City maul Country 40-18
Peter Wallace confirmed his position as NSW's leading halfback with a brilliant performance to lead City to a 40-18 mauling of Country at Wade Park on Friday night.
Wallace and hooker Robbie Farah were simply outstanding in the shootout for State of Origin positions and clearly out-performed their rivals for Blues jumpers Jarrod Mullen and Michael Ennis.
Wallace scored a superb individual try in the final minute and booted six conversions for a 16 point personal haul that will confirm a Blues recall for Origin I.
Farah and Wallace were tremendous to lead City back from a slow start after they trailed 12-0 after 26 minutes to claim a seven tries to three win in front of a healthy crowd of 8,226 fans.
Wallace and Farah set up three tries apiece while centre Michael Jennings virtually assured a NSW Origin debut by setting up their other and scoring the final try of the night.
Second rower Mark Minichiello finished with a double while utility Craig Wing and wingers David Williams and Jarryd Hayne also scored.
Country had started the better, with Mullen and five-eighth Terry Campese in total control to set up tries for Jamie Lyon and Luke Patten.
But City finished the game with all the running, storming home with six second half tries to blow the game wide open.
Country lock Alan Tongue scored his side's only try of the second half and was among his side's best, along with halfback Mullen who tried hard all night.
The match could prove costly for St George Illawarra duo Beau Scott and Ben Creagh as the Country pair were placed on report for separate lifting tackles.
City also suffered a blow with five-eighth John Sutton sustaining a suspected broken hand after just ten minutes that could rule him out for South Sydney for four weeks.
Wallace didn't want to get carried away with his man of the match efforts, insisting the race was still on until the NSW side was named on May 25.
"It is a step in the right direction but I'm not counting my chickens yet," said Wallace.
"Probably the most pleasing thing was how the team all went together, not my game."
City coach John Cartwright said the emphatic scoreline, which ended up 40-6 in his side's favour in the final 50 minutes, should be reflected when the Blues side is announced in two weeks.
"We totally dominated them after that first 20 minutes," said Cartwright.
"Any of the contentious positions I thought City boys totally outplayed them.
"If they base their decision on that game then a lot of City boys deserve to be picked."
Country coach Laurie Daley was disappointed with the second half from his side but didn't believe the scoreline reflected the contest as City ran in three tries in the final seven minutes.
Daley, who is also one of four Blues selectors, said there were standouts from both sides but no one had secured a NSW jersey yet.
However, he couldn't deny that the largest victory in the fixture since Country's 42-10 win in 2001, would carry weight at the table.
"That's an argument, that is something that will carry sway given we have talked it up as a State of Origin selection trial," he said.
"I think they (selectors) will be very pleased, it will still be a tough selection."
Country forward Creagh accepted an early guilty plea to a grade one dangerous throw charge on Luke O'Donnell and is now free to play for the Dragons in Saturday's NRL clash with North Queensland.
Teammate Beau Scott escape a charge for his tackle on Michael Jennings.
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