The hype around Origin pauses momentarily as teams head back out for Round 11 this weekend, albeit with plenty of sides enjoying the bye. But as clubs have just finished factoring in Origin representation bonuses to players’ pay packets, they now factor in how to survive without their stars. The Origin period tightrope begins.
Friday night sees the Knight’s minus Kurt Gidley take on the Tigers in Newcastle.
Here’s a cheat note: if you know nothing about rugby league but find yourself at a venue in NSW where everybody else is watching the game, just proclaim loudly at the start of the evening – “How did Kurt Gidley get in?” – and you’ll be able to coast through the evening.
With Gidley in the side, the Knights would have fancied themselves against the Tigers, who were disgraceful last week and then ignored by the selectors.
However, no Gidley and a Tigers team keen to avenge for the public humiliation makes it a tough match to pick (even tougher if you are tipping like me this season).
The Eels lose two players to the Blues, but the catch is that one is Jarryd Hayne.
Hayne was at the centre of nearly everything the Eels did well against the Sea Eagles and he is a massive loss against the Sharks, who like the Tigers, keep their squad intact.
The Sharks stunned the Eels first time around this year. Can they do it again? Probably not.
With Steve Price out injured, the Warriors don’t feel the glare of selectors and take on a Rabbitohs side in Auckland missing human bowling ball Dave Taylor.
The often tackle shy Warriors forwards will enjoy the break, and Taylor’s strike power will be missed by a Souths side who have been up and down this season but are on an up, which Taylor has been a big contributor to.
The Rabbitohs have enough quality players to cover Taylor, but both sides have been so inconsistent this season the rep factor is hardly the be all and end all of any tipping selection.
Only a outbreak of the Black Plague could harm the Dragons line-up more than Origin time and the Raiders have won big by getting the pace-setting side without five starting players.
The Raiders themselves have lost Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and David Shillington, but this is a massive chance for them to earn two points. Few would have given them hope of winning had both teams been at full strength.
The round ends on Monday with two sides desperate for a win: the Panthers to keep pace with the other top four sides and the Dogs to remain close to the top eight.
The Panthers pack take a hit losing Petero Civoniceva, Luke Lewis and Trent Waterhouse, making the return of Frank Pritchard absolutely crucial. While for the Bulldogs, they lose the two players most responsible for steering them around the park in Michael Ennis and Brett Kimmorley.
The Dogs have been struggling to score points at the best of times recently, so the absence of their two attacking leaders, along with boom centre Jamal Idris, is a real hit.
The only positive for Dogs’ fans is the chance to see Ben Barba in action for longer than 15 minutes, which has been all Kevin Moore has been willing to risk on him.
The club’s top try scorer, the game could make or break Barba. One thing is for sure, he’ll get plenty of tackling practice.
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