What not many predicted is how close the game was in the end. It is generally accepted that if not for a penalty against Blues hooker Michael Ennis in the closing stages of the game, NSW may well have held on and saved some pride.
But before I launch into my Ennis diatribe, praise must go to the players who really tried. In his return to Origin, Greg Bird was sensational. He never gave up, scoring what should have been the winning try.
Kurt Gidley also deserves some praise. I have been severely critical of him in the past, and again questioned his selection this year. But he proved me wrong, his never-say-die attitude shining through and proving that Origin is not necessarily about being the most gifted player. It's about heart, and Gidley showed plenty of it.
In the end, a five point lead was squandered when Nate Myles tempted Ennis into a punching match, resulting in a penalty that set up a Queensland try. Desperation football then not only failed to put the Blues back in front, but gave the Maroons another try before the siren to knock the nails into the coffin.
The obituaries have been particularly scathing of Ennis, who is insistent that he did no wrong because Myles struck first.
It doesn't matter, Mick.
You had minutes to go with Queensland's line in reach. I don't care if Myles had head-butted you. If you're desperately clinging on to a five point lead, you don't allow yourself to be drawn in.
Mick Ennis should have known better. Crying that Myles started it is akin to to a schoolboy in a playground fight claiming innocence for the same reason. Mick Ennis had a chance to show that the Blues are above Queensland's thuggery.
He blew it, and in doing so surrendered a lead that could have won us the game.
Farah for 2011.
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