The Streak by Paul Connolly

Author:Paul Connolly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Hardie Grant Books
Published: 2015-07-09T04:00:00+00:00

JOHNATHAN THURSTON ENTERS THE SUNCORP ARENA IN A WHEELCHAIR AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE, THE PAIN OF HIS SECOND-HALF KNEE INJURY LESSENED BY QUEENSLAND’S 34–24 WIN THAT SECURED THE 2011 SERIES. (AAP IMAGE)

CRONK GETS 10 IN THE BIN

GAME II, 2012

Given Queensland coach Mal Meninga said it was “fair”, it’s a stretch to label the sin-binning of Queensland half Coooper Cronk in Game II of the 2012 series in Sydney as controversial. So we won’t. It was, however, a major turning point in the game.

The incident occurred in the opening minutes of the second half with NSW deep in attack, trying to overturn Queensland’s 6–4 lead. Running across field in front of the Queensland posts NSW half Mitchell Pearce dropped the ball onto his left boot and cleverly grubbered it—on a path almost perpendicular to his run—into the in-goal area. Pearce’s halves partner Todd Carney was on to it and had run through the Queensland defensive line in pursuit of the ball when he was pulled back, first by the arm, then by the waist, by Cronk. At the same time Billy Slater had come across in cover and all three players collided as the ball bounced over the dead-ball line.

NSW had some claim on a penalty try but the involvement of Slater muddied the waters. Cronk’s professional foul, however, was clear enough and the half was given 10 minutes to contemplate his sins and the meaning of life.

After Cronk had left the field NSW converted the penalty for his indiscretion to level up the scores at 6–6 and before he re-entered the contest they’d gone ahead 16–6 following two quick tries, the first to Brett Stewart (after Carney broke the Maroons’ depleted line), the second to Josh Morris, racing away 40m after picking up a loose ball stripped from Jarryd Hayne’s grasp by Johnathan Thurston.

Queensland would score next through Greg Inglis, but NSW held off what seemed like an inevitable Maroons comeback to win; those 10 minutes Cronk spent in the bin making all the difference.

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