Brisbane were not helped whe they lost their golden boy fullback Walsh to blurred vision. He butted heads with Taylan May who was told by referee Gerard Sutton he should have made more of an effort to get lower,and was placed on report.
Time will tell if May is charged.
Walsh passed his HIA,but struggled to see because of the swelling beneath his left eye. He dropped a ball cold when a trainer threw one to him on the sideline midway through the first half.
Nathan Cleary put on a masterclass,with his short ball for Izack Tago’s second try a ripper. Tago bagged a double and mowed down Selwyn Cobbo to generate some deserved NSW Origin hype.
The Panthers look good. Brisbane did well to not concede 50. They were already without their best prop and skipper,Payne Haas and Adam Reynolds,for the trip west.
The premiers had the luxury of giving their two skippers an nearly mark. Life is good.