Throughout the week in the lead up to the match, the national media was desperate to draw each side into a slinging match in the hope of a fist-to-cuff curtain raiser to the series. Media commentators were hungry for the dramatic finish of the 2009 series to continue into the first match this year.
However, team coaches and senior players put a dampener on that plot and replaced the (misguided) desired negative sportsmanship with great examples of good old traditional Rugby League. An outcome that would've put a smile across the NRL's Chief's face given the dramatics of the past months.
The final two games will surely be just as exciting with New South Wales desperate not to face a fifth straight series loss to Queensland.
Meanwhile, the other Rugby code is also going from strength to strength despite no Australian team in the final. The 2010 Super14's Grand Final, to be played out between two South African teams, the Bulls and the Stormers, is set to be a cracker at the Orlando Stadium in the South West Township (SOWETO), Johannesburg.
It'll be difficult to pick who wins but I recommend all Australian's cheer for the team that doesn't have Schalk Burger in it – go the BULLS!
NRL Round 12
• Dragons over the Eels
• Wests to beat the Warriors
• Brisbane will put Cronulla back in their place
• Manly to beat the Cowboys in the humid north
• Storm over the Bulldogs
• Penrith to continue their winning ways over the Rabbits
• Gold Coast at home will easily outdo the Roosters
It's amazing how the attitude of our leaders can have such a significant impact on those following. For example, the State of Origin, or a misplaced word or unwarranted tone of speech by a Reserve Bank Governor can send the financial markets into a spin.
This can also be the case in our families, or at work when people are looking to us for leadership. Whether it's your reaction to a teenager out past curfew or a comment to a workmate rubbing you the wrong way, no matter the situation you find yourself in, you're called as a Christian to always be Christ like in attitude. Philippians 2:5