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It was the moment Origin fans, both blue and maroon, had been waiting for and it drew by far the loudest cheer (jeer?) of the night. When Jonathon Thurston successfully stripped NSW fullback Kurt Gidley of possession in the 67th minute to put Sam Thaiday across the try line, a great deal was realised.
For the Maroons, it sealed victory in what had been talked up as a titanic clash and it rubber stamped Thurston’s origin immortality.
For many NSW fans, it was just what they had been waiting for – the token Kurt Gidley Origin stuff-up.
Seldom has such venom been aimed at a single rugby league player, let alone a state’s captain, as the barbs that have been direct at Gidley this past week. From Cooma to Coolangatta, a flurry of angry blogs and Facebook pages arrived taking aim Gidley’s naming in the team for Origin 1, with many still unable to forget (or forgive) his blooper-laden efforts in the 09 series.
It is difficult to imagine the resentment shown towards Gidley having existed for any previous NSW captain, which is quite a feat considering they were captained for a period by the thoroughly unlikeable Benny Elias.
The ill-feeling post game 1 has since begun to make its way in the mainstream media, with all but Gidley’s closest allies calling for his position to go to Jarryd Hayne – extraordinary in itself considering Hayne is no Justin Bieber in the popularity stakes.
In short, Gidley is currently the most unpopular Hunter footballing export since the Mariners of ’97. And one must remember the Mariners top crowd during their feeble existence was 7,719.
Much of the animosity shown towards Gidley by NSW fans stems from the perceived notion that he has been gifted not only a position, but the captaincy, for a job which he does not have the attributes. He is hailed as a ‘natural leader’ and therefore captain-but fans are liable to ask, “What in fact has he led his NRL team the Newcastle Knights to?”
Over the last two seasons the Knights’ victories have been sporadic, and their displays consistently inconsistent. Is this the great leader the media constantly refers to?
In his recent biography ‘The Two of Me’ Gidley’s good friend Andrew Johns relates a story of how Gidley had Johns and friends thrown out of a Byron Bay backpacker hostel because his loud snoring drew complaints from other guests.
One can’t but help and wonder if this is in fact the only reason Gidley has been handed the NSW captaincy, so as to save a team mate from a sleepless night.
This connection with Johns is further troubling given Johns’ position in both the media and on the NSW coaching staff. Johns is constantly glowing in his praise of Gidley, going to great lengths to point out his toughness and versatility.
Whilst even the creator of the “Get rid of Gidley’ Facebook page would agree with Johns’ sentiments to some degree, there still sits an uncomfortable conflict of interest with the NSW assistant coach’s continual public praising of an admitted close friend.
It was this inability to separate personal friendship and balanced public opinion that saw once fan favourite (and another Newcastle great) Paul Harragon hounded off the Channel 9 commentary team, with fans growing increasingly fed up with his red and blue vision of the footballing world.
Gidley also failed to win over sceptical NSW fans with his comments in the media last week relating to the fiery third game of the 2009 origin series (the one not remembered for Gidley’s bungles).
When questioned about Cameron Smith’s now infamous ‘up and under for an all in’ Gidley alluded to the skill and personal risk he took by catching the kick.
Whilst no one doubts QLD had at the time taken partial leave of their senses, it is still difficult to imagine great footballing fullback’s from the past – Jack, Dorahy, Chruchill – making note of the fact that they had caught a bomb.
Having failed to cover defend against QLD’s rampant outside backs or position himself adequately in the earlier two games of the series, surely this was the least that was expected of Gidley?
In Hayne, NSW has a Ferarri waiting in the wings, whilst Gidley’s Holden utility is constantly getting dragged off at the lights.
And here in lies the issue. What is expected from players in Origin series far, far outweighs what is expected of mere mortal NRL players.
Gidley has proven himself to be a versatile club player who consistently performs to a high level in the NRL. Many comparisons can be drawn between himself and the Dragons’ Ben Hornby; both are players who are pivotal to their club side’s success and have mastered a number of positions through shear tenacity.
But, just as Hornby became first a representitive utility and then club cornerstone, so too should Gidley make way. Because if he can do anything less than cover-defend a Greg Inglis breakaway and holdup Dave Taylor over the line, then he should not be the man at the back for NSW.
And if NSW selectors aren’t game enough to tell him this, then just like at Byron Bay Backpackers, there are plenty of others out there who are willing to.
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