Johnathan Thurston tries to tackle Tyson FrizellNSW v Queensland State of Origin rugby league match at ANZ Stadium, Homebush Australia. The Cowboys playmaker was clearly hampered by the injury but bravely played on despite being targeted by the Blues.
Walters and Blues coach Laurie Daley, one-time premiership-winning team-mates, are at war in the lead-up to Wednesday night's game two in Sydney, with the Maroons mentor concerned that constant focus on Queensland's slowing of the ruck will disadvantage his side. "We've got JT here who's shoulder was absolutely buggered", he said. There's your game plan. You just go at him all night. "I still remember when I was a kid back in Mackay, watching Origin and wanting to be a part of it". "I couldn't even hear myself think when those boos were going up when he was kicking".
"The way he was holding that shoulder, there's no way he can continue, which speaks volumes for Thurston and the way he played on".
But he didn't lay off the NSW centre on Thursday morning following the Hayne Plane's hot and cold performance in Queensland's 18-16 win in Origin II at ANZ Stadium. "They had all the running, their game plan was flawless", Johns said post-match. You can't do it to a side like Queensland.
If they thought the momentum of the series had changed they were in for a rude shock, as the Blues blasted back with three blistering tries.
The series will now go down to a third game which will take place at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium in three weeks time.
Instead, the ageing Queensland somehow remain on track for their 11th Origin triumph in 12 years.
James Maloney and James Tedesco combined to free Jarryd Hayne, who equalled Michael O'Connor as NSW's greatest tryscorer with his 11th try in 21 games.
Nsw skipper Boyd Cordner (left) and his Queensland counterpart Cameron Smith.
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The footage sparked protests across the United States and further exposed tensions between USA police and African Americans. That left a jury to decide whether they believed Yanez on the witness stand, and they opted Friday to acquit the officer.
"I can't think of anyone else you'd want to have a crack at that goal", he said.
Not many other wingers in the game could have done that and I think that the way he will start the sets for Queensland - where it really struggled in game one to get any fast play-the-balls - he will just rip through that middle with his leg speed and footwork.
Now they are on track to send off some of their biggest names as winners. When you see guys out there still willing to put bodies in front of blue jumpers when they shouldn't be on the field, it makes you want to do the same thing.
"We've won nothing. We've achieved nothing", Daley said.
I remember a game against the Bulldogs where I got out of dummy half and the game was in the balance.
Yet despite that, Queensland had a couple of late opportunities to post a late first half try, but the Blues came up with a couple of remarkable try savers to hold a 16-6 lead at halftime.
MITCHELL PEARCE: The maligned halfback had one of his best games in a losing team, but was unable to close out the match - again. 7.5.
"I've got a good range [of movement], so that's a positive sign".
The start of the contest was more stop-start than the previous, frantic Game One opener with debutant Valentine Holmes knocking on from his very first touch in Origin and James Maloney gifting two silly penalties in the opening 10 minutes to put the Blues under pressure.
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