QLD v Sharks

Ballymore 23/4/05

QLD 30 def Sharks 25

Halftime QLD 14 , Sharks 15.

Went along to the game as it was a mate’s birthday and I know someone working the bar. I did predict a QLD win although I was expecting a better margin.  I don’t believe I have seen Ben Tune play a better game in his career.  It wasn’t just the Tuney slide in front of the hill for a try, setting up two other tires, the numerous breaks; offloads; and drawing and passing skill that he displayed.  It was the organisation and confidence that he installed in the mid field that the whole team and in particular Sailor that he should be commended for. 

I saw Sailor’s debut with Tune at OC. Tune is a fantastic influence and mentor for Sailor.  He organises him in attack and defence and Sailor knows that he is going to get the ball from Tune when it’s the right time to get the ball.  Sailor had a superb game and the confidence in his playing was unbelievable in comparison to the rest of the season.  Tune all game was giving Dell little hand signals and comments all game.   This tutelage is something Sailor hasn’t had since switching codes and it must be of great personal disappointment for him.  If this tuition can continue for the rest of the season then it would be a very solid Wallaby combination.

The other telling factor was Flatley’s return to 5/8.  Although not a brilliant game from him, yet again the experience, confidence and organisation he brings to the side can not be underrated.  The way the team fell apart in the last minutes without Flatley was there for all to witness.  Although his standard was slipping towards the end of the game, his replacement didn’t bring the same level of organisation to the attack and the whole dynamics faltered.  Although Voodoo doll did make a couple of good tackles, he is a fullback and not a 5/8.

QLD has many, many problems still and the one in particular is the panic and attempt to score a try every time they touch the ball rather than using patience and score the try in the next couple of phases.  Despite the numerous breaks and the 4 tries, there could have been a lot more as the midfield opened up the Sharks backline just about every time they touched the ball.  Admittedly the Sharks haven't been doing too good this season so I shouldn't get to carried away.

The moral of the story is just because the players are under 21 and inexperienced it doesn’t mean they are the best players to use. The experience and confidence the older players, and not just the backs, install in a side shouldn’t be underestimated.  Miller you are a complete goose. 

Rudi Vedelago partnered well with Sharpe and their combination and the loss of the other 8 rumoured QLD players heading west next year is going to be a telling blow as I’m sure that Mitchell will savour their collective experience and not waste it.

In regards to the sharks.  The move of Bret Russel to flyhalf was a brilliant strategy.  He was in sensational form all night for the sharks and he is an exceptional player.  He was beating the first man (Flatley and Berry’s defence coordination wasn’t there) very easily and opening up the holes and really sparked the sharks backline.  The Sharks were unlucky not to get the points and the interesting thing is after the match they were running laps around the ground and doing sprint training.

By the way who made the warm up strip look like the Brisbane Lions jumper?

Bring me the head of Miller!