05/31/2009 Car industry`s future hangs in balance
THE US auto industry faces a day of reckoning today, with the looming bankruptcy of auto giant General Motors and an expected court ruling on the sale of automaker Chrysler to a group led by Italy`s Fiat
05/31/2009 Stoner dethrones Italian prince
Casey Stoner held off the fast-finishing Jorge Lorenzo to win the Italian Grand Prix and bring to an end Valentino Rossi`s seven-year reign at Mugello
05/31/2009 TV network`s biggest spenders exposed
THE rest of the world might be belt-tightening, but a secret look at the books of Channel 9 has exposed the network`s biggest spenders when it comes to dressing the part of a TV star
05/31/2009 Bus accident kills 15
FIFTEEN Indonesians were killed today when an inter-city bus lost control due to a brake failure in Sumatra, police said
05/31/2009 Man chops off his penis
AN Egyptian cut off his penis today in protest at his parents` choice of bride, a police official said
05/31/2009 Woman wedged between wall and unit
A WOMAN was trapped in a 30cm gap between a home unit and a sandstone wall for four hours
05/31/2009 Corbys want Rudd to deliver
SCHAPELLE Corby and her family say Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a deal to help them
05/31/2009 Beating allegations concern top cop
FOOTAGE of police allegedly using excessive force is concerning, says commissioner
05/31/2009 Boyle plots her future
UNLIKELY Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle was plotting her future today after her shock defeat in the Britain`s Got Talent television show which made her a worldwide star thanks to the Internet
05/31/2009 Cousins `sorry` for gesture
Controversial Richmond star Ben Cousins could face an AFL sanction for his pre-game one-fingered salute to a camera in a controversial but successful return to Perth on Saturday night
05/31/2009 Octo-mum to star in reality show
CONTROVERSIAL American mother of octuplets, Nadya Suleman, will star in a reality series
05/31/2009 Market to open higher on Monday
05/31/2009 Locke stars in Warriors win
The Warriors have uncovered a hidden gem in debutant winger Kevin Locke and snapped a three-game losing streak in the process with a 14-0 victory over Wests Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday
05/31/2009 Knights hold on for win
Newcastle held off a stunning second half fightback to beat the Bulldogs 22-14 at EnergyAustralia on Sunday in an NRL match again marred by controversial video referee rulings
05/31/2009 Maroons prepare for aggression
Queensland are prepared for an aggressive NSW pack to try anything in the Blues` desperation to avoid a fourth straight State of Origin series defeat
05/31/2009 Whincup bounces back
Ford ace Jamie Whincup bounced back to form to extend his domination of the V8 Supercars Championship with victory in Sunday`s confusing mini-enduro at Symmons Plains
05/31/2009 Walker in the park for Crows
A barnstorming first half helped Adelaide Crows to a 27-point AFL victory over Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium to further dent the Hawks` AFL premiership defence
05/31/2009 Magpies take Port apart at MCG
A scorching second half from Collingwood has handed the Magpies a comprehensive 38-point win over Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday evening
05/31/2009 Government says Holden should be safe
THE Government is optimistic Holden will not be affected by the woes of its US parent GM
05/31/2009 GDP figures all-important: Swan
THE Treasurer has said that this week`s GDP figures will show the impact of the global downturn
A nightmare build-up was bad enough, but nothing compared to the suffering that awaited New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium.

When the dust settled on a spiteful clash, Queensland had staked their claim as Origin`s greatest by sealing a record fifth straight Origin series with a 34-6 victory.

But more pain is expected for fiery NSW backrower Luke O`Donnell.

The Maroons faithful in the 52,452-strong crowd went into party mode as Queensland continued their golden run - a 10-4 win-loss record since their winning streak began in 2006.

Only Queensland`s 13-3 record from 1922-26 is better.

It was going to take something special to take the focus away from the Andrew Johns racial row that had marred NSW`s shocking countdown to Origin II - but it became a subplot after O`Donnell`s brain explosion.

The Cowboys enforcer was considered lucky not to be sent off in the 26th minute when the match erupted following his ugly spear tackle on Maroons winger Darius Boyd.

He was placed on report - but that may be the least of his worries.

After O`Donnell`s shocking tackle sparked an all-in, the fired-up North Queensland forward could be seen headbutting David Taylor as the Queenslander was restrained by NSW`s Joel Monaghan.

While O`Donnell appeared to come off second best in the end after Sam Thaiday had finished with him, the Cowboys backrower looks set to have an even bigger headache when he appears before the judiciary considering his NRL rap sheet.

Not much had gone right for NSW in the countdown to arguably their most important clash in Origin`s 30-year history.

And the trend certainly continued from the kick-off.

Days after Johns` now infamous racial slurs rocked the countdown to Origin II, the question remained: ``How would the Maroons` indigenous stars respond?``

The fired-up Suncorp Stadium crowd didn`t have to wait long for the answer.

In the third minute a pumped Greg Inglis - the focus of Johns` rant that cost him his NSW assistant-coaching gig - had dragged two defenders over to score.

By the 12th, Israel Folau - another reportedly in Johns` sights on last week`s Blues bonding night - had latched onto a floating Willie Tonga pass and crossed with one of his first touches of the game to make it 10-0.

Asked how the Johns saga had affected him, Inglis told Channel Nine: ``It showed in my game tonight.

"I was pretty upset about it, and it`s pretty disappointing."

Cameron Smith gave NSW a sniff when he inexplicably kicked the ball out on the full not once but twice.

Yet by halftime Queensland had crossed again through Darius Boyd (35th minute) to make it 16-0.

It could have been worse. Billy Slater`s 31st minute effort was called back due to a dubious forward pass ruling.

It was more of the same in the second half as Queensland kept scoring, and players kept biffing.

The niggling act between Inglis and NSW centre Beau Scott boiled over in the 57th minute when the pair went toe to toe.

But there was no stopping the Maroons juggernaut as they blew out to a 34-0 lead through Tonga (44th), Folau (48th) and Cooper Cronk (62nd).

After Brett Morris was called back in the 74th minute for off-side, NSW finally got on the board through prop Brett White in the final minute, ensuring Queensland did not seal a record-breaking victory over the Blues.

It was the only solace for a badly beaten Blues outfit on Wednesday night.

In another headache for NSW, Paul Gallen was placed on report for a 23rd minute high shot on Nate Myles.

"I told you I was going to get him back," Gallen could be heard saying on the referee`s microphone.

AAP

Maroons embarrass woeful Blues   06/16/2010
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