By Louis Anderson-Rich
Hello and welcome to Melbourne where we have State of Origin, Game 1 as Queensland and New South Wales do battle once more.
It’s been a long time between drinks for NSW, six series in fact. They will be doing everything in their power to take Game 1 tonight and try turnaround Queensland’s dominance of recent years.
We’ll bring you video live updates throughout the match, including video highlights of all the big plays and tries.
Make sure you refresh your page occasionally. We’ll add VIDEO COMING SOON when we’re cutting the highlights and VIDEO UP when it’s ready to be viewed.
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LIVE COMMENTARY: Queensland 18 – 10 NSW
80 Min: The final whistle has gone and Queensland have won it 18-10!
79 Min: NSW still attacking as the minutes count down…20 metres out…on to Stewart who doesn’t go anywhere out to Farah, little kick in but Darius Boyd bats it dead.
77 Min: Queensland still attacking, Thurston with a kick across to Inglis who taps it back, Boyd picks it up and he’s been shown the sideline.
74 Min: Thurston lands the conversion.
72 Min: The Blues players are furious, Gallen just dropped an F-Bomb which was picked up by the Ref’s microphones…Controversy here at the Etihad…
72 Min: Hang on though it looks as though Inglis has lost the ball because a boot from Farah meaning Inglis has kncocked it on…But no TRY is given!
72 Min: Queensland win another 6 40 metres out…Inglis is running well, he steps one, then two, Queensland are 9 out…Thurston to Slater to Tate on the wing…final tackle…Cronk with the kick Slater is up it’s knocked back down and Inglis has picked it up and scored! TRY! VIDEO COMING SOON
71 Min: Queenslands forwards pack is starting to show signs of tiring…Jennings with space down the left side! Tries to step Slater but Slater does well…and NSW have lost the ball in the middle of the field.
69 Min: NSW 30 out…Pearce to Harrison who gives it to Jenning…Farah to Stewart and on to his brother…now the boot of Robbie Farah Jennigns has gone down off the ball and Tate claims it.
67 Min: Smith’s kick has been knocked down and it goes back, Carney gets it but he loses it to Thurston! But Thurston has knocked it on…that was a real chance to break-away for Queensland.
67 Min: Long way out to win for NSW they have space down the right side but they kick and Slater regathers.
66 Min: Thurston and Smith link up well…kick from Cronk but Uate’s there to clean up.
64 Min: Gallen to Pearce who gives a quick pass to Hayne who does well as he gets away rom 2 defenders…NSW on attack, Queensland are meeting them fast though…kick from Carney, comes off a Queensland player and falls to Brett Stewart who throws a massive pass to Uate but he is tackled and that was last tackle. Tate with a quick tap streams away down the left side NSW under the pump right now…
63 Min: Queensland from within their own half…they’re really up against a strong and determined NSW defence here Queensland can score from nywhere though, they are very dangerous.
62 Min: Justin Hodges loses a boot and Cronk kicks on the last…Uate is back their and he has run…legs get taken out from under him and he’s hit the elbow of Cameron Smith, that’s nasty…
62 Min: Bit of a stoppage as Williams goes down…he gets back up though and he’s ok. Queensland to run it out from their own tryline…
61 Min: Queensland drop out…it hasn’t gone that far…NSW over the 20…Carney with a neat pass to Williams who steps out of one and fends off another…Lewis with a crack! He pulls up short though…gone out to Williams who also has a crack but he’s tackled and that was NSW’s last so they hand it over.
61 Min: No try is awarded as Thaiday is judged to have touched the ball down first.
60 Min: Jennings down the side with room to run! He’s done well to skip away from one and now kicks across into the path of Brett Stewart, ball dribbles over the tryline and Thaiday looks like he will gather but no! Stewart in with a touch! It’s going to go to the TMO.
58 Min: Queensland with a chance to run now… Matt Gillett almost busts through but can’t Thurston puts a kick in and looks to regather now NSW with room to move but they’ve fumbled it…luckily Uate picks it up.
57 Min: Queensland are just forced to kick at the moment but it’s a good one from Thurston and NSW are right back in their own half with the football.
56 Min: Paul Gallen is caught up in the middle of the traffic…NSW haven’t got any forward momentum at the moment but here’s a kick from Carney and it’s another weak one caught easily.
55 Min: Queensland on their own 30…Cronk kicks, awkward bounce but Stewart picks it up…
54 Min: Farah now to Tony Williams who makes good ground…30 metres out NSW. Carney across to Stewart now to Morris…Uate with another step but he’s tied up. 10 metres out…Stewart with an offload to Uate again… final tackle, Carney with a weak kick and it’s Brent Tate again to bring it down.
52 Min: Carney decides to take the shot at goal from that penalty…Carney with the kick…40 metres out and it’s missed but he’s made it dead. Queensland were under the pump so to not kick for touch was a very interesting move that hasn’t paid off.
51 Min: Queenland kick…taken by Uate…he gives a goose but doesn’t get past anyone…Morris makes a good run…Stewart now no one in support though… and Harrion gives away a penalty, his second of the night.
50 Min: NSW attacking now and Hayne is running well he skips away from two tackles…NSW 30 out. Here’s Pearce on to Gallen. 19 out. Carney puts it to the corner but Tate goes up and again makes the ball safe.
48 Min: Queensland running now, good contribution from Smith…Hannant with another punishing hit up…Queensland on the halfway line. Here’s the ball to Cronk who’s through and back to Slater who beats another, now to Thaiday but he’s knocked it on! Queensland are complaining after that because they feel Thaiday was tackeld before receiving the ball but it’s waved away.
46 Min: Jennings with the ball now and he bumps one off…they go down the short side with Bird who’s tied up, but he gets an offload away 10 out! But it’s gone to no one and out.
45 Min: NSW up on the halfway line…kick from Carney…former Warrior Brent Tate goes up and shows Slater how it’s done with a good take.
42 Min: NSW making some ground…they’re past the halfway line and Bird gets a ball away to Stewart…Carney with a kick…it’s high and Slater is under…he knocks it on! Falls into the hands of Jennings! And he’s over! TRY! VIDEO UP Carney from short range and he puts it over to add 2.
41 Min: good offload from Hannant to Slater. Queensland 30 out. High kick from Cronk but it’s an easy take for Brett Stewart.
41 Min: We’re underway as NSW kick deep to Queensland.
So both teams heading back out now…NSW to a superior amount of boos than Queensland…
40 Min: Thurston with another kick and it’s a replica of the first one as it curls meticulously around the posts, he adds the 2 and that’s halftime!
39 Min: Queensland very close to the line now, NSW Under the pump. Smith to Thurston and it’s out to Boyd again who goes over! TRY! VIDEO COMING SOON
38 Min: Pearce seems to be the chosen kicker for NSW after Carney’s last few failed attempts…Queensland on attack again…Cronk takes a big hit! He’s been upended and Greg Bird has been penalised and warned.
36 Min: Maroons go blindside to Inglis who gains good ground…now it’s Thurston, on to Slater…Hodges tries to find a way through but can’t…Smith up to Merrin whpo makes a strong run…Cronk puts a little kick in but Brett Stewart reads it perfectly and tidies up.
35 Min: Jennings has come back from the sin bin and takes his first hit…Carney with the ball now and he’s given it away! Scrum to Queensland
34 Min: Queensland 12 metres out from the line and Thurston dummies but can’t get through..now it’s Cronk, he puts a kick in buuuuut it’s gone dead.
33 Min: Carney kicks early and now it’s Boyd is running up…big tackle on him and he is down…
32 Min: Ashley Harrison gives away a penalty to NSW for holding on to long, and he gets a little shove as well…Carney’s kick hasn’t found touch though and now Queensland are right back on attack…Thaiday does well as he gets an offload away to Cronk…20 metres out…Thurston dummies, puts a kick in looking for Inglis but Uate is there on the line.
30 Min: Inglis bumps of Uate nicely…the first tackle never seems to stop him…Queensland 40 out…Cronk to Slater with another no-look pass…kick from Cronk…Uate fumbles but it’s picked up by Josh Morris.
29 Min: Inglis with a big hit up…Cronk and Thaiday link up to do well…gets it to Hodges who is picked up by the NSW defence but he’s ok..kick from Cronk is high but taken well by Uate
26 Min: Thurston with the kick…and it’s a beautiful curler to add the 2.
26 Min: Queensland 10 out, and a lovely passage of play has seen Darius Boyd go over after a brilliant no-look pass from Slater. TRY! VIDEO COMING SOON
25 Min: Gallen gets a great offload away to Carney but he throws it into the path of a back-tracking Queensland player who gives it to Slater who’s away through the line but the NSW defence catches up with him. Penalty to Queensland now.
24 Min: Queensland storming forwards here, long sweeping backline move that’s fallen to Tate in the corner! But he’s just been pushed out so no try.
23 Min: So after all that Jennings has been sin-binned. That’s unfortunate for NSW who were looking very good for another try. Queensland will try make it count.
20 Min: So Queensland on their own 20 metre line…Matt Scott cops a high tackle and but gets away…it’s spilling over now though! All in scrap! This is what we watch Origin for right? Amazing scenes from the pitch…Maroons were in numbers big time…VIDEO UP
19 Min: Merrin has come on for Tamou…NSW ploughing forward. Last tackle and Carney stabs through a nice little grubber that finds touch and gains some territory.
18 Min: Carney with a kick…falls to Cronk who has space…he runs through with a quick tap..and now Queensland are back in the NSW half and attacking strongly…Tate with a great jaunt down the right…12 out and Cronk kicks, it’s good but Hodges can’t get up for it and it’s adjudged knock on.
17 Min: So NSW on the attack from the penalty…Good one from Stewart then another from Pearce who slips through but tackled…now it’s Farah! And Farah’s over! Or is he?...no held up on the line.
15 Min: NSW aren’t making much ground at the moment, Queensland are tackling with a vengeance. But they concede a penalty and the touch finder from Carney is a good one.
14 Min: Queensland are on the counter now, started by Boyd he slipped out of run, sent it to Hodges and now Queensland are 40 out…Thurston finds a gap to pass to Inglis! He shrugs off one but is eventually forced out…Morris with the tackle.
13 Min: A replay has just shown the first punch thrown…VIDEO UP…it wasn’t strong but Thurston has gone down pretty easily.
12 Min: NSW are now 8 metres away after a good run out to the left…kick from Pearce but Inglis comes down safely with the ball.
10 Min: Farah has a decent run up the middle NSW 30 out, Carney kicks…Slater has missed it! And Queensland are tackled in behind the goal-line.
10 Min: Hodges with ball…kick to come from Cronk… and the kick is very long but it’s taken by the try-scorer Uate.
8 Min: Tamou runs at the line again, NSW making good ground. Gallenshort to Lewis who almost pumps through. Kick from Carney is high but Slater takes it brilliantly.
6 Min: Carney munches the kick and can’t add the 2.
6 Min: So we’re with the TMO at the moment…checking to see if it’s a knock on…TRY! First blood to NSW! VIDEO UP
5 Min: Tamou has got possession back for NSW and he’s made some good ground, NSW over the 50 now…outside the 30…Carney to Glen Stewart who can’t find a way through…15 Metres out, Hodges quick off the line to make a good tackle but NSW still have it and it’s to Carney, cross field bomb and it looks like Uate has scored!
4 Min: Civoniceva, oldest man on the pitch tonight, goes into his first tackle…Inglis makes some ground but it’s booted away and now Boyd has run strong up to the 40 Metre line, lost ball and scooped up quickly by Jennings who makes a dash…but goes back for the original knock-on from Lewis.
3 Min: Pass floated out to Boyd who’s out with some space, cuts back inside, 20 metres away for NSW, kick from Carney but nothing comes of it.
2 Min: Queensland with the ball now…not a massive kick from the boot for Queensland.
1 Min: Cameron Smith kicks off and we are underway!... Paul Gallen with the first hit up…fitting for a captain really… James Tamou goes heavy into the Queensland defence…the boot of Carney is big.
For some reason the powers that be have decided to trot out a young girl dressed up as the adorable little ginger orphan ‘Annie’ to sing the national anthem…
And now it’s New South Wales’ turn to come out…and here’s the rendition of the Australian National Anthem…does Tamou know the words to it?
The Maroons are on the pitch to boos, cheers, a hotbed of noise really.
Tantalisingly close to kick-off now…
Phil Gould has a great chat out from on the pitch. Right down the barrel of the camera. NSW have 17 players who have said enough is enough. I think Gould’s picked his winners…
Pre-game entertainment has begun and it is Delta Goodrem giving the old lungs a work out…she’s sitting on top of the world apparently. Alright on with the footy soon please…
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Teams:
Queensland: Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Brent Tate, Jonathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Ashley Harrison, Sam Thaiday, Nate Myles, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (captain), Petero Civoniceva. Interchange: Matt Gillett, Dave Taylor, Ben Hannant, David Shillington.
New South Wales: Brett Stewart, Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Akuila Uate, Mitchell Pearce, Todd Carney, Greg Bird, Luke Lewis, Glenn Stewart, Paul Gallen (captain), Robbie Farah, James Tamou. Interchange: Jamie Buhrer, Ben Creagh, Trent Merrin, Tony Williams.
Pregame banter:
NSW playmaking duo Mitchell Pearce and Robbie Farah have vowed to seize the moment in Wednesday night's State of Origin series opener against Queensland.
Pearce and Farah sense the start of something special for the Blues and are relishing the chance to finally team up together in rugby league's greatest cauldron.
It's a partnership the pair have been yearning to develop for some time, with a dominant first-half display for City against Country last month simply reinforcing their belief that they could be good for one another and the Blues.
"We played together last year in the City-Country game and formed a really good combination," said Farah, who has had to bide his time behind Canterbury hooker Michael Ennis since 2009.
"From day one this year when we got into camp with the City side, it felt like that we'd been playing together for years.
"I think that showed especially the first half of that game that we really struck a good combination there.
"From that day, we stayed in touch texting each other, saying we both hoped we'd get the chance to play together in Origin and continue the combination we'd formed and now we've got that chance."
The dynamic duo might not have the years of understanding that their Queensland rivals enjoy and have some catching up to do to match the combination of Maroons No.7 Cooper Cronk and hooker Cameron Smith, who will look to transfer their well-versed Melbourne partnership onto the Origin stage.
But Farah's creativity out of dummy-half should allow Pearce to focus on his strengths - his running and organisational play - while the Wests Tigers skipper is hoping he won't be required to be the dominant presence he is forced to be at NRL level.
One of the criticisms levelled at Farah is suggestions he wasn't suited to Origin football and that he needed to be a central playmaking figure.
But Farah claims he only plays like that at the Tigers out of necessity, with the lack of a link man between him and five-eighth Benji Marshall.
"To be able to play with a genuine seven like Mitchell allows me to concentrate on my game as a nine and just do that job to the best of my ability," Farah said.
With six Origin games under his belt, Pearce says he needs to deliver on rugby league's biggest stage, but admits he's never been better placed to do so.
"I remember the first couple of games when you come in, you'd be scared on the way in not really knowing what to expect and a bit nervous about it all," Pearce said.
"I definitely feel a bit more relaxed - you get to know all the guys and know what it's about.
"Now I really just want to concentrate on staying relaxed and preparing as well as I can to win the game - that's what we're here for, no point just turning up I suppose."
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