June 16, 2008

RUGBY league has mourned the passing of one of the giants of State of Origin, Dick Turner, who died in Brisbane this morning after a long illness, aged 76.

"Tosser" Turner never actually played for Queensland, yet he was the heart and soul of the Queensland State of Origin sides that would change the face of interstate rugby league.

He was the man the Queensland players cheered the loudest after their series levelling victory at Suncorp Stadium this year as an ailing Turner (named only the night before as the Queensland Team of the Century manager) was wheeled into the room for what would be his last ever Origin outing.

In some ways the former Brisbane Norths and Redcliffe player, and Redcliffe coach and chairman, set the scene for Origin in the early 1960s when he lured a young Artie Beetson from Roma to Redcliffe.

In 1982 Origin moved from a one-off event to an all-or-nothing series, with Beetson the coach and Dick "Tosser" Turner the new co-manager.

To this day it’s hard to put a finger on just what he did, but champions from Wally Lewis to Darren Lockyer will attest to the influence he had in cultivating a unique Queensland Origin spirit.

Dick Turner’s life-long commitment to the game in Queensland also saw him as Chairman of the South Queensland Crushers between 1995 and 1998.

In 1996 he stepped aside as Queensland manager and a year later became the first Chairman of FOGS (a post he retained until his death), the association of Queensland Former Origin Greats who continue to raise tens of thousands of dollars for charity each year.

"He was a man of tremendous passion when it came to Queensland and Rugby League, yet he had enormous compassion for any individual who needed a hand," ARL Chief Executive, Mr Geoff Carr, said.

"Dick was one of those guys who had a smile for everyone and he understood the camaraderie of football teams like few others."

National Rugby League Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said that one only had to look at the esteem in which Dick Turner was held by so many champion players to realise how special he was:

"You had to be inspired by the way the biggest names in Queensland’s Origin history gathered at the Queensland Team of the Century Dinner and the FOGS lunch in Brisbane to wish him well.

"He was a man who had an enormous impact on their lives and on rugby league."

June 23, 2008

GREG Bird is almost certain to miss State of Origin III with scans confirming the Cronulla utility had suffered a ruptured posterior capsule in his left knee.

The injury is expected to sideline Bird for between 2-3 weeks, leaving him next to no chance of being selected in the New South Wales side for the Origin decider on July 2.

Scans also revealed Bird had suffered bone bruising around the knee after coming down awkwardly in the first half of Sunday's dramatic 16-14 win over Parramatta.

Both the anterior and posterior ligaments were intact.

Meanwhile Bird's Cronulla teammate Brett Kimmorley was cleared of any fractures following scans on his left eye socket and cheekbone.

Kimmorley came off second best when collected high and late by Eels prop Fuifui Moimoi in the final minute on Sunday.

The veteran half-back is expected to be fit to play in Monday night's match against Canberra.

Moimoi was charged with a grade one contrary conduct charge as a result of the hit and faces a one-match stint on the sidelines.

June 23, 2008

DESPERATE New South Wales selectors look set to roll the dice and throw Sydney Roosters teen Mitchell Pearce into the half-back hotseat for next month's Origin decider.

Pearce looms as the selection bolter with the Blues still reeling from a heavy game two defeat and the unavailability of backline stars Peter Wallace, Greg Bird and Mark Gasnier.

Sources close to the NSW camp claim 19-year-old Pearce will be named to partner Roosters teammate Braith Anasta in the halves when the side is announced in Sydney Tuesday morning.

Blues selectors are hoping their club combination will help ignite a Blues backline rendered redundant in Origin II at Suncorp Stadium.

Pearce's inclusion would see him emulate the deeds of his famous father Wayne Pearce, who pulled on the sky blue 15 times and remains the only man to captain and coach the Blues to series wins.

The Roosters youngster may not provide the only shock with Cronulla centre Ben Pomeroy believed to be a strong chance of beating out Joel Monaghan for a berth in the centres.

St George Illawarra medical officials claimed Gasnier was no chance of coming up in time for the July 2 encounter.

Bird was today ruled out for 2-3 weeks as a result of a ruptured posterior capsule and bone bruising in his left knee, the Cronulla lock devastated when delivered the news.

"It's pretty disappointing, hopefully the boys will get the job done next week," Bird said.

"When it first happened and I was on the ground, that (Origin III) was all I was really thinking about.

"I was pretty hopeful (this morning), it hadn't swelled up too much, it didn't feel too bad, I was walking around this morning.

"But the way the injury is, if it was too rushed, it could go the other way and keep me out longer.

Wallace ran at Broncos training and was still seeking a medical clearance in a bid to prove he had recovered from surgery to repair a ruptured testicle.

Despite Wallace's confidence, it is believed Blues selectors are concerned that the game one hero would not be able to do any contact work until next week, while it would also have been three weeks between games for the 22-year-old by the time Origin III rolled around.

"It's fine. It feels good and there's no pain," Wallace said.

"Hopefully the coach and medical staff will be happy to let me do that (avoid contact work until next week).

"I'm keen to play. I thought I went okay in the second game."

In the forwards, Newcastle prop Ben Cross looks likely to be reinstated to the front row after missing game two with a broken thumb.

It would present a show of faith by Blues selectors with Manly's Test front rower Brent Kite and departing Dragon Jason Ryles arguably both in better form than the Knights hard man.

Just who will drop out is less clear, with Steve Simpson, Anthony Tupou, Anthony Laffranchi and Craig Fitzgibbon all battling it out for the final three places on the interchange bench alongside Kurt Gidley.

Once again Fitzgibbon's chances of re-selection are boosted by his goalkicking ability, with second string kickers Gasnier and Wallace both set to miss out.

The other change should see Jarryd Hayne return to the wing in place of Steve Turner, Hayne having been ruled out of game two due to suspension.

Teenager Mitchell Pearce, son of former New South Wales captain Wayne Pearce, has earned a call-up to the Blues team for the State of Origin decider.

The 19-year-old Roosters halfback replaces the injured Peter Wallace for the July 2 clash, with club halves partner Braith Anasta also getting the nod as Greg Bird's replacement.

NSW coach Craig Bellamy said Pearce and Anasta's combination at club level would be a bonus for the Blues.

"It's obviously a pretty early promotion I suppose into this level of footy for him," said Bellamy of Pearce.

"He has been under the spotlight from us for a little bit.

"It's a bit of a bonus for us if they've both played for the same club.

"If they played for separate clubs they would be in the team in the same circumstances."

The other changes to the team that was crushed 30-0 in Brisbane in game two are Canberra's Joel Monaghan, coming into the centres to replace the injured Mark Gasnier, and Ben Cross, regaining his place in the squad at the expense of Newcastle teammate Steve Simpson.

Jarryd Hayne also returns from suspension to replace Steve Turner on the wing.

Willie Mason has been moved into the front row with Craig Fitzbibbon to play a wider role in the second row.

After bouncing back from NSW's 18-10 game one win in Sydney, Queensland is looking to take a third straight series win with a victory at Homebush's ANZ Stadium on Wednesday week.

The NSW team for State of Origin III:
1. Brett Stewart (Sea Eagles)
2. Jarryd Hayne (Eels)
3. Joel Monaghan (Raiders)
4. Matt Cooper (Dragons)
5. Anthony Quinn (Storm)
6. Braith Anasta (Roosters)
7. Mitchell Pearce (Roosters)
8. Willie Mason (Roosters)
9. Danny Buderus (Knights)(c)
10. Brett White (Storm)
11. Craig Fitzgibbon (Roosters)
12. Ryan Hoffman (Storm)
13. Paul Gallen (Sharks)

14. Kurt Gidley (Knights)
15. Ben Cross (Knights)
16. Anthony Laffranchi (Titans)
17. Anthony Tupou (Roosters)

Queensland has named an unchanged line-up to face the NSW Blues in the Origin decider at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday week.

Fresh from their 30-0 demolition job in Origin II, Maroon selectors have stuck with an identical starting line-up to the one which took the field at Suncorp Stadium.

Melbourne hooker Cameron Smith will again captain the team in the absence of inspirational Broncos pivot Darren Lockyer.

The Maroons face a tough task at Sydney's ANZ Stadium where they have won just one match and drawn another in 13 games.

Tony Archer has been retained as referee for the Origin series decider despite criticism from the losers in the first two matches.

Queensland Maroons

1. Karmichael Hunt - Broncos
2. Darius Boyd - Broncos
3. Greg Inglis - Storm
4. Brent Tate - Warriors
5. Israel Folau - Storm
6. Johnathan Thurston - Cowboys
7. Scott Prince - Titans
8. Steven Price - Warriors
9. Cameron Smith (c) - Storm
10. Petero Civoniceva - Panthers
11. Michael Crocker - Storm
12. Ashley Harrison - Titans
13. Dallas Johnson - Storm

14. Billy Slater - Storm
15. Ben Hannant - Broncos
16. Nate Myles - Roosters
17. Sam Thaiday - Broncos

Coach: Mal Meninga

Queensland has won the State of Origin decider, edging out a gutsy New South Wales side 16-10 in an enthralling game three at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

In a terrific finale to the series, the Maroons came out on top to deny NSW captain Danny Buderus a series win in his final game in Blues colours.

The game had everything – end to end action, gritty defence, injuries, brawls – before Queensland skipper Cameron Smith won the right to lift the State of Origin shield for the first time.

New South Wales led 10-8 at the end of the first half despite a first-half double to Queensland’s Israel Folau, with Matt Cooper scoring a try and Craig Fitzgibbon kicking three goals.

But a second-half try to Billy Slater swung the momentum the Maroons’ way, and the Blues couldn't breach the Queensland defence to get back into the contest.

In rugby league’s ultimate battle of nerves, it looked like the Maroons blinked first when Karmichael Hunt spilled a pass on his own 30-metre line to give NSW a great attacking opportunity.

The Maroons gave away the game’s first penalty with a high shot from Petero Civoniceva – and then all hell broke loose.

It was suddenly an Origin game of old, with players from both teams swarming in, ready to throw punches after Kurt Gidley – a late inclusion into the starting lineup – shoved Civoniceva.

In fact, there was little more than a few pushes and shoves between the teams before Fitzgibbon slotted the penalty goal, but the 80,000-strong Sydney crowd was thrilled by the prospect of a fiery Origin clash.

But that excitement quickly turned to despair as Blues winger Anthony Quinn – such a rock solid performer in game one – dropped a simple bomb to allow Folau to score in right corner.

Johnathan Thurston’s conversion attempt went wide, and the Maroons led 4-2 after five minutes.

Gidley was heavily involved in the early stages and he created the Blues’ first try, taking the ball to the line before getting an offload away to send Matt Cooper crashing over out wide.

Fitzgibbon added the extras from the sideline to give the home side a four-point buffer.

There was worse news for the Queenslanders, with Prince ruled out of the match after just 15 minutes with a suspected fractured arm.

Thurston took over the playmaking duties and soon laid on Folau’s second try with a pinpoint bomb, with the Melbourne Storm whizkid making an incredible leap over Quinn to snatch the bomb before stretching backwards in order to slam the ball down.

It was a stunning try, leveling the scores at 8-8, and that’s where the scoreline stayed after Thurston missed his second conversion.

Ftizgibbon restored NSW’s lead with another penalty goal after a surging 25-metre run from outgoing captain Buderus.

Queensland has one final raid in the half, sending the ball through the hands down the left for Darius Boyd to run clear, but Boyd’s scrappy final pass infield went to ground just out of reach of Hunt.

Blues enforcer Paul Gallen gave away a needless penalty after the halftime break by taking out Thurston late – and the world’s best halfback finally got a goal attempt on target (from right in front) to level the scores.

The teams came to blows – for real this time – after Nate Myles speared Ben Cross into the turf head first. After the scrap faded, Myles was put on report by referee Tony Archer before immediately being benched by Mal Meninga.

Michael Crocker joined Prince on the bench after taking the full force of a Mitchell Pearce bomb to the face – the ball crashing into Crocker’s ear and leaving the Melbourne enforcer dazed.

The Maroons may have been losing players but the ones they had left were getting the job done, with Thurston splitting the NSW defence before sending a flying Billy Slater in to score the visitors’ third.

The Blues continued to bombard the Queensland line but Pearce couldn’t find the last-tackle play to unlock the Maroons defence.

NSW had one last throw of the dice in the final minute, with a full set inside Queensland’s 20 metres, but when Archer called a Braith Anasta pass forward the game slipped out of their grasp.

There would be no fairytale finish for Buderus, with Queensland running out Origin champions for the third successive year.

Queensland 16
Tries: Folau 2, Slater
Goals: Thurston 2

New South Wales 10
Tries: Cooper
Goals: Fitzgibbon 3

what a week for me, got kendale bale at horsham cup then qld wins series 2-1, im on fire on the punt

Well Done Apollo.