Bloody Blues

Another year - another disgraceful Queensland performance in the opening game, going down to NSW 25-12. Once again Shaun Berrigan showed he doesn't have what it takes to be a top quality half - particularly in combination with Ben Bennett Iken. As with the Bronco's for most of this year, when Queensland needed some organization in their play - there was none coming from their halfs combination. There were too many times where poor kicks on the fifth or random one-off the ruck runs occurred. They lacked any kind of organisational structure in attack, particularly in the later stages of the half. The centres were again a big problem. With both Hodges (When he wasn't running into touch) and Bowman injuring themselves during the match and Tate MIA (as he has been for a few weeks now), there was a big hole in the centre of the Queensland team. It's a side indictment on a backline when the runs out wide from your second rowers are more dangerous that your centres...

Two back who deserve a wrap are Hegarty and Sing, who along with Lockyer were outstanding in defence. Sing in particular was put under constant pressure and never one slipped up. Hegarty as well produced a number of outstanding runs with the limited ball he had. If nothing else - the leading try scorer for the NRL this season - Rhys Wesser - has to come into the side for Game 2. Shifting Sing and Hegarty into the centres and placing Wesser and Schifoske (another unlucky omission from the side) on the wings would produce a much more dangerous attacking side that we currently posses. Of course - all this is conditional upon Queensland finding a decent half-back or five-eight for the next game. The Iken-Berrigan combo just doesn't cut the mustard.

In the forward pack I don't think there was too many problems. I do think however that serious consideration should be given to Andrew Gee's place in the side. While he's been a fine servant for Queensland for a number of seasons and is still as brutal as they come with prop forwards, I don't know if he can still cut it for the full 80 minutes. With interchanges being as precious as they are at this level, maybe a player like Travis Norton would have been of more use coming off the bench in his place.

Maybe I'll be in a better frame of mind in the morning, but they're my depressing thoughts on the first State of Origin match for this year.