State Of Origin Game 3

parragirl · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:34 am Post subject: State Of Origin Game 3

QLD Team:Karmichael Hunt, Brent Tate, Steven Bell, Justin Hodges, Greg Inglis, Darren Lockyer (c), Johnathan Thurston, Steve Price, Cameron Smith, Petero Civoniceva, Tonie Carroll, Carl Webb, Dallas Johnson, Shaun Berrigan, Dane Carlaw, Nate Myles, Matt Bowen,

NSW Team:Brett Stewart, Hazem EL Mazri, Matt King, Matt Cooper, Jarryd Hayne, Greg Bird, Brett Kimmorley, Brent Kite, Danny Buderus (c), Willie Mason, Nathan Hindmarsh, Andrew Ryan, Paul Gallen, Luke Bailey, Steve Simpson, Ryan Hoffman, Kurt Gidley

Source: http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/

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parragirl · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:40 am Post subject:

Blues regain winning feeling

By Andy Withers
FOXSPORTS.com.au
July 04, 2007

Magic ... EL Masri (centre right) enjoyed a dream debut. pic: Jeff Camden

Blues ... King scores the pivotal points. pic: Gregg Porteous

NEW South Wales regained a semblance of its pride in defeating Queensland in Origin III at Suncorp Stadium, winning 18-4 after losing the opening two matches of the series, but the epic match will be remembered as much for the amazing courage of the battered Maroons.

The Queenslanders were riven by injury from the first minute, and they played with just a three-man interchange for much of the second half as a result of game-, if not season-ending, knee injuries to star wings Greg Inglis and Brent Tate. But they simply refused to be cowed as the Blues launched wave after wave of attacks.

Queensland’s courage in adversity was epitomised by the phenomenal effort of lock Dallas Johnson, who was concussed heavily in tackling NSW prop Brent Kite from the game-opening kick-off yet returned in the second half to produce yet another hard-tackling performance.

The Blues, who led 6-4 at half-time, seemed certain to run away with the match in the second stanza, but Queensland, driven by a dream of recording its fourth series sweep, and its first since Paul Vautin’s “Nevilles” claimed the most surprising victory of all in 1995, performed defensive miracles.

Blues centre Matt Cooper was twice denied in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, first by Maroons halfback Karmichael Hunt after NSW interchange forward Ryan Hoffman, who had made a length-of-the-field bust, passed just a fraction early, and then when Queensland counterpart Steven Bell somehow snaked an arm under the ball to prevent the score. On both occasions, it seemed easier for the Blues to score.

The dam surely had to break sometime, but the Blues secured the victory only in the final 10 minutes.

NSW seemed to panic in the face of “inevitable” victory in the middle stages of the second half, lacking direction and structure to take best advantage of the Queenslanders’ strife, particularly in the 10 minute when coach Graham Murray dragged his captain, Danny Buderus, from the action, but they would not be denied.

First Matt King, playing his first Origin fixture in his preferred position as a centre, and then Hazem El Masri, on his Origin debut, were put into just enough space to touch the ball down and break Queensland hearts.

El Masri – inevitably - landed both conversion attempts to complete his dream debut that also included a first-half conversion to ice the victory.

"I expected it to be fast and furious, and it had everything there," El Masri said of his maiden appearance in state football.

"We had a real good time in the camp before and I'm just real glad to come away with the win."

While the final score offered rough justice for the brave Queensland side, it barely reflected the superiority of the Blues, who showed, in the first half in particular, attacking flair and defensive steel that had been hitherto absent during the series.

The Blues certainly answered their critics after they had slumped to an unassailable 2-0 series deficit in the opening two matches, with many pundits predicting an era of complete Queensland dominance.

Buderus said his side "deserved something" out of the series.

"We knew what was coming if we lost that, so it was a big-pressure game," Buderus said.

"There is character in this team, there's passion, there's intensity, whatever you want to call it.

"We lost the series but bring on next year."

Queensland captain Darren Locker was gracious in defeat, accepting that the series needs two teams to continue its grip on Australia's sporting landscape.

"I'd like to thank Danny Buderus and the NSW team for another tough, tight-fought State of Origin series," Lockyer said.

"On behalf of (Queensland coach) Mal (Meninga) and the players, I'd just like to thank all the Queenslanders.

"Unfortunately we couldn't get the clean sweep ... but without your support and you passion for this team, we wouldn't be where we are today."

Both sides played attacking football in the opening stanza, both seemingly intent on adopting an expansive game plan to stretch the opposition from side to side.

With such dynamic play on offer, it was perhaps a surprise that neither side scored until the 21st minute, when NSW wing Jarryd Hayne crossed for his second try of the series to cap a period of sustained Blues pressure.

Buderus and his halfback, Brett Kimmorley, put Copper into a gap on the blind side, and the centre then worked space for Hayne inside Tate. The wing still had plenty of work to do, but he exposed poor tackles from Justin Hodges and Karmichael Hunt to cross in the corner.

The Blues were in total control at this point – with Queensland in injury strife, with Johnson and Inglis already absent– but the Maroons nevertheless hit back almost immediately.

As NSW playmakers Buderus and Kimmorley played an integral role in their side’s score, so Maroons rake Cameron Smith and halfback Johnathan Thurston worked the oracle for the home side. They created space for Hunt, who eschewed the chance to turn on the afterburners in favour of drawing the defence and passing for Hodges to cross untouched.

King, who may have played his last Origin game before heading to the UK, said the Blues were not disgraced in losing the series.

"It was awesome," he said.

"We're a good a team ... we only just lost this series, we didn't get flogged."

"We talked about that.

"We didn't want to lose 3-0, and we spoke about that all week."

Source: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22018268-23214,00.html
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parragirl · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 1:30 am Post subject:

QLD may have won the series 2-1 but what a great game it was by NSW to win game 3. The whole team played well and Jarryd Hayne scored an awesome first try who had a good game. Matt King did well to score a try and so did Hazem EL Masri who was playing in his debut State Of Origin game who also did well to convert all 3 tries for NSW.

NSW should have had this side for the first two games but anyway congrats to the Blues for putting in a great effort to win game 3.

QLD 4
NSW 18
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Skyhunter · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject:

Yeah a good effort from the Blues well done boys it was good to hear a quiet crowd up there lol and who said the Blues don't show pride and passion.

Lord Heirden · Junior Player Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 11

After game three feels like qld lost the series..As a qld fan i'm quite scared of next year if NSW has this same team...

Skyhunter · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:24 pm Post subject: