Ideally Gidley could find a role for NSW like that of Issac Luke for South Sydney and NZ, i.e., as a replacement hooker for after the 30-minute mark of a match. The problem with this is that NSW like to play a hooker who will be the brains on the field for the whole match, i.e., someone like Farah or Buderus (cf. NZ’s use of Thomas Leuluai, who is OK but not in the league of these two). I know that NSW experimented at times with giving Buderus a rest, but it never really worked, not least of all because the player himself hated it. I suppose that if they go with someone like Ennis at hooker, it could work to start him for the period of really tough stuff, and then bring on Gidley once the game starts to open up.

Anyway, interesting times for NSW. I guess many of us feel that they have the players to beat Qld if they get it right at the selection table and tactically. So far that has only happened occasionally under Bellamy, which is a disappointment given how good a coach he otherwise seems to be. The only way for NSW to beat this Qld side is to get everything correct.

I feel the other key area for NSW is back-row, because this is the one area where they can be confident of superiority over Qld. But they have struggled to get the balance right in their selections, as has Australia. This is ironic given that back-row is one thing that B McCarthy should understand well.

And it’s interesting that at what is meant to be the deadest time of year for rugby league, plenty of people are keen to discuss it. Obviously people are not all that enthused about other sport on offer at the moment.

Do you think the old guys lament grabbing people’s testicles or rubbing someone face so hard to make their stitches split just to keep them off the field? Does that make Gallen a hard nut?

As I said, he wouldn’t have lasted 5 minutes in the 80’s where rough play was allowed but so were square-ups and those actions descibed in the article might have seen him smashed into little pieces….

“I don’t believe any selector could close his eyes and honestly imagine Kurt Gidley leading a winning team onto the field and holding the trophy aloft.”

Well I was wrong about the selectors, but I was right with my comment!

At the time of writing the above, I therefore expected Gallen to be named NSW captain. Not sure if that is politically possible now, given his subsequent suspension for racial comments. Who then? If necessary the selectors should just have a look around at the club captains, and choose the best option. But definitely not Gidley!

In fact, Gidley can be grateful to Japanese rugby (for luring Craig Wing away) that he will even get the NSW 14 jersey next year.

What Gallen does today would not have attracted as much coverage in the 80’s. Its funny, when the rep teams are announced and the old school players lament the lack of mongrel, they always mention Gallen as one of the few players with the “old school” mentality.

Gallen’s not a throwback, he just would’ve copped it back much more than he does now. Can you imagine him cheap shotting Ray Price or Dallas Donnelly? He would’ve been chewed up and spat out.

As for Gallen, No thanks, he’s a walking penalty and a cheap shot merchant, I still stuggle to see how he gets picked for representative teams so don’t make him captain….I might have to cheer for the Maroons over him winning a series as captain….

Ennis is made for SOO (even though I think he’s a w@nker), he’s tough and doesn’t take a backward step, he can kick goals as well.

TRY ASSISTS PLAYING FULLBACK;
2008
STEWART 14 FROM 24 GAMES (EQUAL TOP WITH SLATER)
HAYNE 2 FROM 6 GAMES
2009
STEWART 3 FROM 5 GAMES
HAYNE 15 FROM 19 GAMES

Hayne =fullback
Stewart = Origin winger