Who said that Origin had gone soft?

So QLD lost the game, who cares? The result was not important in the big scheme of things. What mattered most was what occurred in the last five minutes of the game. It all started with a Geyer vs. Lewis like standoff between Price and White. Price got knocked the f$%k out and then it was onnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

Coming from Victoria I was yet to experience the sort of physicality that origin was famous for. Last night I witnessed what Origin games must have been like during the years I spent living as a Mexican. There was a sense of hatred which has been hidden for the past 10 or so years, they played with passion and most importantly absolute hatred for the men on the opposite side of the border.

Credit to NSW they finally turned up to play, be it against a QLD team missing Petero, Israel, Nate “Poo” Myles and Ben Hannant.

So what was the outcome of the brutal 90 minutes at Suncorp last night for Dream Team?
Injuries and suspensions!

Here we go….

Manly winger David Williams is nursing a suspected fractured cheekbone after he was kicked in the head by Maroons halfback Johnathan Thurston in an incident which eventually led to an eight-point try being awarded.

Johnathan was slapped with a dangerous conduct charge, but will be free to play for North Queensland this weekend after accepting the early guilty plea.

Waterhouse was also charged for his hit which floored Maroon prop Steve Price with one minute left in the contest, the Panthers backrower facing a one week suspension for a contrary conduct charge.

Price was knocked unconscious during the incident, which was sparked by a flurry of punches between Price and NSW prop Brett White, and he would be in some doubt for the Warriors game against the Roosters on Sunday.

Melbourne duo Cameron Smith (shoulder) and Greg Inglis (corked leg) would also be in some doubt to back up, as would the Cowboys' Willie Tonga who strained his hamstring in the first half.

Darren Lockyer and Sam Thaiday will miss playing for the Broncos this Friday. The skipper is expected to miss up to three weeks. Will this mean that $86k priced Ben Hunt will get a run? I hope so...

The Broncos are also sweating on injury updates for two other State of Origin stars, Justin Hodges and Karmichael Hunt who will notify coach Ivan Henjak of there availability on Friday morning.

NSW utility Craig Wing copped a knock to his jaw and will continue to be monitored ahead of Friday night's game against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

Wenin out.