Whenever I watch the cowboys, he generally disappoints me / goes missing when they're chasing a game. I remember being at Souths V Cowboys 2 years ago, Cowboys 6 up with 90 seconds to go, Thursty boy throws a 90 yard interception for souths to tie it & win it in extra time. I couldn't believe an Australian test standard scrum half would do such a thing!

It's better than SL for the small things - no ridiculous sending offs for a punch-up, less penalties which creates a far better spectacle anyway, even restarting the game after a try and for dropouts the game is stopped so no time is wasted.

Mason would get taken to the cleaners big time unless he did him with a cheap shot whilst Gallen was held down by a number of defenders,Mason could never be classed as a tough guy

No way Thurston should have played today, but I guess he can console himself with a consecutive games record as a result of that nightmare.

QLD had no idea how to use Inglis in the centres for some reason, Melbourne's big 3 are all in poor form, sadly I doubt that will carry on until the end of the season.

Lewis was easily man of the match, Hayne showed that the NSW selectors not putting him at full back for the past 4-5 years has been idiotic, they're clearly blinded by the joke of a team, the Eels.

Finally, what is with the lack of props?

Always enjoy the intensity though, and so glad NSW took the opener, finally makes things interesting again!

Little Issac Luke gave a decent account of himself last time he got into it with Gallen, as hard as it is to believe!

NSW didn't seem to mind picking a 17th man that played no minutes. We could always pick Ryan Baileys did and bring him on for a few minutes if we need to put Gallen in his place

I think JT is just having a bad season by his standards but also didn't I hear in the interviews after the match that his missus is expecting a baby at the weekend? Maybe the reason why if so.

IMO it was the fastest and exciting match I have seen on TV this year. I also prefer watching NRL matches to superleague. The PTB isn't necesary slower, you have to earn the right to win the ruck. In comparison the players over here have to get off quickly or they are penalised.

Hayne was brilliant today.

As mentioned it wasn't up the quality if some origins however it was still intense.

I thought it was pretty average, Qld were terrible. They had no structure, just one out footy apart from the lead up to Boyd's try which was brilliant.

S.O.O are my favourite games of the year, the intensity is immense.

Blues should have won by more than eight, their ball retention was poor, however, I thought the Maroons underestimated N.S.W from the off, probably due to their years of dominance, but they were the better side in the second half.

Looking forwards to game two, but I think Queensland will level it up.

I thought it was fast but not a great or a high quality game. It was kept close by NSW's inability to find the killer blow. I thought the halves on both sides were fairly poor and whilst Gallen, Bird and Lewis were excellent for NSW I thought Queenslands pack were fairly poor.
By SOO standards I thought it was a poor game.

I wasn't impressed at all, Queensland's 5 drives and bomb the young winger tactic would have looked average in Leighs league.
Thurston and Cronk did nothing, I wasn't even impressed with NSW either, they just wern't as bad as Queensland and had a scrum half playing.
Luke Lewis was the most impressive player on the pitch, I said last week on a thread he was the Australia player i'm most frightened of.

People on here seem unaware that Cronk is out of form at Melbourne. He carried his Melbourne form into SoO.

Jonathan Thurston was obviously not fit. He did nothing the whole game. He should not have played and could have been replaced by Daly Cherry-Evans or Scott Prince.

With both halves incapable of playing to their ability, it is no wonder that Inglis got little opportunity and that NSW won.

Nate Myles putting Bailey to shame for sh*thouse-ry, deseved his smack in the face.

Call me easily pleased but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The intensity and collision was way above any of SL's biggest games regardless of any lack of quality some people are suggesting.

I do think NSW missed a trick in not putting the game to bed with such a tight score line but what a great game.

Ive gotta say also for all its budget red computer graphics Premier Sports showing the full Channel 9 coverage is much better than Skys efforts watching Brian Carney stutter is way through the build up. And how good is the coverage in Oz with all the ex-players.

Cant wait for game 2!

Completely agree with all of this! Although the game wasn't cram packed with flair rugby, the level of intensity and the speed of which the attacking players hit the defensive line is what makes SOO the sports highest standard.

As for the coverage - first class - they really do know how to build it up and add to the spectacle. Excellent pre-game build up, insightful and energetic commentary (including actually calling what's happening on the field - rather than just giving their opinion on what should/shouldn't be happening), and then great use of ex-players for a bit of punditry.

Sky could learn alot from it. In game, We need people who actually talk the viewer through what's happening on the pitch, and then use an ex player/coach to break down the details on how gaps were created, how the structures being used are affecting attack and defence. Stevo and Eddie spend too much time giving their opinions and fawning over their flavour of the month (either a team or a certain player) rather than just calling the facts.