Corner of solitude

Jane McGrath the wife of ozzie cricket fast bowling legend Glenn has died earlier today. I found out at the start of today’s footy at shark park, when they announced that she had passed away in the company of her family at their Cronulla residence and we were told to hold a minutes silence as a mark of respect.

It’s very sad to hear that someone who is as compassionate as her (founder of the McGrath Foundation a breast cancer institute) dieing prematurely, at her age she should have been at her peak living life to the full.

I’m sure she was a wonderful person, a loving wife to Glenn and mother to her children. I feel really sorry for her children the most, as they are just old enough to know that she wont be coming back. But then again their age might be a blessing as they will have made fond memories of their mother and be able to remember them.

Queensland kicked arsed, and were too good, beating NSW in the second game of the State of Origin last night. And what a difference having Titan’s Prince in the side has made for Queensland, especially with Thurston not firing at club level and without injured maroons captain Lockyer. It gave us NSW blues supporters the blues.

I have no doubt that NSW will take home the trophy this year. After the easy win they had last night, Queensland may as well have told NSW “it’s yours bitches we’re sick of it”.

Queensland had an abysmal night, with no creativity with the ball at all. This is largely due to the bad player selection. With regular captain and five eight Darren Lockyer out of the picture, Queensland selectors had chosen K. Hunt as make shift five eight. Sure Thurston might be rated as the best half back in the league, and most of the attacking decisions could be made by him, but when your playing in the State of Origin you need something to fall back on. Making K. Hunt the five eight made him a sitting duck, his defence was solid but he hardly had enough juice left for attack.

Thurston tried hard and did his best, but that was problem, he was trying to do too much. If he had someone who was a genuine attacking ballplayer like Darren Lockyer, to fall back on then some of his plays would have had a little more oomph. Queensland shoud have selected Titan half back and captain, Prince. Who not only is the form half back in the league but is not far behind Lockyer and Thurston as genuine ballplaying attacking generals.

I would have chosen Prince at half, and Thurston at five eight which is generally believed to be his preferred position. Slater would have remained as fullback leaving K. Hunt a spot on the bench, ready to be unleashed fresh later in the game. Leaving out a form player like Prince just so K. Hunt is in the team is just plain game suicide. Even master coach and mentor Wayne Bennett scoffed at the idea of leaving out Prince in favour of K. Hunt.

None of it would have have mattered anyhow, because NSW would still have won.

The Rabbitohs are back in the winner’s circle, beating the Cowboys, 28 to 24. Let’s celebrate good times, come on!