Our distinguished New South Wales readers don’t have to take my word
for it. Even the commentator Queensland supporters love to hate – Gus
Gould – thought
the Maroons got the “rough end of the pineapple” in last night’s State
of
Origin classic in Melbourne.

But a couple of dodgy calls by the referee, and a dreadful one by the video
referee, should not detract from an epic game that was, as usual with State of Origin deciders,
in doubt right to the very end.

And the dodgy ref’s calls were not all against Queensland – one
at a critical stage near the end of the game was against the NSW Blues.

The AFL legend, James Hird, got it right before the game when he warned
that the “pitch” would be dodgy. And dodgy it was – how can the field in a
covered arena be as slippery as an ice skating rink?

The Maroons won 16-14 after seemingly being down and out with fifteen minutes
to go (4-14). Two late Maroon tries turned the tables and allowed the Maroons
to win the series, denying the Blues a first ever four series in a row win.

The Blues deserve credit for coming back from a whitewash in the second game –
and for a tremendous defensive effort that it took the skill, or genius, of
Darren Lockyer and Jonathan Thurston to crack when it really counted.

Today the plaudits are being handed out mainly to the Maroons captain, Lockyer,
but I thought it was Thurston who turned the game around. He will be a worthy
successor to Andrew Johns in the Kangaroos team for the tri nations matches at
the end of the season. Brent Tate was not far behind.

The Blues forward, Nathan Hindmarsh, was inspirational in a losing side – the
tackling he gets through often goes unnoticed but he gives 100% every
time.

Was the Melbourne State of Origin a success? Time will tell if it helps rugby
league make any real inroads into AFL heartland. That is a tall order.

But we will get some indication much sooner. The game was shown live in Melbourne, so
today’s ratings will be very interesting. And tomorrow night the Melbourne
Storm will play the Brisbane Broncos in a top of the table clash at Olympic
Park.

If the game does not draw significantly more than the 8,000 or so hardy souls
who turn up for the Storm home games then there must be real doubt about whether
there will be any benefit at all.

But State of Origin is alive and well. Roll on May/June/July 2007!