Our unfiltered State of Origin 1 review following a chaotic night in Sydney. The official scoreboard reads a NSW Blues victory, but the actual tape shows a performance that should have Laurie Daley deeply worried about the team's true form. We dive into the massive post-match fallout and explain why treating a lucky win like a tactical success is a massive mistake. Plus, we break down the controversial Kalyn Ponga send-off that flipped the match , James Tedesco's late savior play , Nathan Cleary owning the clutch moments , and the major squad changes looming for Game 2 with Payne Haas and Mitchell Moses back in the selection mix. 🎟️ Subscribe to CODE Sports — just $49 for the year for insider analysis and exclusive stories 👉 http://codesports.com.au/offer CODE Sports — No BS. Just Sport 🔵⚪️ Subscribe 👉 https://bit.ly/CodeSubscribe Read more stories 👉 https://www.codesports.com.au 🎧 Watch & Listen to CODE NRL, CODE AFL, and more on YouTube and podcast platforms. Follow CODE Sports: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codesportsau TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@codesportsau X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/codesportsau Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/codesportsau #CODESports #NRL #AFL #SportsPodcasts
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These two guys are living in an alternative universe. "Qld were dominant. NSW were really bad in the first half." Well, yeah, that's what happen when one side drops the ball five times in fifteen minutes, and the other team has 75% possession. Of COURSE Qld were on top. But once NSW held on to the ball, Qld never fired another shot. They tackled their hearts out (like always) but they didn't score a point for the last 60 minutes. The Ponga thing will be the distraction they use from the fact that they were very ordinary. If NSW didn't keep dropping the ball, which I've never seen at this level as bad as tonight - would Qld have scored at all tonight? And let's not forget how many tries NSW butchered. Tedesco's brain explosion. The try that was overruled when Murray pushed Capewell. The one where Casey McLean passed when the line was open. The one where Qld were shot to pieces on the NSW right, and the dummy half moved it left. The one where Crighton scored after a forward pass. The one where strange scored but was ruled out for a soft obstruction. NSW could easily have had 9 tries, and that's after dropping the ball cold for the first quarter of the game. If that's what these guys think was "Qld dominance" then god help them.
Ashley Klein has never reffed a single game he didn't ruin. It's like some control-freak obsession he has to make it about him. He's done it both ways, too, he has no bias for one team or another, his only bias is for making himself the main character.
Let's give some Kudos to the Raiders duo of Strange & Hudson who were two of NSW's best.
Cleary performance is getting heavily over exaggerated especially considering he was very average against 13 then does what he should against 12 for the last 20 minutes
TEDESCO WAS GETTING HOOKED BEFORE THAT MOMENT. HE MIGHT STILL GET HOOKED FOR GAME TWO.
What are the stats for Klein send off's sin bin's in SOO ? The guy steals the show and decides the game every time.
Hudson Young was outstanding .
Watching Reed give NSW a compliment, is like watching a cat with a Fur Bull, Get it out Reedy
That try will see Teddy (and Laurie) remain employed, but both sides definitely need to re-arrange a few pieces of furniture for Game 2.
Ponga cleared by judiciary. Just a fine. Free to play for Newcastle this weekend. Not even the match review or bunker deemed it a send off. Only A Klein.
A team needs to play together it’s that simple. Silly dropped balls which believe it or not aren’t coached. Another run together and hopefully a dry track they will do better.
I don't think Teddy's positional play in the defense was off. And he just doesn't pass.
Nobody mentions NSW won't have a first half like that for an age. The worst start for any SOO side, bombing four tries yet NSW and Cleary rose to the challenge. Congrats to both sides for such an entertaining match.
Up the blues all day 🩵🩵, maroons was the better team but we’ll take the win . Thank you Ponga
Ponga Grade 2 Shoulder Charge...gets a fine and will be available for Game II.
NSW dropped or had taken off them 4 or 5 tries.
I've played both rugby league and union.. that hit by Ponga was never a tackle but a shoulder charge.. there shouldn't be any debate over this sending off. If it's a rule book tackle then it is legal, anything outside the book is simply illegal..
Lack of passion after strange made the hit? They’d barely touched the footy for 20 minutes up until that point and were completely gassed. Give me a spell Ready
Agree with the analysis. Interestingly, QLD didn’t score in the last hour - plenty if time before Ponga had a holiday. NSW were improving, but not enough to win without Ponga exiting. An exciting finish but it papers over the NSW cracks. Plenty of work to do Laurie.
Cleary man of the match!? What an insult to the game. Player being tackled prior to Ponga a contact, hardly a shoulder charge. NRL need to get consistent and fast prior to getting more teams into the comp