Had to smile at Queensland’s Petero Civoniceva’s quote: “I’m not going to buy into the argument NSW has inexperienced props.” The Fijian is one of the all-time good blokes of rugby league, a credit to his sport, and he was deadly serious.
He was supported by NSW coach Ricky Stuart calling on prop legend Glenn Lazarus to overcome that lack of experience shared by skipper Paul Gallen, and Tim Mannah, with Trent Merrin on the bench.
Spare us, fellas.
Scrums are the biggest blight on rugby league, no better than giving 12 players a lean-to rest, and keep them out of the general play for a few seconds, allowing the backs more room to move.
There’s no structure to a league scrum like rugby that has become a scientifically tightly-bound crouch-touch-pause-engage nightmare.
So who needs to be an “experienced” prop in league when all he has to do is bend forward for a few seconds, stand upright, and chase?
Compared to rugby, the league scrum is a rabble.
There’s no tunnel making winning a tight-head a physical impossibility when the half-back feeds behind the second rows feet with a spin towards his side that would make Shane Warne proud.
And there’s absolutely no danger of a league scrum collapse that could endanger the front rows, rendering them seriously, and permanently, injured.
So let’s forget the “experienced prop” nonsense, and improve the now endemic lying all over the tackled player.
Three is the count – a slow one-two-three – then release by standing up with arms raised, as if the tackler/s had done nothing wrong.
Those whose maths are a bit light on, and forget by going the extra four-five-six, are penalised.
It’s so endemic teams that are behind and desperately need to regain possession still go one-two-three, playing right into opposition hands by chewing up time the losing team cannot afford.
Having said that, scrums and lying on the tackled player are only two blights on rugby league, where the best of the code will be showcased on Wednesday night at the ANZ Stadium when Queensland and NSW do battle for Origin II.
Origin is rugby league’s Holy Grail, with Queensland in control needing just one more win to clinch a record sixth successive series.
It’s time NSW to turn the tables.
Overtime.
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