Selected out of obscurity, Tim Glasby had just entered play when James Maloney walked past him in a lacklustre effort before linking with Brett Morris, who finished like a true professional.
Queensland scored first in the second half of State of Origin Game II - as they had to.
"So I thought he could have been better in those areas".
Despite making a couple of early blunders, Hayne looked risky with the ball in hand and when he got his chance, he made the most of it, strolling through the ragged Queensland defence to score in front of the Blues supporters and replicate his 2014 pose.
"I've got no doubt that they will try and limit Fifita's night but in saying that, we've got a lot of other players that can hurt them". "I just can't find any superlatives that speak highly enough of what he's done".
After the Blues handily blew their State Of Origin lead last night, noted New South Welshman Andrew Johns had some choice words for his beloved squad - and majority involved resentment at the fact they didn't fuck Johnathan Thurston's shoulder up even further.
Queensland's back three, with Gagai, Slater and Holmes, is far more risky than what it was in game one and that is a danger for the Blues.
"Queensland have certainly got to regain the pride lost in game one".
"The (Maroons) know they have to win this one and it won't be easy playing on New South Wales' home ground where they don't particularly have a good record", Lewis said.
Despite the end of an era for Thurston, coach Kevin Walters this week said the match wouldn't only be about him.
They will really try to do a job on James Tedesco, who really put in a 10-out-of-10 performance in game one.
Lakers draft Lonzo Ball No.2 overall
LaVar Ball talked his son Lonzo becoming a Laker into existence, and he might just do the same about next year's playoffs. When asked if his father might tone it down now that the family dream has been spoken into reality, Ball laughed.
In the opening exchanges, Aaron Woods crunched Holmes with a head-on car-crash of a tackle and Hayne showed his defensive prowess by sweeping Will Chambers into touch after a slick Maroons move, but it was the Queenslanders who scored first. He smashed Valentine Holmes on his first ever run and forced the ball free in a statement that declared he was there to lead the pack.
This game is enormous, make no bones about it.
"That's the best thing about it. when I was coming in and playing with guys who had played 10 years of Origin it was pretty daunting at first".
But the return of Origin warriors Thurston and Slater may tilt the balance as they reunite with influential Melbourne Storm pair Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk to recharge the Maroons.
Pressed on whether the game would descend into Wrestlemania, Walters replied: "I haven't seen Hulk Hogan around".
Thurston has been a champion in every arena he has been in and Queensland will lift, it always does for its champions, and it needs to tomorrow night.
Stunned by yet another Queensland fightback, to send this year's Origin campaign to a decider in Brisbane, NSW centre Josh Dugan conceded the hosts had been guilty of "putting the cue in the rack", while captain Boyd Cordner pointed the finger at breaches of discipline for letting slip what had appeared destined to be a series-clinching victory.
Right on the bell, Queensland crossed the line but were held up in goal.
I think it's going to be that close.
It's going to be a blockbuster.
Comments