WOWSERS

what a game how on earth we are supopsed to compete on the international stage with the aussies god only knows.

billy slater got smashed from pillow to post , inglis is a freak , robbie farrah 66 tackels what a machine and darren lockeyer still has that awful voice.

great game nicely setup for game 3

just lumped a tonne on NSW series win!!!!!

That was a fantastic game - made me chuckle when Brian Carney described the Exiles as "our version of State of Origin."

Nearly chucked up me bagel when Parker was sitting there with a big hole in his leg.

Gallen ....awesome .England...watch and learn.

Guess one way could be using current UK based Auzzies/Kiwis instead of our own youth

Anyway the SOO rarely dissapoints

the only man in the world whos wider than he is taller

Parker didnt even look worried haha...

Can you imagine the kerfuffle if that had been a footballer? They'd have landed an air ambulance on the pitch.

I know B2k... There would have been tears

You cant beat origin as the games are so close normally, aided by the fact very little gets penalised and you can just lay in the ruck far longer than in a normal game and get away with it.

The Aussies don't lay in the ruck per se - they do however seem to get away with a lot of wrestling and working over after the tackle is complete. They've also mastered the art of spoiling as they get up from a tackle, then standing with their knees/legs impeding the tackled player - Cameron Smith is one of the best/worst offenders, depending on your point of view.

I don't like to see it, but the players seem to have just adapted to it and for the most part, they just get on with it.

For those who believe that the NRL is a weekly whirlwind of intense and skillful games by the way - I've just watched the Sharks v Titans game from last weekend; that was an error-strewn bore-fest that Antipophiles will have you believe only happens in SL. The Knights v Raiders game wasn't much better.

To be fair last week's conditions for most matches in the NRL was shockingly poor.

Whilst I agree those games were not cracking, if you watch most weeks you see some sublime skills from all teams and the intensity is fantastic. Every team more or less has one often 2 or 3 real top class players, even the poorer teams, who can come up with some stunning plays.

The NRL is still the yardstick by which all other rugby competitions need to be compared against.

Origin yesterday was by no means a classic in relation to skills and eye catching plays, but again it was a very wet track and the defences were superb. NSW finally fronted up and showed some of the Queensland spirit in the last 10 Tim Grant really shook them up and the work rate by Robbie Farrah was sensational, they out Queenslanded Queensland.

Queensland halves had an off day and were too lateral/failed to control the game. I would doubt NSW will catch them on an off day again in game 3.

I do watch every week and whilst it's undeniable that the NRL is a more intense competition on the whole, it's also true that every NRL team has a decent proportion of distinctly average players; they also tend to be, in my view, very focussed on defence, which is great to watch for the RL purist but can be a bit dull. Wests Tigers and the New Zealand Warriors play some scintillating stuff at times, but there's nothing to get the pulse racing when an NRL team gets 'into the grind.'

I agree about NSW by the way - Grant made a real statement of intent when he put Petero on his backside in the first hit-up and their pack followed suit; it was a real gutsy performance, aided by the fact that QLD players were dropping like flies.

Game 3 should be a corker, but I agree with you - I expect QLD will be back to winning ways.

Slater & Parker defo out, Hodges & Tate possibly. Might just even it up a little.

Gallen, Bird, Morris, Farrah and Lewis awesome in defence. Myles is a niggly get but boy he gets through some. Inglis is just special, Thurston had an off night.

Game 3 should be a belter

I hope QLD put Ben Barba at full back he is electric... IF Slater is out...