Nah, plenty of their players are still in their peak, only petro could be classed as past his peak, they were just out played and enthused on the night and their tactics worked well. NSW played a fast up tempo game without pushing the limits and they were up in faces of QLD in defence limiting their time to use the ball. QLD will be really tough games three, but they will have to work out a way of getting more speed around the ruck area.

And mint im not a fan of stand alone Origin weekends, but i may change if they try it i dont know.

centre replacement for hoppa? no one left who really jumps out. perhaps switch lewis there? he's pretty valuable in the back row though. hayne might struggle defensively there due to lack of experience but he could do with more ball/space and has the passing game to put the wingers away. not idris.

Surprised Broncos won. Didn't see that coming.

Hopefully they wont repeat it friday, beware of the "Coal train"

I thought Lewis should move there mainly for his defence, and he has enough speed, alternative is Scott and they bring in another forward. There isnt too many other players in form or available.

As a Broncos fan, I gotta disagree.

As a Souths fan im hoping, broncos are favourites and have Hodges and Gillette back, should be a good tussle over in the wild west.

This whole Thurston incident is complete rubbish. Even as a NSW fan, I would not be happy if JT didn't play.

I agree there wasnt much in it, but thurstons defence was i didn't see the ref which was crap he was in front of him, he just couldn't avoid him, anyway he has to play otherwise QLDers will use it as motivation to win eg conspiracy, and use it if they lose, a lose, lose for NSW either way, just let him play downgrade it and be done with it, there is too much crap associated with it, and im sick of hearing it, up here the media are carrying on like spoilt kids about it.

Ok, just read he got downgraded and off all together, this is a result of media pressure and QLD backlash, which i knew would happen, now QLD cant accuse the ARL and NSW influence of any conspiracy or bias, well for the next week anyway.

manufactured for hype. there was nothing ever in it.

It was, nothing in it, i think certain sections of the ARL may have wanted to prove that QLDers can get off charges as well.
It sold some papers and had radio talking about it.

Rabbitohs too good, too strong, and in bad conditions a great win...!!!

One of the best defensive performances I've seen during the first half of tonight's game. Broncos really desrved to win and I'm glad that they did.

No wonder nobody's posted. I'll just leave this here:

Its to be expected to lead 24-0 when you have 99% of the ball in the other teams half, NSW had it twice and scored and never had one tackle in QLD'S 20m area in the whole half,and NSW did well to come back and made more linebreaks. Also Quin you were "silent" when souths beat the broncos two weeks ago :).
Bad luck for Thursten with his ACL injury, i doubt whether he'll be back until mid next season now.