State of Origin Game I tackle: All the likes and dislikes from the Blues’ win over Queensland

Phil Gould may have been fuming over the decision to sin bin NSW star Brian To’o right before halftime, but the bunker got it right. See all the likes and dislikes from State of Origin I.

The video bunker made the right call to send Brian To’o to the sin bin.

To’o tackled Xavier Coates in the air while the Maroons winger was contesting the ball while attempting to score a try.

There has been growing commentary over the rule, with calls to scrap it.

Phil Gould was pretty vocal about it on Wednesday night.

“They’re fighting for the ball in possession. I think that’s a ridiculous interpretation of the rule … and it’s not a sin bin in an origin match,” Gould said on Channel 9.

Except it’s not a ridiculous rule, not when it’s designed to protect the vulnerable player in the air.

So scrapping the rule entirely is not an option.

Even amending the rule so as to allow To’o to make contact with Coates while both are in the air “contesting” is problematic.

It just adds another rule that will need to be determined by interpretation … when is a player contesting or not contesting? When does a contest then turn into an illegal tackle in the air?

It opens a can of worms, and only adds more pressure on the bunker.

DISLIKES

MAROONS RE-THINK

Kalyn Ponga and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are supposed to be x-factor type players.

Harry Grant, the wiliest of hookers and Cameron Munster unpredictable.

But none were really able to create any real spark for the Maroons in Wednesday night’s loss.

Coach Billy Slater has already blooded Robert Toia, only after 10 NRL games, and the Roosters rookie held his own against Latrell Mitchell.

It might be time for Slater to turn to another teenage sensation in Cowboys livewire Jaxon Purdue.

Purdue is also only 19 but his talent and ability to create in attack is undeniable. If a place isn’t found for him in the outside backs, he could be an option from the bench where he can cover a number of positions in the backline.

TINO TROUBLES

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was overwhelmed with emotion in his Maroons’ return on Wednesday night after missing last year’s series with injury.

He was in tears right before kick-off.

But did his emotions get the better of him?

Did Tino Fa'asuamaleaui’s emotions get the better of him? Picture: Getty Images

The Maroons forward’s discipline was poor early on, giving away two penalties with niggle in the ruck only putting pressure on his side in the opening exchanges.

But Queensland’s discipline was poor overall. It’s definitely an area that Billy Slater will have to address before game two in Perth.

Nothing spoke to how frustrated the Maroons were in the first half than the silly penalty Harry Grant gave away in the first half.

The hooker was penalised for kicking the ball while Zac Lomax was trying to play the ball. If he’d done that in club land? Craig Bellamy would be fuming.

CLEARY’S WOBBLES

Penrith champion Nathan Cleary is kicking at almost 92 per cent at club level.

But on the Wednesday night, the Blues halfback missed three kicks from the four he attempted in the first half.

He even shanked a field-goal attempt when the Blues led 18-6 with three minutes left on the clock.

Coach Laurie Daley took the kicking tee away from Cleary in the second half, handing it to Zac Lomax but he too had no luck.

Expect there to be an epic goalkicking battle the next time the Blues head into camp.

Daley has a slew of capable goal-kickers to choose from outside of Cleary, including Lomax, Latrell Mitchell, Mitchell Moses and Stephen Crichton.

The Blues struggled with their goal kicking in Origin I, with Nathan Cleary missing three conversion attempts in a row. Picture: Getty Images

LIKES

CAPTAIN’S KNOCK

There are few as worthy to captain NSW than Isaah Yeo.

The four-time premiership winner produced a classic captain’s knock in the series opener, leaving it all out on the field on Wednesday night.

He’s not the kind of captain that needs to say too much but as Nathan Cleary revealed before the series opener, when Yeo talks everyone listens.

But Yeo has always been the kind of player that lets his football talk the loudest

The inspirational lock forward finished with 126 metres and made 26 tackles, rolling his sleeves up to take the tough carries all game long.

But he wasn’t alone, debutant Max King had a commendable first outing, producing exactly what he was brought in to do. A no nonsense performance, finishing with 98 metres and making 19 tackles, with zero misses.

NSW skipper Isaah Yeo produced yet another inspirational performance. Picture: Getty Images

TERRIFIC TO’O

Brian To’o spent 10 minutes in the sin bin but that in no way dented his impact at Suncorp Stadium.

To’o has battled injury this year in a Panthers side struggling for form, leaving many to question whether the blockbusting winger should even be selected in game one.

He just silenced those detractors in a massive way.

To’o finished with a game-high 200 metres in a performance that has cemented his place on the wing for the Blues.

Fellow winger Zac Lomax also finished with a huge 177 metres and made four tackle busts.

And together the duo made all of the Blues’ three linebreaks.

Despite spending time in the sin bin, Brian To’o still had a massive impact for the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

HISTORY HOODOO

In the 43 years that State of Origin has been a three-game series, the state that has won the opening clash has gone on to win on 31 occasions.

So a win in the series opener for the Blues might seem like a massive leg-up.

But not when it comes at Suncorp Stadium.

In the past two series that have opened at Suncorp Stadium, the winner has actually gone on to lose the series.

The Maroons won the opener in 2019, and the Blues in 2017 but both went on to concede the series with losses in games two and three.

The Blues will be filled with confidence after another win at Suncorp Stadium and are poised to break that hoodoo.

Originally published as State of Origin Game I tackle: All the likes and dislikes from the Blues’ win over Queensland