Whilst the Queenslanders casually consider letting one of the best players in the game spectate, New South Welshmen scribble furiously on the drawing board, attempting to avoid the loaded gun which awaits them at Suncorp and which is clearly pointing at another series defeat.
It seems as if most people are resigned to the fact that Queensland have Origin on lock for the time being and NSW will continue to field a team that “might” one day get lucky.
Unfortunately, the problem bleeds much deeper than simply waiting for the personnel to get their act together, the fact is, NSW have the talent, you only need to browse over the list of players dominating the stats sheets so far this season.
However, it seems NSW lack the key elements that Queensland are applying so well. Firstly, the selection approach must be reviewed.
Not just the players, and not just the coach, but also the people making the decisions or lack thereof who are suffocating rugby league in NSW and have been for some time.
It seems a protected species, or, more appropriately an ageing species that is long in need of new blood from players of the modern area, not relics of another era when the style of football played compared to the modern area is akin to chalk and cheese.
For Game 1, Bellamy was allowed to reject players that are not only proven Origin performers, but have proven themselves on the international stage. I can only imagine Paul Gallen sitting up last Wednesday night smoking Cuban’s in his Kangaroos jersey, laughing as the blues were schooled by the Maroons.
Why was Bellamy given open slather? Well, they let him. Simple as that.
What’s the point of having a selection committee when one man has the final say? Bellamy made a call for the team to remain as is after Origin 1. Why? They gave themselves little argument for re-selection. Beaten easily on home soil, and furthermore, had it not been a wet track the score line probably would have been greater.
As a coach, Bellamy has been exposed, not only at club level, in which he’s been assisted by a dream team, but now at representative level, where he is now a proven failure.
Player selection was unusual. How NSW were given the favourites tag I’ll never know.
On paper, Queensland had a proven Origin side, whilst NSW had rag tag mob running around in positions that many do not play week in and week out, being positions which earnt them their spot in the team in the first place.
Brett Kimmorley has the heart of a lion, and will tackle all day, however, wouldn’t bruise a grape. Does NSW really need their half-back carrying that workload when he’s less creative with the boot than Anthony Watmough? I think not.
Kurt Gidley likewise has a big heart, he’s a proven club footballer with great versatility, but was about as effective as a draught horse in the Melbourne Cup. Matt Cooper was, well, either injured or too busy thinking about how he looked on the camera. Maybe he was playing hurt?
Can I suggest a more strenuous fitness test next time?
Perhaps bite down on the same bullet Cameron Smith did. Another note on Cooper, and this one harps on the cohesion and togetherness of what most people consider a team should be able to do. Cooper didn’t link arms during the anthem and was absent from the team’s half time discussion.
If he knew he wasn’t going to continue then perhaps he could consider giving the exercise bike a miss.
Matt, we know you have great calves … but pull the socks up and just play footy.
Not only was a lack of ability apparent at that level, but also a lack of awareness from players who we consider to be among the best in the game.
Hayne on the wing and Lyon at five-eighth. We all know these are not their preferred positions, however, they’ve both played there more than enough times to adapt like a professionals. No excuses as far as I’m concerned. Up-front, well, who knows if NSW will ever find the same spirit as the Maroons, with blokes like Neville Costigan, Petero, and Sam Thaiday, who are in my view proven die hards.
It seems the NSW forward pack believe that that just because you get a bit of blood on your sleeve, you’ve played a good game. Their lack of heart was apparent last year when Ben Creagh retreated like a rat up a drainpipe when Justin Hodges barked and showed he had the minerals required for Origin.
Unfortunately it’s going to take more than a Michael Ennis verbal and face massage to square the ledger. NSW have deeper problems, and until they are addressed, Queensland will walk it in.
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