Well once again Wednesday night showed that perhaps an 80-minute performance from a year ago, which meant nothing to one side and everything to another, with different teams isn’t the golden barometer it is trotted out to be.
For almost a year we’ve heard how great the Blues were in that final Origin, how much spirit they played with in a dead rubber. Only to be shown again that both the team and the selectors are sadly lacking.
If you pick wide running, ball playing back rowers without clearly better props you will lose more often than you win against a better constructed side.
One day there will be an NRL team with enough foresight to employ a 17-year-old that understands that regression and correlation aren’t medical conditions and, combined with a seasoned scout because objective analysis needs a subjective filter, they will probably tear apart the league for a good four to five years before everyone figures it out.
The numbers tell you that for all the verbose praise that is slathered on our outside backs like gravy on a Yorkshire pud, the game is won by better kicking, better kick returning, less errors and a well directed forward pack that wins the battle of the advantage line.
You want to win games then win the battle of field position. It is simple, it is boring, but it is effective, and most importantly, it is how Origin games are won or lost.
And yet NSW left Gallen at home, not a great human being but a damn good blunt instrument for going forward, as they went into battle against a seasoned Maroons outfit.
When I saw the rain start falling in waves on Macquarie street yesterday I smiled a wry smile. The gods were angry with NSW and their in ability to grasp the basics of football.
Despite the vast majority of the rub of the green calls, NSW last night looked like a state of 1,000, not eight and a bit million.
The basic selection philosophy, not some two foot extension that comes with a Maroon jumper, is why despite NSW having double the population, Queensland is always competitive. Our slow-minded uneducated backwater selectors actually understand how rugby league works.
So long as NSW persist with their current selection practices, Queensland remains a chance to always outperform them.
sheek
Guest
Slow day.....
allblackfan
Guest
I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to RL matters socan someone explain to me why Jamal Idris could make his SOO debut ahead of a bloke like Jamie Soward? Or why Gidley was chosen ahead of Hayne at fullback? Or why Mason wasn't considered?
Roger Rational
Guest
Wow, sheek, you do love these crazy cultural explanations don't you? Next you'll be telling us that NSW is too "English". And there was me thinking that Qld just had better players...
sheek
Guest
Queensland are like a small village team. They are intimate with each other & care deeply about each other. They combine & pull together for the community good. NSW are like a large town team. They know each other but only on a casual basis. Those from one end of town aren't particularly concerned with those from another end of town. The unity isn't as tight as for the small village. NSW has more players to pick from (quantity) but Qld has the game-breakers (quality). Having too much can sometimes be a problem. Qld are more persevering with their smaller pool of players. NSW players come from too many different agendas. When NSW find a 17 who want to win more & for each other than Qld does, then it will win SOO. You can theorise about types of players but selectors can't put desire into a player they select. it has to burn in the player himself. Anyway, these are just a few different perspective.....
damoinaus
Roar Pro
"The gods were angry with NSW and their in ability to grasp the basics of football" - very funny stuff mate. Blinder of a post. I'm not sure why every NSW supporter seems to almost unanimously agree on a team, but a few braindead selectors can't get it right. I agree with LK though, Bellamy has had a major influence on the makeup of the squad. He can coach a team of cheats, but has no hope trying to beat his own. He has one more game to prove he can really coach - then it's lights out.
LK
Guest
I might get torched for this, but I don't think the selectors are the problem. Both Fairfax and News Ltd papers reported that Bellamy got the team he wanted. Not only in game 1 this year but also game 2 and 3 last year. A couple of the NSW selectors are also Australian selectors and there are subtle differences between the Kangaroos and the Blues (Gallen's omission). Selectors are an easy target but I'm not sure they deserve all the blame.