Forget stopping Inglis, just stop the rot

if thurston is the worlds best player, then who is the worlds worst player

maybe thats how hes been the most successful coach for nsw

Gareth, I think Gus Gould summed it up perfectly a couple of weeks ago when he said that although Gallen is a stand out for Cronulla (read: surrounded by mainly ordinary footballers), you're never really sure of what position he's playing in. On minute he's at half back, next he's in the full back's position. He sometimes takes it up like a prop and then he's the widest second rower you've ever seen. If he played like that at Origin level, where the game is played at a much more structured style, he would simply get in people's way. So he's forced to stay on one side of the field and also in the position he was selected. I think this is where his frustrations are born. If NSW don't start picking player who are really Origin types i.e. Heighington (80 mins and no B.S.) then will will continue to get beat.

I'm beginning to wonder about Gallen. He's been useless at Origin level every time he's played, and even though he's had brain snaps at club level, I've been very impressed with him this season because he's just put his head down, left all his usual nonsense on the sideline and played footy. In a well beaten side (most weeks) he's almost always their best, and I expected a similar performance on Wednesday night. But rather than knuckling down, playing a lot of minutes, carting the ball for a couple of hundred metres and making 30+ tackles - he reverted back to his usual grubby self. I think part of it was the laughable game plan to bash some of the game's toughest customers out of the game, and part of it was this belief that Origin is all about aggression and niggle. I think Greg Bird would suffer the same fate with too much faith in this ridiculous "bash brothers" mentality. Aside from that, he's mistake prone, and suspect in defense. I think in the second row we should always have Hindmarsh there, but pair him up with some good young prospects like Cory Paterson or Mitch Aubusson. They're both 80 minute players with a good work rate but also a knack for promoting second phase play. Paterson's defense can be an issue at times, so I'd be tempted to keep him in tight, probably at lock. I'd also keep Tom Learoyd-Lahrs there. He's been a standout in both games this year, and both games he's played out of position in the front row. He'd be even better out a bit wider. Watmough or Lewis would then be good choices to keep some experience there, but I think Shaun Fensom should be there as a Nathan Hindmarsh of the future. It's funny (not really) that before teams were picked, the media was always talking about how easy it would be for NSW to pick back-rowers because we had so many good ones - and somehow we ended up with Creagh and Waterhouse. Both are great at club level, but just don't seem to handle the heavier stuff. Creagh in particular should've been blacklisted for Game 3 2009's fairy tap incident.

Is that the same side that got absolutely smoked by a pretty average Roosters side?

Well don't let them go to waste. Send 'em my way.

To us neutrals down here in Melbourne the problems NSW have would be easily solved if Craig would just pick from our Toyota cup side (The one that seen off the bulldogs a couple of weeks ago). Make the SOO a Melbourne affair ( with well paid players ).The game might even rival afl.

My thoughts exactly.But others better than Bird, fraid he is in the same mould as the two you want to rid NSW of. Manlys Stewart and Watmough MUST be together in the forwards.

For 5 years the QLD team have held NSW down in the rucks and got away with it. When NSW tried do it they were penalised. NSW have been more heavily penalised in the last 5 years than QLD. Like all League matches when one team feels they are not getting a fair go in the ruck they have no choice but to take matters into their own hands, it is the only way to get respect. In game 1 this year watch the NSW forwards, there were times they tried to stand up and get agressive to get faster play the ball. The minute they did QLD agression increased and the NSW forwards backed down, all that did was allow QLD forwards to dominate more, when QLD tired NSW got a chance to score points. You need to lay a good platform with good go forward in any game of league. At Origin level there should never be a big gap between forward packs but slowing the play the ball down is a way for one team to make a wider gap. It is up to the ref to do his job and ensure the play the ball is even, be it all slow or all quick. This gives both backlines a chance to shine and have opportunities. I don't care what backline you have, I have watched enough of Thurston or Locky for their clubs when their forwards don't go forward to know while they are great players they are only as good as the dominance of their forward packs. When QLD havn't held NSW down (fatigue or a dead game/rubber) guess what happens, NSW score points and can win games too. This rot in the ruck should have been stopped 4 years ago after NSW lost that first series in 5 years. The fights on Wed night should have happened then. 6 years ago NSW had a side that had won 4 and drew one series. New players were blooded into the team and people thought NSW would dominate for years and that it could kill origin. Well NSW lost players to career injuries, retirement, some left to England and never came back. Losing all those players from 6 years ago and living in the shadow of past glories let the rot set in 4 years ago and it never should have gone this long. NSWRL continually used the same coach who could not see where the problem was. Now we know why, he is successful of a club that is cheating the cap. Sure he is a good mentor for young players many of those playing for QLD but you know so too is Brian Smith. I bet Brian could have won a comp or two if Parra cheated the cap. NSWRL have had the same selectors who have selected some great paper teams that would do well in an NRL game, not an origin series. I hope NSW continue what went on wed night and pick some tough players who will stand up for NSW to stop this rot in the ruck. I hope they clean out the selectors and coach as they have failed to see where the problem is. Sure QLD is a great team but they are not playing a great NSW team. When NSW were dominating 6 years ago QLD were not saying this is a great NSW side. After losing that series and hearing about NSW dynasty QLD were saying yeah yeah and planning a way to beat NSW which started by selecting Meninga as coach.

Isn't Les Murray an awful commentator. Like Simon O'Donnell his cadence is all over the shop and annoyingly stilted. Listening to O'Donnell on the lunchtime Cricket Show gives me indigestion.

Mate, we have the cattle. Problem is the rigfht cattle aren't being used for the job, and the coach has no freakin idea. 1. J Dugan 2. J Hayne 3. J Morris 4. C Lawrence 5. B Morris 6. T Barrett © 7. M Pearce 8. K Galloway 9. M Ennis 10. T Mannah 11. A Watmough 12. P Gallen 13. G Bird 14. T Carney 15. C Heighington 16. W Mason 17. K Snowden 18. J Idris 19. M Jennings 20. L Lewis 21. L O’Donnell 22. T Learoyd-Lars 23. N Hindmarsh

Who told you that? Have you been going through my desk??

Who told you that?

Isn't interesting to see the Dragons players choke on the big stage yet again. Not even a change of jersey can prevent it. Geagh and Waterhouse are not Origin standard forwards, how many chances do the selectors want to give they two pansys. Monaghan has been out of his depth every time he has played Origin. Scott and Cooper are both useless goons, I'll give Morris the benefit of the doubt. Gidley, well what do you say about GIdley? In rating Gidley's performance one of the papers said today "Gidley made some uncharacteristic errors"!!!!.....did A johns write that piece? Why was White chosen again? That's right for the biff....well where was he. With the exception of Waterhouse, White and Geagh the rest of the forwards weren't all that bad, I expected more from Gallen though. Hindmarsh, Ennis were impressive, whilst Barrett and Pearce were outstanding behind a beaten pack. The kicking game was miles beyond Lyon and Kimmorley's save for several high kicks in the direction of the player formerly known as Folau. The backs were disgraceful from 1 to 5 and if not for them who knows. I know one thing beatingTHIS NSW side certainly doesn't make QLD the greatest. I mean Monaghan, Cooper and Scott???????!!!!!!! They are the best we have in NSW. No where near it actually. Hayne appeared to have left his heart back at the hotel - no urgency, no determination and no passion. It was interesting to watch all 26 players involved after O' Donnell's tackle with the exception that is, of Hayne. Hayne was the odd one out. One would have thought he'd have gone looking for Slater. Maybe he did headbutt Slater a fortnight ago as hard as he could. Regarding O'Donnell, it was unfortunate some of his passion didn't rub off on his teammates. Beacuse someone needed to take out Thaiday who appeared to intimidate just about every Blues player. Hayne and Morris deserve another chance while Cooper, Scott and Monaghan should never see the insides of a NSW dressing shed again. The halves are the best men for the job. And if we bring in Watmough, Heighington, Snowden and Bird for the 3 powderpuffs (White, Geagh and Waterhouse) and the suspended O'Donnell we might get a win in game 3. We might also consider bringing in another prop in place of one of the backrowers - Weyman does his job but he is a bench prop not a starter and Learoyd Lars is neither.

Inglis reminds me of Cantona in his prime. Many teams tried to negate his effect but his class always sone through. The QLD backs are too lethal and dripping with class. The biff won't stop them. Class will. Jennings and Idris - what have you got to lose?

I thought weyman did his job and took a hammering - and he kept coming back. They need a line bender.

The NSW cup is supposed to be a stronger competition than the Queensland Cup, why then do we think that there are no NSWelshmen coming through. I believe that a change in attitude to the make up of the team will show quick results. maybe even selecting several players from one club (As per Slater,Cronk, Smith) all know each others games and boy did it show last night.

I'm likin Dugan at Fullback ( a flyer) and Jennings. Idris?

Perhaps NSW should think about calling on players over in Europe in the Superleague ...Matt King (good call against Inglis as he has class with the ball and can defend), the better Monaghan brother, O'Melley (well...), Orford etc. While the biff don't work, Bird can fly. I still think they have it wrong at full-back. They need a flyer to chime in. Like Miniciello used to back in the day. There were several NSW breaks but no one sniffing around in the ruck ala slater. Hayne can't work his club magic at that level - its just too intense for his stroll-dance-shuffle-step. Give Mason a crack. A shame that George Rose got injured again, as he's one forward who can genuinely bend the line and has some ball-playing skill. And for no particular reason: Sammy Thaiday will captain Australia one day.

No thanks.