2024 Origin decider
Lang Park, Brisbane
Wednesday 17 July, 8pm
Valé David ‘Thirsty’ Morrow
A sad day for the rugby league community as the news of legendary commentator David Morrow’s passing broke, following a battle with brain cancer.
A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off at Lang Park.
David also commentated eight Olympic Games and six Commonwealth Games, including athletics, with 1980 and 1984 Olympic decathlete Peter Hadfield as his ‘sideline’ expert.
We also lost a great writer, storyteller and character, Mike Colman late last week. Search for Robert Craddock’s touching tribute if you have not yet read it.
One of David’s famous rugby league commentary moments was this call of a Mal Meninga try on the 1990 Kangaroo tour:
Almanac MCG tour reunion at the Tanunda Club
Half* of the Almanac Origin Game 2 tour party gathered at the iconic Tanunda Club for the decider.
A very nice drop of Rockford Cabernet Shiraz and the open steak sandwich maintained the standards of the Melbourne Greek quarter on tour.
What to expect from Queensland after the shellacking we witnessed in person at the MCG?
A completely different game! A gripping contest. A contest – in this age of lists, comparisons, dedicated sports channels, the 24-hour sports news cycle – described by some experts as the best Origin decider of all time, the best NSW win, and so on.
Would Bradman’s team have beaten Steve Waugh’s boys? We will never know. Likewise with the analysis of this game. Was it the best decider? Perhaps.
It was an incredible contest.
Credit to Queensland for lifting after the MCG capitulation. More credit to the Blues, after the send-off in Game One – what a turnaround.
Queensland had Walsh, Cobbo and Ponga in their Game 3 team yet the Blues held the Maroons to only two penalty goals.
The first half: a contest of great intensity, fitting of an Origin decider, with everything on the line, both teams desperately defending their territory.
The Blues had the majority of first half possession yet Queensland lead by a penalty goal at half-time.
Players like Tom Deardon were defending like their lives depended on it. The Cowboys dynamo was great in attack too.
The Blues squared the ledger with a penalty goal from wide out to the in-form Zac Lomax in the 45th minute.
The Blues then struck twice within minutes late in the match. First, a great break from Luai set up the bloodied, aptly named Bradman Best, who beat two of his Newcastle teammates (Gagai and Ponga) to score.
Mitchell Moses put the game to bed with a brilliant stepping, individual effort.
As a rusted on South Sydney member, the coach of the 43-year drought-breaking premiership (2014), Michael Maguire, will always be a legend of the club.
Maguire was sacked by Souths in 2017 and replaced by Anthony Siebold who then ran out the door to the greener grass of Red Hill after one season in charge. Rock solid, Siebs …
This Souths member could not be happier for Michael Maguire. Well done, Madge, the Blues outplayed Queensland.
There was a moment of ‘argie-bargie’, a brouhaha, a push and shove that started on the field, then spilt over the sideline late in the first half.
The South Sydney captain Cameron Murray, the man my dog is named after, was sin binned. He is now suspended for the Bunnies’ next two games.
There was much comment post-match about the incident.
As JTH and I left the Tanunda Club, the conversation shifted to The Prop’s fashion design prototypes for a possible 2025 tour kit, the wine, the salad, and the company.
A shame about the result, we agreed. Well played, Blues.
Full time: NSW 14 defeated Queensland 4
NSW points: Tries: Best 64’, Moses 67’. Goals: Lomax 2/2 conversions, 1/1 penalty 45’
Qld points: penalty goals: Holmes 40’, 62’.
Sin bin: Murray and Nanai 30’
Half-time: Queensland 2-0
Crowd: 52, 467
Referee: A.C. Klein
Highlights
State of Origin 2024 | Blues v Maroons | Extended Match Highlights | Game 3 (youtube.com)
NSW press conference
State of Origin 2024 | NSW Blues Press Conference | Game 3 (youtube.com)
QLD press conference
State of Origin 2024 | QLD Maroons Press Conference | Game 3 (youtube.com)
NSW: Edwards, To’o, S Crichton, Best, Lomax, Luai, Moses, Tjbojevic, Robson, Haas, Martin, A Crichton, Murray. bench: Watson, Yeo, Barnett, Leniu.
QLD: Walsh, Cobbo, Gagai, Tabuai-Fidow, Holmes, Deardon, Cherry-Evans, Fotuaika, Grant, Kaufusi, Cotter, Carrigan. Bench: Hunt, Collins, Nanai, Ponga.
Player of the match: Dylan Edwards (NSW)
Wally Lewis medal for Player of the series: Angus Crichton (NSW)
Barossa (supplementary) red wine of the week:
(Kindly provided by John Harms)
Rockford 2020 Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet
Home Page (rockfordwines.com.au)
*John Harms and yours truly.
Russel Hansen, South Sydney football club diamond member 6199, lives in Nuriootpa, Barossa Valley, South Australia. His golden retriever, Murray, is named after the South Sydney captain. Twitter/X: @Rabbit in the Vineyard @Russel_Hansen
To read our library of rugby league stories click HERE.
To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.
To see the full 2024 season draw for the NRL click HERE.
To see the full 2024 season draw for the NRLW click HERE.
To see the details for State of Origin in 2024 click HERE.
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE.
About Russel Hansen
Russel Hansen Has worked in schools for over thirty years – as a teacher, coach, coach educator, sports coordinator and in pastoral care roles. Whilst at Brisbane Boys’ College as Director of Athletics, he led teams to six GPS premierships in track and field, and cross country. He has coached (athletics) at all levels from school to international. His squad at the University of Queensland (to January 2023) included Lachlan Kennedy OLY, Paris 4x100m relay runner, Australian record holder. He is married to Heidi, a Primary school principal, and is father to two adult daughters. Twitter: @Russel_Hansen
- More Posts
Leave a Comment