Five Metre Gap: Origin 1 Wrap
Like the way of the five metre gap in defence, looking at the points you may have missed out of Origin I. Wednesday night’s game was an 11-10 triumph to the Mal Meninga-coached Queensland side.
Early in the second half both sides were woeful with one period seeing NSW fail to find touch from a penalty. In the ensuing set, when hard on attack, Queensland passed the ball over the touchline as Bronco Darius Boyd looked a good chance to cross the stripe.
This period should have bought more dominance for Queensland. As well as Will Chambers 55th minute try the visitors should really have gotten more from a period which saw them have 14 sets to the Blues nine in the first quarter of the second stanza. Queensland finished with 22 sets in the half compared to 16 for NSW.
Despite numerous left-offs, when Queensland wasn’t able to find a try to make the result comfortable, NSW failed twice when having the chance to secure a late lead after inexplicably running away from the middle of the field late in a set making a field goal attempt a low percentage option before looking to Josh Dugan (who missed his attempt.) This was despite Trent Hodkinson, who has 11 field goals to his name in the last five seasons, looking to be in perfect position in the first raid for a field goal.
For all the talk of the NSW forwards muscling Queensland up the middle only two appeared in the top nine players of metres gained. Aaron Woods (5th – 159 metres, 17 runs) with Ryan Hoffman (9th – 125 metres, 15 runs) were the only players to really make a dent in the ‘Maroon Wall.’ A further damning statistic was Josh Dugan was the only other Blues player to feature in the top nine with 193 metres from 17 runs.
Given the side which has won game one in the series has gone on to with 24 of 33 series and given Queensland are unlikely to squander as many chances on attack again it’s hard to see the shield staying in Sydney this year.
Read more of Hamish’s blogs here (From the sideline of sport)
Hamish Neal
Latest posts by Hamish Neal (see all)
- Five Metre Gap: Rd 12 Wrap - May 31, 2016
- Five Metre Gap: Rd 11 Wrap - May 24, 2016
- Five Metre Gap: Rd 10 Wrap - May 17, 2016
