In front of a record 52,498 fans at Suncorp Stadium Queensland have won the third and final State Of Origin clash against New South Wales. 

In what was one of the most talked about clashes of the 31-year State Of Origin history, Darren Lockyer has given fans one of the most memorable games of his career. Lockyer has appeared in 36 State Of Origin games over the course of his career, and last night's win, the sixth straight for QLD, will be one of the highlights of his career. 

While it was a night for celebration for QLD players and fans, a season ending injury to Johnathan Thurston midway through the second half put a dampener on the occasion. In his 21st consecutive game for the Maroons, Thurston sustained the injury while attempting a tackle on Watmough.  Teammate Ashley Harrison rolled underneath the left leg of Thurston and early diagnosis suggests a torn anterior cruciate ligament. 

In the end QLD were simply too good for their southern neighbours and despite a much better second half from the Blues, the final score of 34-24 means that QLD State Of Origin dominance continues for at least another year. 

FINAL SCORES

QLD 34 (G. Inglis 2, C. Smith, B. Slater, S. Thaiday, J. Yow Yeh tries; J. Thurston 4, C.Smith goals)

NSW 24 (G. Bird, J. Hayne, A. Minichiello, A. Uate tries; J. Soward 4 goals)

In one from the quirky bet department Sportsbet are offering odds about how much So You Think’s full brother will bring at auction next January.
You have a choice of three prospects with the early favourite at $2.10 a purchase price somewhere between $NZ1,000,000 and $NZ,1,500,000.
Second option at $2.40 is for less than $NZ1,000,000 but “if you think” that a few people might start a bidding war you can get $4.50 a price of more than $NZ1,500,000.
Sportsbet’s Haydn Lane said.  “There’s no doubt there’ll be massive interest in the champ’s full brother and we expect the sale price to be in the vicinity of one to one and a half million New Zealand Dollars.”
The result will be declared on sale price of High Chaparral – Triassic yearling at Karaka Yearling Sales, January 30-31, 2012.
The sale price will be in New Zealand Dollars and all bets refunded if the horse is passed in or is withdrawn from the sales.
MEANWHILE So You Think is expected to atone for his narrow loss in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes with a win in the upcoming Eclipse Stakes, and heads the market at $2.00.
2010 Arc De Triomphe winner Workforce at $2.80 is regarded as his only danger.
“So You Think certainly had excuses in the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes, but you would think Aidan O’Brien will have him trained to the minute this time around to silence any critics,” said Lane.
Sportsbet are also offering a market about who will replace Ryan Moore as jockey for So You Think in the Eclipse.
Leading jockey Kieren Fallon is the early $2.50 favourite ahead of recent Gold Cup-winning jockey Jamie Spencer at $3.50.
 
Who will replace Ryan Moore on So You Think in the Eclipse Stakes?
$2.50   Kieren Fallon
$3.50   Jamie Spencer
$4.00   Christophe Soumillon
$7.00   Johnny Murtagh
$9.00   Olivier Peslier
$11      Seamus Heffernan
$15      Mickael Barzalona
$17      Stephen Arnold
 
2011 Eclipse Stakes
$2.00   So You Think
$2.80   Workforce
$13      Cityscape
$15      Cape Blanco
$17      Twice Over
$21      Roderic O’Connor
$29      Sri Putra
$34      Rio De La Plata
$41      Alexander Pope, Cavalryman, Debussy, Silver Pond
$51    Viscount Nelson
Don't have a Sportsbet account? Why not, it's quick and easy and they will even give you a $200 free bet bundle upon creation of your account.

CLICK HERE TO CREATE YOUR FREE SPORTSBET ACCOUNT

Geelong has shown critics that it has true premiership potential this season after beating premiership favorites Collingwood at the MCG last night by 3 points.

 

Both teams entered the MCG last night with a perfect record and 81,691 fans were on hand to witness a classic game between the leagues two best sides.

 

The Cats dominated the first quarter, with twenty forward entries to the Pies nine as well as 20 tackles to eight. Given the great start to the game by the Cats, some predicted that Geelong would run away with the game, but the reigning premiers were not about to throw the towel in, and in the second quarter they outscored Geelong by kicking the only 4 goals of the term. Leading by 11 points into half time, it looked as though Collingwood were back on track to continue their dominance of the season once again.

 

The third quarter was marred by two key injuries, the first was for Geelong when Cameron Ling was subbed for a shoulder injury and the second came about when Toovey ran into Tom Hawkins knee and had to be stretchered off.

 

Late in the third quarter, it was Geelong’s 100 gamer Joel Selwood who gave their side a lift after a very courageous act set up Steve Johnson who in turn gave Bartel a crucial goal giving the Cats the lead heading into the final term.

 

The final term was a tightly contested battle and there was no shortage of drama when with only a handful of minutes remaining in the game and Geelong clutching on to a two-point lead their star ruckmam Brad Ottens gave away a free kick for high contact on Cameron Wood. Immediately following the incident, Pies sensation Pendlebury picked up the ball and snapped for goal successfully.

 

Under the new interpretation of the Play On Advantage Rule, is it supposed to be the players who decide, however the whistle was blown and the ball bought back. Subsequently, Collingwood could not convert and in the end, the Cat’s prevailed in a true blockbuster game at the MCG.

 

While Mick Malthouse was furious over the umpire’s decision, he conceded that his team was simply not good enough on the night and that they did not deserve the win based on their performance.

 

Geelong is now the only team in the AFL with an unbeaten record and next rounds clash against equally in form Carlton is shaping up to be yet another blockbuster.