State of Origin 2009: Game 2

Ok and here we are again, this time set to play in Sydney. The big news for this game though is the Queensland team is all sick. Cleared to play but sick all the same. For this reason the QLD team is now called the infected. So whenever NSW makes a line break they will be "running from the infected!"
Some business to take care of outside the game, we are going to try and get #shutupgus to trend this time, so if you tweet anything about the Origin, be sure to tag it as such. Even if Gus doesn't say anything be sure to tag it that way, we need to get a trend.

Kick off! And after 9 seconds we don't have a score. The game could go either way from here. First penalty goes to NSW, the Infected were in the tackle too long it would seem. After ballsing it up (no pun intended) NSW has been given another 6. Falou has made an intercept and line break. Now a penalty to the infected. Inglis has crossed, in the 6th minute a try to Queensland!

0:06 - New South Wales 0 - 4 The Infected
And it is converted, to make it NSW 0 - 6 QLD.
I'm starving so I gotta put Cailie down and grab some pizza- no scratch that we got the ball back immediately. Knocked on though, Blues get the ball back again. Now pizza.

Ok, while I was eating, a bit of football followed by a New South Wales error followed by a bunch of guys standing around not doing anything which results directly in Queensland scoring a try.
And now the score is NSW 0 - 12 QLD and a penalty happening because a Blue guy knocked the head off a Maroon guy.

Darren Lockyer has scored a try off a New South Wales error. 24th minute, 16 plays nil in the infected favour. And that is the third conversion as well, so NSW 0 - 18 QLD.
Whoa Channel 9, bring back that graphic, you are kidding, the last time these two teams met was at the last State of Origin game. I'm so glad you've told us cause we'd never have guessed otherwise.

New South Wales has scored a try! At last ! And look at him run, he was running from the infected! That was another good intercept by New South Wales. The intercepts are almost as good as their knock ons are frequent. New South Wales have converted.
New South Wales 6 - 18 The Infected.

The Blues have more errors than they do points. And here comes the fight! Ooh, a Blue guy is on the ground, does that mean we won? Ok, the Maroon guy kicked the Blue guy in the leg, then the Blue went to punch the Maroon in the face but missed. Then another two guys came in and it resulted in Queensland getting the penalty. So we started and won the fight and then got rewarded by the referee for our effort.

Wow no try there, everyone in the universe thought that was a try, and now we have another fight. Who won this one?
You see the reason this game is happening is because the football gods are in New South Wales's favour.
Now you see the trouble here is that Tim Mander comes from Dubbo and Bill Harrigan comes from Orange.
New South Wales has scored in a benefit of the doubt decision given just before halftime and there is the siren, NSW 10 - 18 QLD.

Ok, we are kidding, ACA has got mini Masterchef? Poor Channel 9 are getting waaaay too desperate. Anyway, time for Cailie to get some battery juice so be back after the break.

Ok, time to get under way again. And the half has been going for a minute now and nobody has scored. I think Queensland will definitely win this one now.
The Blues are getting feed for a scrum based on that knock on. I don't think that really matters of course, because both teams knocked on about 4 times in that play so nobody wins really. Ah but now is a knock on against them.
Queensland is not playing so well this half. I think we'll lose. Say, does that make us the underdogs again...

If the Blues manage to win this Haynes will be the man of the match. In fact unless something outstanding happens with Queensland Hayne may get man of the match whether they win or not.

Queensland's offensive has collapsed. Lucky they can defend or else the Blues would have taken it by now. Oh shut up Gus!
Oh my gosh "Stop poking me in the ribs or I'm going to thump you!" - Rabbs to Gus.

Queensland's problem appears to be they re all turning into zombies, they are slow, uncreative and tired. Their injuries keep rising, casualties growing: The Infected have become The Undead.
I can't held but feel this pressure is building to a point where NSW is not far from scoring. The only way this won't result in New South Wales scoring is if it results in Queensland scoring.
Slater misses one and now NSW gets another 6, this is right on the line. The pressure limit is reached, the line is ready to be breached. New South Wales has scored.
NSW 14 - 18 QLD.

No conversion again, so the score remains 14 - 18 for the restart.
Now Queensland has lost the ball and New South Wales are threatening again. As the commentators have pointed out, the same spot NSW kept losing the ball last half. I'm afraid though the effect of the grass is nought unless you are on the grass, and if the ball is in your hands while you are upright then it isn't on the grass. There has been a knock on and play on called. I don't know what's going on, but QLD has the ball.
Slater has battered the ball in the wrong direction. I like Slater but when he plays badly he plays really, really badly.
By the way the 4 referees are all on the Blues team, so is the crowd, so are the football gods. There is only 10 minutes left and a try will win it for either team, or no try will win it for Queensland.
But the Blues have the ball and the momentum. This is the nervous stuff here.

After a lot more high energy play, QLD have got NSW into touch. Still minutes in it but Queensland is gaining more advantage, still could go either way though. Meanwhile another QLD player is injured.
A short line drop out but QLD got the ball anyway. So close now but QLD is the team with the ball.
QLD has crossed the line! It is going to the video ref, which is no help cause every ref in the place is Blue but there is a chance of another 4 pointer to secure it for QLD.
TRY!

Queensland has won the game! 14 - 22 to Queensland with a conversion to come. Queensland have now won 4 consecutive seasons, a record setting win.
Conversion made.

In the 80th minute New South Wales 14 - 24 Queensland.

Hi Anonymous, I for some reason can't comment on my own blog, but thanks for your comment. It's good to know that someone likes it.