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I might be the offseason but a lot has been going on in rugby league over the last few weeks, especially with the international games.
Off the field there has also been plenty to keep us interested, such as the Kirisome Auva’a case.
Too many people have already written about a lot of these things but I decided to just get my thoughts out there. Thus, I introduce to you my (pardon the pun) Set of 6.
First Tackle: Origin is still the biggest stage in rugby league
I know what you are all thinking, It’s only mid-November and the NRL season hasn’t even started. It is way, way to early to be thinking of Origin.
Don’t worry, this isn’t about Origin, well not really. Yet, following another year where the Kiwis managed to stick it to the Kangaroos on the world stage, it has never been more evident that State of Origin is the biggest stage in rugby league.
I think that there is no longer a massive difference in quality between the teams that run out for an Origin game and the teams that run out in black and white for an international. Yet if I had one game to show someone to try and make them understand what league is all about, it would be an Origin game.
There is just something about the State of Origin competition that international league hasn’t managed to get right yet.
As I watched Sione Mata’utia score a try that got called back for a 50/50 call on a forward pass, I didn’t find myself all that worried.
Australia lost to New Zealand, I want to blow up and be angry and frustrated, I want to blame the referee and ultimately I want to care. I really, really do. But I find that I just don’t have it in me.
But then, imagine if it was a Darius Boyd try being called back with 30 seconds to go in an Origin game. Imagine the calls coming from us Queenslanders, accusing all sorts of people from the NRL, to the referee of cheating.
Imagine the New South Welshmen blowing up if it was awarded.
There is something just not quite right in Test matches just yet, and it is the passion of the fans – especially the Australians.
I know a concerning amount of Australians who not only are indifferent that Australia lost but actually hoped New Zealand would win. Claiming to either hate Aaron Woods, Sam Thaiday, Greg Bird, Cameron Smith, Daly Cherry-Evans, David Klemmer, Dylan Walker or in one particularly case, all of the above.
If we want the international game to grow to the level of, or even outgrow Origin, this is an issue that really needs to be addressed.
The rivalry can’t afford to be so quickly dismissed by Australians. Also congratulations to New Zealand on winning a fantastic Four Nations tournament.
Second Tackle- Kirisome Auva’a
I don’t feel the need to write a long section on Auva’a but I do have a few thoughts on the events surrounding his suspension.
Firstly, I would like to refer you all to Sean’s Roar article ‘The truth and hearsay in the Kirisome Auva’a case.’ It is wonderfully written and researched and covers every point I could cover in much better detail than I could. So if you haven’t read it, please go and check it out.
Secondly, I would like to implore anyone who has been able to avoid the misfortune of reading Buzz Rothfield’s article to do so.
The fact that he has attempted to place blame on current NRL management for the mismanagement of the Brett Stewart case is ridiculous and the comparisons to the idiocy of Blake Ferguson and Paul Gallen are equally absurd.
Finally, just for the record, I think the punishment is fair and warranted but I do wish him all the best in turning his life around and improving himself.
Third Tackle: Hayne Plane in the US of A
Definitely my favourite story of the off-season so far. It is also possibly the most ridiculous.
I am an NFL fan and I watch way, way too much for my own good. Do I think he can make it in the NFL?
No, not really…
But I can’t wait to watch and find out!
Fourth Tackle: Future of the Kangaroos
Looking at the Australian team that lined up for us on the weekend it is obvious that the team in the next few years will become vastly different than the team we have right now.
Ageing players will step aside and young guys will have to be ready to step up to the plate. Looking to far ahead is always a bad idea with rep sides, but I decided to have my own attempt at predicting the side for the next Rugby League World Cup in 2017, and explain in a sentence why I selected them.
1. Greg Inglis (captain) – He will be 30 by then, but I have no reason to believe he won’t still be the best fullback in the NRL – barring a Hayne return.
2. Josh Mansour – Good not great in his first stint for the green and gold, definitely deserves a spot in the team.
3. Michael Jennings – Another superb year from the man they call Jenko, was consistently one of the best players on the field every game he played all year.
4. TauTau Moga – This was one of the toughest positions for me to select and I ended up deciding to taking a flyer on an under the radar player.
I really rate this guy, but it is quite possible the player who will fill this spot isn’t an established first grader yet. Other potential contenders are Dylan Walker and Tim Lafai.
5. Sione Mata’Utia – Words cannot describe how impressed I was with this guy, he is going to be a great player for a very long time. If the Bulldogs manage to steal him from the Knights, they will have a hell of a side.
6. Ben Hunt – Another guy I have rated since I saw him running around for St. Brendans in high school. He impressed me at every opportunity this year.
7. Daly Cherry-Evans – Picks himself as the best of Australia’s next generation of halves.
8. Dave Klemmer – This guy can flat out play, a little bit of inexperience showed through but in a few years time he should be a polished player.
9. Jake Friend – This guy is an outright superstar of the game, it is no coincidence the Roosters struggled once he went down and then tried to play through an injury.
10. Aaron Woods – I am not really a fan, but I am resigned to the fact he seems to be in the picture.
11. Boyd Cordner – Another player I am not massive on, despite being a Roosters supporter, but he is still young and improving. Once he irons out a few flaws in his passing game he should be a pretty good player.
12. Josh Jackson – I am not fully sold on his ability to run good lines and make metres, but he is a tackling machine and doesn’t mind to set up his outside man.
13. Matt Gillett – His inconsistencies seem to have stopped his international career before it even really got started, but if he can sort them out a strong year or two for the Broncos should have him right back in the frame.
14. Josh McGuire – I am all in on this guy after his stellar performances for Samoa, and prior to a month ago I couldn’t stand him.
15. Dylan Napa – Super aggressive, runs hard and hits even harder. Once he sorts out his discipline he will be a force in the NRL.
16. Josh Papali – See Aaron Woods. I can’t see what they see in this guy, he had one good season. Nevertheless he makes my 2017 World Cup side.
17. James Segeyaro – What more could you want than this guy coming in off the bench to take a scoot out of dummy half into a tiring forward pack.
In all likelihood my team will be so wrong it is ridiculous, but that is just what I am seeing right now. The 1, 6, 7 and 9 looks like a really promising spine. And Dave Klemmer and Sione Mata’Utia are the real deal.
Fifth Tackle – Samoa and their future on the international landscape
If Samoa had scored just two more tries against New Zealand and England they would have been playing Australia for a spot in the final, even in the months since the World Cup this team has came a long way.
But now they will not play against the big nations until potentially the next World Cup. As long as their is such a big gap between the Tests, these smaller nations players will continue to elect to play for the big three countries first. It is a real shame we won’t see that side for so long.
Sixth Tackle – PSA
Just a quick note that I am planning some sort of preview of the NRL season, but not a serious one – god knows we have enough of those. It should be a lot of fun and part one should be out sometime in the next month.
I also am planning on doing something similar to the Classic Y2K and Breaking Madden series with Rugby League Live 2, but haven’t decided what yet. It should also be pretty funny, if I say so myself.
And finally Roarers, what do you think is holding back the Test matches from being held in the same regard as the State of Origin series?
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