The NRL insisted on Wednesday night time that the recreation’s strict concussion coverage had been adhered to correctly in Origin following questions over whether or not Queensland centre Justin O’Neill ought to have been taken from the sector within the first half at ANZ Stadium.
Queensland declare slender collection opening win
Queensland have gained the opening recreation of the 2016 State of Origin collection, with a 6-four win over New South Wales in Sydney.
On a night during which his teammate Michael Morgan’s night time ended simply because it had begun after a head knock, there have been eyebrows raised about whether or not O’Neill ought to have been dragged from the sector for a concussion check after being flattened making an attempt to deal with fellow debutant Josh Mansour shortly earlier than half-time.
Mansour charged on the Cowboys three-quarter from a kick return, leaving him apparently dazed. The top knock was enough for referee Gerard Sutton to name a quick suspension to play, a choice that aggravated NSW captain Paul Gallen.
“Get him off,” Gallen demanded, unsuccessfully, questioning why the sport had been stopped if O’Neill was not being taken off for a concussion check.
The identical protocols governing the NRL competitors apply in State of Origin, with staff docs obligated to withdraw a participant from the sector if they’ve any suspicion that they could have incurred a concussion. There’s additionally an additional line of defence within the interstate area with chief medical officer Paul Bloomfield appearing as a sideline concussion spotter on Wednesday night time.
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He was glad that O’Neill’s situation required no checking, viewing seven digital camera angles of the incident offered by officers within the bunker. The NRL stated the 25-yr-previous had additionally handed an on-subject medical evaluation.
The centre did hit again towards Mansour quickly after to ship the sharp remaining move for Dane Gagai to attain within the Blues winger’s nook.
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Queensland ahead Josh Papalii additionally rejoined play for the beginning of the second half after showing considerably shaken by a heavy deal with executed on Gallen proper on half-time.
Whereas O’Neill and Papalii have been capable of play on, one other of the Maroons contingent was not so lucky. Morgan was escorted from the sector by coach Allan Langer within the fiftieth minute after colliding with David Klemmer.
Johnathan Thurston’s sidekick on the Cowboys didn’t return.
The potential spark that new Queensland coach Kevin Walters hoped Morgan would offer from the bench consequently was not forthcoming however the skilled duo of Thurston and Cooper Cronk, whereas not at their glowing greatest, have been adequately composed to steer the guests over the road.
The highlight was on Cronk, particularly, given the ankle drawback sustained in coaching that threatened to make him a late withdrawal.
As Gallen predicted, claiming Queensland thoughts video games being behind the rolled ankle, Cronk performed whereas he was a shade or two under the kind of performances he is produced for the Maroons in recent times, he held his personal.
There was a notable blip in defence for the Melbourne and Kangaroos halfback, retreating onto his line and permitting NSW 5-eighth James Maloney to focus on him and cross to former Roosters teammate Boyd Cordner for the Blues’ one and solely attempt.
Maloney himself might maintain his head as excessive as any of Laurie Daley’s males in his Origin recall. Whereas NSW could not reap the benefits of alternatives in a scoreless second half questions on Maloney’s defence have been at the least answered with a diving attempt saver on Gagai within the second half.
In his second Origin look Gagai was excellent, including not solely a second attempt to his resume however operating for 158 metres with 19 runs.