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Message: [QUOTE="Broncoman, post: 2572754, member: 7803"] Follow up on the Game 1 1999 review; Game 2 1999 After defeat in Game 1 NSW made a few changes to the squad. Lazarus was dropped, Jason Stevens was ruled out with suspension. Mark Carroll was recalled and Michael Vella and Ben Kennedy were the newcomers and Adam McDougall replaced fellow Knight Darren Albert. Queensland made only 1 change with Paul Green replacing the injured Adrian Lam. Despite atrocious conditions the game attracted an Origin record crowd of 88,336 as Stadium Australia hosted its first Origin game. NSW started the game with a bang scoring inside 42 seconds as Ryan Girdler got outside Darren Smith, drew the fullback Robbie O'Davis to send Robbie Ross over under the posts. Despite the torrential rain the game was already a far better spectacle than Game 1 as both sides spread the ball wide and defended strongly. Mat Rogers continued to score all of Queensland's points as he got the Maroons on the board through a penalty and scored a try after good leadup work by Hethrington, Kevin Walters and Jason Smith. Rogers landed a terrific conversion from the sideline and gave Queensland the lead after 25 minutes. Laurie Daley on farewell in Sydney was having a blinder and his work was rewarded as he took an inside pass from Johns to slam the ball down near the posts in the 33rd minute putting the Blues back in front. The score remained unchanged at halftime and NSW went to the break ahead 12-8. The second half was a story of attacking football from both sides being stopped dead on the goal line through desperate defence. The Blues went on attack straight after the break after Greenhill was penalised and Johns came a meter from scoring. Queensland soon replied as Tallis charged at the line but crashed into the post in a gang tackle. After forcing a dropout Sailor swooped to catch a bomb but couldn't control the ball and Matt Geyer was there to take advantage. The Blues looked to have secured the game with 7 minutes to go as Geyer dived over in the corner but was called back as a pass from Hill went forward. Queensland rallied and tried to steal the game but NSW held on to send the series to a decider and sent Laurie out a winner in his final home Origin game. Despite the conditions the teams put on a superb show of footy. There was plenty of attacking football but it was meet with courageous and bone crunching defence. More points could've been scored as Sailor, Rogers and Tallis all got over the line at some point but couldn't score and last ditch defence by Queensland kept NSW limited to 12 points. Notes - (Was going to put this in the Game 1 review) Robbie Ross was a controversial pick ahead of David Peachey who was in superb form for Cronulla. Despite being a controversial selection Ross played solidly in Game 1 making 227 meters from 22 runs and backed it up in the second game with another strong performance. He of course scored the early try but again provided good service from the back making 176 meters but also coming up with some good options at fullback and making a superb try saving tackle on Mat Rogers. - Mark Carroll showed tremendous guts to play as much as he did. Playing his 1st Origin since 1997 Carroll played a strong game despite being belted hard by the Maroons all night and going of injured twice. He made 20 tackles and 16 runs chalking up 137 meters. His battering by Webcke and Hetherington is one of my favourite Origin tackles despite being a Blues fan. - The game attracted an Origin record crowd eclipsing the previous record from Game 2 1994 in Melbourne - Laurie Daley received MOM after a superb performance making 35 tackles and running the ball hard and leading the team despite not being captain. Also scoring the try that proved to be the winner. Head and shoulders above anyone else on the field and a deserved winner. New South Wales 12: Tries by Robbie Ross and Laurie Daley; 2 goals by Ryan Girdler Queensland 8: Try and 2 goals by Matt Rogers New South Wales 1: Robbie Ross 2: Adam McDougall 3: Ryan Girdler 4: Terry Hill 5: Matt Geyer 6: Laurie Daley 7: Andrew Johns 8: Mark Carroll 9: Geoff Toovey 10: Rodney Howe 11: Nik Kosef 12: Bryan Fletcher 13: Brad Fittler (Captain) 14: Luke Ricketson 15: Michael Vella 16: Ben Kennedy 17: Anthony Mundine Coach: Wayne Pearce Queensland 1: Robbie O'Davis 2: Matt Rogers 3: Darren Smith 4: Matt Sing 5: Wendell Sailor 6: Kevin Walters (Captain) 7: Paul Green 8: Shane Webcke 9: Jason Hetherington 10: Craig Greenhill 11: Gordon Tallis 12: Chris McKenna 13: Jason Smith 14: Ben Ikin 15: Steve Price 16: Tonie Carroll 17: Martin Lang Coach: Mark Murray [/QUOTE]

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