What a week it has been in the greatest game of all. As a New South Welshman it wasn’t a perfect week, however I feel confident enough to say that New South Wales played their best footy since Ricky was last in charge, with an inspired defensive effort, to almost come away with a victory nobody expected.
The game had everything: an early try, classic defence, big hits and some great tries. State of Origin football is more than alive and well; the naysayers’ claims that five series wins to Queensland would make the series decline couldn’t be further from the truth.
52,000 fans were at the game, 3.5 million people tuned in, and audiences peaked at over 4 million, despite channel 9 not showing the match live to South and Western Australia, nor in HD. Fans nationwide proved that State of Origin isn’t going anywhere.
Over the past few years the Suncorp double header has become a good and needed tradition for the game. However crowds are starting to slide, and one can’t help think the game being held two days after Origin is the major issue.
This game needs to be played well after Origin, during rounds 22-24. Promotion for the double header was dwarfed by the Origin game
so it gives little chance for this event to be sold out.
For some it might have been an emotional announcement, that Willie Mason has left rugby league and signed with the infamous Toulon Rugby team. For others it was good riddance to a player that hasn’t been more than a human headline that nobody wants to read.
But no negative wishes from myself, he is 31, past his best physically and has signed a big money deal to play rugby union, so everything worked out for the best.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Play 25 rounds in the year rather than 26. Give all teams three byes per year when the Origin matches are played (4 weeks apart from each other). Make Origin a Friday/Saturday night stand alone affair. (that way I can get as drunk as I like). Play two Origin games on the FridaySaturday instead of one. Both NSW and QLD to field an "A" team and a "B" team. That way you get to see all of the players that people whinge about that don't get selected to play Origin. One game played in Sydney, the other in Brisbane on a rotating basis for the "A" and "B" teams. You're "A" team will obviously get better as the series progresses, and game 3 will allow the 'B' teams to blood new players for next years battles. Scrap the City vs Country games.
Jaceman
Guest
Can anyone explain to me why there is a double header at Suncorp and why is it just after Origin..
Chris
Guest
What about we take 2 club weekends out in early June (now for arguments sake) and we play game 1 Friday night (say 3rd June this year), then Wednesday the next week (June 8th) and the game 3 on Sunday of the same week (June 12th). It will still be hard on the SOO players, but better than playing club games the few days after origin and causing these 4 game rounds the week before origin (with the non-bye teams weakened). They could play a couple of other games on the middle friday night (June 10th) with other players from clubs who were not in SOO (not sure what teams).
Boz
Guest
Agree Willy, the the premiership does suffer due to Origin. Stand alone weekends have been touted as an alternative, but perhaps another solution could be having the SOO series after the premiership is completed. The premiership could be slightly reduced - to finish in early - mid september, then play SOO on a Saturday, then 11 days later on a Wednesday Night, then 10 days later again on another Saturday.
Willy
Guest
Thought the Origin was great - one of the best games in years. But the NRL continues to suffer because of the Origin series - this was the third week in a row of average footy across the board, and it's pretty clear that the competition is suffering because of the SOO series. Hard to know what the solution is though. Maybe it's just a matter of riding it out until the series is over, and the top players can put all their energies into their clubs. (By the way - great weekend to be a footy fan in Brisbane, with the amazing Reds v Crusaders game yesterday at Suncorp capping off a huge week for the banana benders!)
oikee
Guest
Willie Mason is what you call cannon fodder. At his best in the NRL, he was nothing more than a 10 minute player. Big slow and useless, so glad he is gone, gone from the game for good hopefully. The double header is a brilliant concept, but needs to be played either Saturday or Sunday arvo, another opportunity missed by the NRL, one of hundreds missed by the NRL. Its become Passe the opportunities missed. Origin, what can i say, this is simply a must watch event for any sports lover. It has not dissapointed for over 30 years now, i cant see it changing over the next 50 years. p.s,,,,, Manly are no longer flying under the radar. Stewart is not injured, a player running full stride is not injured. All there players are not injured, they hobble around on one foot then run flat out if they make a break, go get them boys, time to stand up against Manly and give them a good beating. :) yes i dont like Manly.