If there is one core difference between NSW and Queensland it comes down to one word…loyalty. To be honest, the NSW squad selected last week for the second State of Origin match left me both astounded and disappointed.
Like most Blues supporters I was prepared to accept the need for the youth policy that the selectors had adopted for Melbourne clash; that there would be a foundation for coming seasons built around the likes of Gidley, Farah, Wallace, Creagh and Campese.
However, the NSW selectors suddenly lost the need to look to the future and decided to drop Campese for Trent Barrett, who while having found form after returning to the NRL is far from an investment in the future.
It hurts me to say this but make no mistake, selecting Barrett is not only an attempt to get a quick fix but it will not make one ounce of difference on Wednesday night. His inclusion alone will not ensure victory for the Blues.
It is also the biggest show of panic that I have ever seen by any sporting team administration or selection panel.
This isn’t the first time that NSW have dropped a player after building them up as the ‘next big thing’. Jarrod Mullen and Mitchell Pearce are just two names that come to mind.
The difference is that everyone accepted and recognised the need to stick by the young squad to build the foundation for the next few seasons, rather than sticking with a generation of players who have not delivered (as team) at Origin level.
It also comes down to showing some loyalty in the talent that is identified and giving them a chance to prove themselves in the toughest stage in Rugby League.
It is not like NSW haven’t tried investing in youth before. One just has to think back to the 1989 season where Jack Gibson put young, green players into the Lang Park cauldron.
Names like Daley, Clyde and Lazarus were thrown to the wolves that night and suffered accordingly. However, these three players became an integral part of both NSW and Australian teams for the next decade.
Fear and panic is something that just doesn’t happen north of the Tweed when it comes to Origin. You always hear the talk around how much the Maroon jumper means to the Queenslanders and the values it stands for: mateship, confidence in the blokes standing next to you and backing yourself to dig deep and deliver for the team.
As a dyed in the wool Blues supporter, it annoys me to hear that year upon year. One thing you can not deny is that a big part of this Queensland culture is in part due to the loyalty that the selectors show in their players.
It is a lesson that their NSW counterparts need to not only take heed of but have the courage of their convictions.
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