. We should also stop to think about a different audience in Melbourne next year and how it stacks up against their game, AFL.

Because, quite frankly, I thought Wednesday night's contest was one of the worst games of rugby league I've ever seen.

Just 80 brutal minutes of niggle, rubbish and cheap shots.

MAROONS WERE ROBBED, SAYS HARRIGAN

CLEAN SWEEP'S OUR PAYBACK, SAYS FULTON

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

An event in which fans were charged up to $265 a seat to watch the best, toughest and most skilful 34 footballers in the game.

Freakishly skilled men like Thurston, Hayne, Inglis, Slater, Smith, Cherry-Evans, Jennings and Farah. And all we got was a UFC-style bash-up with everything but the punches.

BLOG WITH BUZZ FROM 9AM

Full marks to NSW coach Laurie Daley, who came up with the tactics to nullify the Maroons' obvious skill advantage.

If you can't beat them, bash them.

Josh Reynolds gets some special attention from Johnathan Thurston. Source: News Corp Australia

From exactly one minute and 54 seconds when Paul Gallen kneed Matt Scott in the head without penalty, this game became a war.

Eight minutes later the Blues captain dropped a forearm into Billy Slater's head. Again no penalty.

Then Thurston slapped Beau Scott in the face. Farah produced a high swinging arm on Cherry-Evans.

James Tamou drops a forearm on Nate Myles, responding to the Queensland forward's facials and biff in almost every tackle.

As Wally Lewis observed: "It's not much fun to be a ball carrier tonight."

GALLEN A TRUE BRONZED AUSSIE

BLUE WAVE TO ENGULF BRISBANE

Beau Scott gets ready to put the hard word on Aidan Guerra. Source: Getty Images

We saw no real skill until Justin Hodges finally broke the line 39 minutes into the game.

The great Ray Warren observed at half-time: "This crowd has had little to get excited about."

The second half was more of the same, highlighted by the Anthony Watmough lifting tackle, the Thurston headbutt.

Hayne's try-saver on Sam Thaiday was a series-saver and Trent Hodkinson's show-and-go try was a beauty.

But that was about it. The rest was bash, barge, hit-up, bash, barge, hit-up, bash, barge, hit-up.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

So why did what should have been one of the greatest events in Origin history degenerate into this?

It's easy. The referees were just appalling. They had absolutely no control over the game.

BLOG WITH BUZZ FROM 9AM

Had the sin bin been used early on, I'm convinced we would have seen some football.

There were at least 10 first-half opportunities to put players in the bin. They would have got the message after the first one.

The Blues put Queensland's Nate Myles down hard. Source: News Corp Australia

I complained before this game about the appointments of Shayne Hayne and Ben Cummins. They might be the most experienced referees in the NRL but they are no longer the best.

They should be held responsible as much as the players that because it was such a poor spectacle, a first-time observer would not watch again.

Yes, the television ratings were fantastic and we filled the stadium.

But I'm just back from Brazil, where I've seen some of the most amazing skills.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Timmy Cahill's boom left-foot volley to score against the Dutch. The great Argentinian Lionel Messi and his goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

That remarkable Mexican goalkeeper producing those spectacular saves against the might of Brazil.

I'm still a hardened, rusted-on rugby league tragic. Always have been, always will be. It's just that I didn't miss a lot while I was away.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

BLOG WITH BUZZ FROM 9AM

LOWS TAKES SWIPE AT GOVERNMENT'S LACK OF SUPPORT

Billionaire Frank Lowy has slammed the federal government for abandoning the Socceroos on the world's biggest sporting stage here in Brazil.

The Westfield tycoon is upset that not one member of the government has made an appearance to watch Australia at the World Cup.

And this comes after prime minister Tony Abbott embarrassingly referred to Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak as 'Mike' on the eve of the tournament.

PICK ME: LECKIE READY FOR TOP SPOT

FFA boss Frank Lowy has criticised the Australian government for not supporting the Socceroos. Source: News Corp Australia

Former sports minister Kate Ellis attended the last World Cup in South Africa on behalf of the Labor government.

I spoke to Lowy during the half-time break in Australia's gripping 3-2 loss to The Netherlands, who were represented by the King and Queen of their country.

British prime minister David Cameron is in Brazil among other world leaders who are mixing with and lobbying the most powerful figures in FIFA, the Olympic movement and other sporting officials.

"Today we had the King and Queen of Germany, last week I saw the German chancellor and the US vice-president," Lowy said.

'WE'VE CAPTIVATED A NATION. LET'S KICK ON'

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"We need our guys with us too.

"The prime minister or a senior minister should be here to show they really believe in Australia on a very important exercise.

"They should be here to showcase our great country and support the team.

"They should be here sitting in a bloody seat.

"I don't want to start World War III between football and the prime minister but they have to get behind us at the biggest sporting event in the world."

BLOG WITH BUZZ FROM 9AM

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Origin II the worst I’ve seen: Buzz

Dengan url

http://sportfoxer.blogspot.com/2014/06/origin-ii-worst-iave-seen-buzz.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Origin II the worst I’ve seen: Buzz

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Origin II the worst I’ve seen: Buzz

sebagai sumbernya