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Message: [QUOTE="Broncoman, post: 2673101, member: 7803"] Before I start this review I know that Big Pete has reviewed these games but I want to add my 2 cents in about them and share my thoughts as well. [B]State of Origin game 1981 [/B]Despite the success of the inaugural Origin encounter of 1980 the interstate series remained the same as the first 2 games were played under residency rules, with the 3rd game being an Origin game if 1 side won the first 2 games. NSW's respective 10-2 and 22-9 wins in the first 2 games ensured that State of Origin was on again. [B]Teams [/B]In contrast to the game in 1980 both sides fielded different teams. The Maroons introduced Greg Conescu, Mark Murray, Terry Saunders, Mitch Brennan, Chris Phelan, John Ribot and Paul McCabe to state football. Queensland hero Arthur Beetson failed a fitness test and withdrew and Wally Lewis took over the captaincy, alongside Beetsen Saunders and Ribot withdrew. Brad Backer came back and Henrick and Kahn joined the debutantes NSW only retained 2 players from the first game (Michael Cronin and Steve Rogers) and Michael Pattison and Royce Ayliff withdrew during preperation and Terry Lamb and Graham O'Grady were called in. Despite playing their first Origin Ray Price, Les Boyd and Garry Dowling were named in the 1980 NSW team but withdrew because of injuries. Queensland 1: Colin Scott 2: Brad Backer 3: Mal Meninga 4: Chris Close 5: Mitch Brennan 6: Wally Lewis (Captain) 7: Ross Henrick 8: Chris Phelan 9: Rohan Hancock 10: Paul McCabe 11: Paul Kahn 12: Greg Conescu 13: Rod Morris 14: Norm Carr 15: Mark Murray Coach: Arthur Beetson [B]New South Wales[/B] 1: Phil Sigsworth 2: Terry Fahey 3: Michael Cronin 4: Steve Rogers (Captain) 5: Eric Grothe 6: Terry Lamb 7: Peter Sterling 8: Ray Price 9: Les Boyd 10: Peter Tunks 11: Ron Hilditch 12: Barry Jensen 13: Steve Bowden 14: Garry Dowling 15: Graham O'Grady Coach: Ted Glossop [B]Game [/B]Fists were flying in the early exchanges as both sides were ready to rip into each other and put their club allegiances aside which slowed the flow of the game and gave the Maroons field position early which was evident as NSW didn't have the ball to the 6th minute. The Maroons continued to control the game but a pass went to ground inside the NSW quarter and Eric Grothe picked up the ball and sprinted close to 90 meters for the first try. This gave NSW a big boost as they went on to dominate the next minutes and they went on a mini spree scoring some excellent tries through Mick Cronin and Grothe again through the work of Sterling. Cronin was on song with the boot and NSW had breezed out to a 15-0 lead. Queensland got a chance to fight back through a NSW mistake in their 20 which they took advantage off as Henrick, Khan and McCabe combined to put Backer over in the corner, Meninga landed the goal from touch to get the Maroons on the board. Despite creating some more chances down the left in the next minutes the Maroons couldn't grab another try and went to half time behind 15-5. The try before the break added confidence to the Queenslanders and it showed as they manned up in defence and stopped some attacking raids by the Blues before gaining ground the hard way. After 3 quick penalties Lewis sliced through the NSW defence and scored to reduce the margin to just 1 converted try with 20 to go. The Maroons levelled the game after Scott burst through the NSW defence and looked certain to score before Grothe made an amazing try saving tackle but lay on the ground, Choppy Close backhanded Grothe and went over next to the posts. Meninga converted and the scores were level. NSW had no answers and lost cohesion as the Queensland went on to dominate the final quarter adding a goal from Meninga to put them in front inside the last 10 minutes before a penalty try in the shadows of full time wrapped the game up, giving the Maroons a comeback 22-15 win. [B]Notes How great was Queensland's comeback; [/B]To come from 15 points behind (18 in this day) and win by 7 is a great effort and they did it the hard way against a very strong team that dug in and as a result didn't surrender the lead till the 70 something minute NSW were running wild before the Maroons got on the board but the Blues let themselves down with some bad choices. Queensland's comeback in this game is still the biggest comeback to win a game in Origin although the Blues came from 19-0 behind in game 1 2005 to take a 20-19 with 9 minutes remaining. [B]Did Chris Close deserve to be Man of the Match? [/B]Choppy Close backed up his MOM award in the first game with another in the second, but did he deserve to do it? He was a bloody handful again but I think Wally Lewis was more entitled to it as he inspired the Maroons comeback, scoring a try, was heavily involved and lead the Queenslanders superbly in his first game as captain. He got the TV MOM whatever that station was (It was NSW coverage). I personally would've given it to Lewis - I thought the penalty try at the end was a fair call as Meninga probably would've regained the ball and scored if he wasn't taken out without it by Rogers. Fair decision. - Watching the Parramatta players Grothe, Sterling, Price and Cronin go about their stuff just shows how great those Parramatta teams were. I rate the Eels of the early 80's as one of the best club sides produced and makes me wonder more about them. I've all the Grand Finals of the 80's and probably should watch them to see those guys in action. - Eric Grothe was outstanding on debut and was the best NSW player in my view. His strength, power and speed were on display as he scored 2 great tries and made some excellent last ditch defence. I've seen some highlights of him in his day and he is just an awesome winger, one of the best wingers the game has produced imo. - If the game was played in this day and age the final score would've been Queensland 26 NSW 18 [B]Queensland 22: [/B]Tries by Brad Backer, Wally Lewis, Chris Close and a penalty try, 5 goals by Mal Meninga [B]New South Wales 15: [/B]2 tries by Eric Grothe and a try by Mick Cronin, 3 goals by Cronin [/QUOTE]

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