Everyone, save for those clad in Blue, left the Melbourne Cricket Ground happy.
There was a record State of Origin crowd of 91,671, who witnessed a rugby league master class. There were the suited NRL executives, who have their dream decider at a time when they are attempting to broker a monster television deal.
And we even had cause for Reece Walsh to enter the arena, this time when Kalyn Ponga was the victim of a high shot. The rugby league scriptwriters have outdone themselves this time.
This result – a thumping 44-24 after a tepid start – will raise more questions about the composition of the NSW team that allowed it to happen. This is Laurie Daley’s 12th Origin loss with the clipboard, a result that takes him beyond Wayne Bennett for most coaching defeats. Somehow, he must muster a turnaround at that other famous cauldron, Suncorp Stadium.
Read the full match report here.
