Queensland try to spread it left, got it to the man who scored twice tonight Boyd who poked his nose through but is swarmed by NSW defenders. FULLTIME! NSW 12, QLD 8 in an epic.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
PENALTY Queensland. Jennings stole it from the play-the-ball. One play.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
Justin Hodges is down. He didn't knock it on. Play the ball.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
Cherry-Evans spills it back and Slaters kicks it right into Hodkinson. Referee says knock on. One more scrum.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
One more set for Queensland to win this. Six tackles. Here we go from the Hodkinson dropout.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
Thurston takes it right to the line, stabbing it through.. McQueen was inches away from leveling proceedings. Hayne is there just in front of him.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
RED LIGHTS..NO TRY! Brett Morris with a try-saver there. He held up Boyd before the cavalry arrived and carried him into touch.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
VIDEO REFEREE: Darius Boyd looking for his third.. Brett Morris with a possible try-saver.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
PENALTY Queensland - tackled without the ball. Queensland 30 metres out, four behind.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
SIX MORE.. or not. He initially called it six again from Inglis' knock down but changed it to a scrum.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
PENALTY New South Wales - Myles was pinged for a rake.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
Final ten. Four in the game. NSW start on their own 20.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
PENALTY Queensland - Thurston dabbed a kick that was recovered by Hayne. Unfortunately he was taken out.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
UNFORCED ERROR QUEENSLAND MAROONS
Johnathan Thurston makes an unforced error.
Just as I say that, Thurston spills it.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
Fifteen to go.. game in the balance. We're set for a dramatic finish here.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
NSW repel Queensland who are attacking in waves now. They sense blood.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
Dear, oh dear. Tupou tried to make the superman leap, dropped it and his attempted bat back was right into the hands of Thurston.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION QUEENSLAND MAROONS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
The architect now has a chance to put the deficit back to two. It is a sideline assignment like his first, swings it but not enough.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
TRY QUEENSLAND MAROONS
Scored by Darius Boyd. Kick to come.
It's Boyd once again! That was created from the previous tackle as they drew the defenders in. Thurston goes down the short side, Inglis.. Boyd over for his second.
New South Wales Blues 12-8
Out of nothing.. Justin Hodges produced a repeat set for the home side. His grubbering kick was taken dead by Jennings and Hayne.
New South Wales Blues 12-4
Frantic stuff here.. it is end to end football. Hayne and Cherry-Evans the protagonists.
New South Wales Blues 12-4
Queensland were swarming like bees to a honey pot there but Jarryd Hayne poked through and tried to send Michael Jennings inside, the centre dropped it
New South Wales Blues 12-4
That was tough defense from a charging Guerra run. Paul Gallen saved them the tackle before and NSW scrambled to save.
New South Wales Blues 12-4
Queensland needed that.. after all the pressure, Watmough gives away a piggyback.
New South Wales Blues 12-4
UNFORCED ERROR NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES
Daniel Tupou makes an unforced error.
Hayne after successfully setting up Morris for the first try.. tried the same with a cut-out to Tupou. The winger had no room to move and knocks it on trying to keep it in.
New South Wales Blues 12-4
Another bomb, another result for the Blues. Greg Inglis caught just in-goal.
New South Wales Blues 12-4
Add another to the possible casuality ward.. Paul Gallen is down after Josh Papalii blindsided him. He's ok and it's play on.
New South Wales Blues 12-4
Queensland are licorice all sorts now.. Cameron Smith is down favouring his shoulder as well.
New South Wales Blues 12-4
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES
Penalty goal attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Ten out, right in front.. Hodkinson slams it through.
New South Wales Blues 12-4
It is all bouncing NSW here.. Hayne with an old school punt balked Slater so Williams could knock it into a Queenslander for SIX MORE. Queensland looking to slow it down concede a PENALTY. Once again, Gallen points to the sticks.
New South Wales Blues 10-4
Gallen leads out his troops again, ready to kick us off for the second forty of an absorbing contest. The home side with Meninga's words ringing in their ears follow through Cameron Smith. Hodkinson puts boot to ball and here we go!
New South Wales Blues 10-4
HALFTIME! What an absorbing half of football. It started with a wonderful exhibition of rugby league from Queensland before Jarryd Hayne exploded into the game - assisting and scoring one. NSW 10, QLD 4 HALFTIME.
New South Wales Blues 10-4
UNFORCED ERROR QUEENSLAND MAROONS
Matt Gillett makes an unforced error.
A precise set move from Queensland was brewing there, as Smith tried the face ball to Gillett who spilled it.
New South Wales Blues 10-4
The crowd was baying for blood and they earnt it.. Merrin caught in the ruck. QLD PENALTY.
New South Wales Blues 10-4
UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
Trent Hodkinson, steadies himself and can't curve it enough.
New South Wales Blues 10-4
TRY NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES
Scored by Jarryd Hayne. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Hayne never stopped his momentum there. He busted through the Thurston tackle, slipping off Inglis and Smith for the four pointer.
New South Wales Blues 10-4
VIDEO REFEREE: Jarryd Hayne was just rumbling and tumbling to the try-line, checking double movement.
New South Wales Blues 6-4
The Blues are trying to find Hayne at every opportunity here.. he found Josh Morris who was headed for the sideline but he flicked it inside, touching Thurston for more NSW possession.
New South Wales Blues 6-4
A much better kick from Hodkinson that time.. Tupou lept high, much like he does at club level and Jennings shepherds it into Hodges and over the sideline. Scrum NSW.
New South Wales Blues 6-4
UNFORCED ERROR QUEENSLAND MAROONS
Cameron Smith makes an unforced error.
BOOM.. headshot! Nate Myles with the first ruck off the penalty offloads it to an oblivious Smith who knocks on from his snoz.
New South Wales Blues 6-4
Beau Scott and Josh Reynolds tried teaching Brent Tate how to do a handstand there. It isn't legal in rugby league though. PENALTY. Reynolds ON REPORT as well.
New South Wales Blues 6-4
SUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES
Penalty goal attempt by Trent Hodkinson successful.
Hodkinson looking to be better with his second kick in the origin arena.. this one is right in front only twenty metres out. Steps up and pilots it through. NSW lead.
New South Wales Blues 6-4
PENALTY NSW! The blues have come alive here.. two offloads, one from Gallen and the other from Woods sent them downfield. Their momentum forced Queensland to hold down and concede the penalty. Gallen points to the sticks.
4 all
UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES
Conversion attempt by Trent Hodkinson unsuccessful.
Trent Hodkinson has been kicking at 80% in the NRL, can he match it in origin? Nope he hooked that.
4 all
TRY NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES
Scored by Brett Morris. Kick to come.
Jarryd Hayne has been probing the defensive line, looking for the overlap.. he found Josh Morris who instinctively saw his brother on the inside for the easy try.
4 all
PENALTY NSW - Hayne with a charging run tempted Hodges into an ill-advised facial.
Queensland Maroons 4-0
Hodkinson playing the pressure game here. He jabbed a kick through for Hayne to chase, the fullback was beaten to the ball by his opposite number but Jarryd was able to claim him in-goal.
Queensland Maroons 4-0
UNFORCED ERROR QUEENSLAND MAROONS
Justin Hodges makes an unforced error.
Justin Hodges with a much needed intervention, as Hayne tried to find Jennings on the overlap. NSW with a scrum 20 metres out.
Queensland Maroons 4-0
Maroons shift to the option kicker, Cameron Smith with Cooper Cronk off. The hookers kick rebounds off a blue and into the hands of Jennings.
Queensland Maroons 4-0
INJURY: Cooper Cronk is OFF the field and down the tunnel with a shoulder injury.
Queensland Maroons 4-0
Slater eyes some room.. he is looking for the try-line but Josh Morris got him with a legs tackle. Brett Morris undoes his brother's work though, with a flop. PENALTY.
Queensland Maroons 4-0
UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION QUEENSLAND MAROONS
Conversion attempt by Johnathan Thurston unsuccessful.
Johnathan Thurston with his first kick of the night.. from the sideline, Thurston walks in and swings it wide.
Queensland Maroons 4-0
TRY QUEENSLAND MAROONS
Scored by Darius Boyd. Kick to come.
GREEN LIGHTS..TRY! Darius Boyd faked out Brett Morris and slid in for the opening try of the series.
Queensland Maroons 4-0
VIDEO REFEREE: Simple scrum play, Queensland found Boyd who is indifferent at club level but a star on the representative scene. Checking sideline and grounding.
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Queensland earn the first line break through McQueen. They have a set right on the Blues line after a Nate Myles bomb.. yes you read that right.
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Both teams have got through their first set here.. not surprising it has been an arm wrestle.
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Well done Phoebe - a stirring rendition here. Thurston with boot to ball here we go!
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Here come the NSW Blues to a chorus of boos mainly directed at captain Paul Gallen. Next out is Queensland, by-passing Arthur Beetson's famous #11 jersey, led out by Beetson's family members - it is a rapturous reception for the holders and eight time champions! We will pause for the traditional anthems.. then it all begins again.
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It's been a lengthy build-up and they did say it was an 8:16pm kick-off! Suncorp is jam packed, come with me by Kashmir is playing! Here we go - origin one is moments away.. final hugs and handshakes before the game begins.
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Well. How about that pre-game? Channel nine has their detractors but they can do a damn good montage! They highlighted the Origin moments throughout the 33 years leading to tonight's teams to continue on the legacy. 15 minutes until kick-off.
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TEAM CHANGES: There are none. Besides fricken lazers coming up in the pre-game to celebrate the 100th origin game. Better than Jason Derulo I guess?
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Welcome one and all to the greatest nights you could experience in rugby league - State of Origin. Tonight is game 100 as these two teams have clashed 99 times before in 33 series. It is the 34th edition at Suncorp and once again the trophy is held in abeyance. Queensland are looking to begin their campaign on cloud nine tonight while New South Wales want to prove two heads aren't better than one and hopefully the Hayne Plane will have lift-off.
The build up for this clash has been akin to a pleasant disagreement with the only noteworthy incident being that Queensland don't have the moves like Jagger. New South Wales have holed themselves up in Coffs Harbour the week before with Paul Gallen anointing himself the pantomime villain after his two heads comment.
After all the talk though the game is played on the field not in sound bytes. Queensland - well journalists will be frantically looking to their thesauruses to describe this team in the coming years. They feature a majority of the Australian team including the spine of Slater, Thurston, Cronk and Smith not to mention Matt Scott who is the best front rower in the competition currently.
For New South Wales it is once again, a new halves pairing as Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson (without the G for all the commentators). The pairing have led Canterbury to the summit of the NRL will want to do the same for the Blues combined with a devastating backline including a resurgent Jarryd Hayne and high jump aspirant Daniel Tupou.
NSW have gone with a mobile forward pack and will look to tire out Queensland before popping the offload.
Enough of the talk - join LeagueUnlimited and myself here after just after 8pm for the action of the opening origin game of 2014.
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Referees & scorers:
Referee: Shayne Hayne, Ben Cummins
Touch Judges: Russell Turner, Nick Beashel
Video Referee: Steve Clark, Luke Patten
QUEENSLAND MAROONS (8)
Tries: Darius Boyd (2)
Field Goals:
Conversions: Johnathan Thurston (0/2)
Penalty Goals:
NEW SOUTH WALES BLUES (12)
Tries: Brett Morris, Jarryd Hayne
Field Goals:
Conversions: Trent Hodkinson (0/2)
Penalty Goals: Trent Hodkinson (2/2)