I wanted to write about something today that gets omitted from the usual stories around teams and players, winning streaks and losing droughts.
That something is mentality, the importance of which has been highlighted a handful of times this week already.
There’s an old adage in rugby league that 80% of the players have a similar skill set. What separates these good solid first graders from the top 20% – our modern day superstars – is their mentality.
You’ll hear it referenced in passing at press conferences throughout the year. “Winning mentality” or on the flipside, “soft”, “flat” or something similar all refers to this same central idea.
The most obvious example this week comes from State of Origin. Queensland took out the game and are now on the cusp of their seventh straight series win.
It is an amazing feat, especially when you consider the ferocity, speed and intensity at which Origin is played. Both teams have outstanding players and both teams have pride and passion in bucketloads, despite what the press say about NSW’s lack of and Queensland’s inherent amount of.
But I wholeheartedly believe that at the moment the balance of power in State of Origin is swinging. And it’s swinging south. This is caused by mentality.
Over the past few seasons NSW have been destabilised by infighting, poor management and multiple line-up changes. Despite this, in some games, like Wednesday night and in last year’s series, they have been the better team and still been beaten.
Queensland will credit their spirit. I think that just serves to try and mystify something that can only be built up slowly. It is hard to define and express but I think it is their inherent belief that they can and will win.
Grossly oversimplifying, but it’s a bit like riding a bike – you just know how to do it without doubting yourself. In the arena of Origin footy with its pressure, fatigue and intensity, I think this mindset is the most powerful weapon you can have as a team.
But NSW are on the way to having it. Whereas a few years back they looked decidedly poor, since Sticky took over the coaching duties last year there has been a marked turnaround.
There is no better coach at lifting the intensity and belief of players. When you deal with Sticky you completely believe and are swamped by his passion and emotion. Guys like Hayne, Farah, Tamou, Jennings and Bird played out of their skins even though their form has been patchy this year.
Sticky is a master at this. When he believes in you, you have no choice but to believe in yourself. The Queenslanders would have noticed this slight shift yet still their beliefs remain unbroken. In the long run that works in the Blues favour.
Yet it is not something that can be turned around overnight. NSW are yet to know how to win a series. They don’t know how it feels and they are yet to have that stroke of luck that always seems to fall the way of great teams, something that will give them that extra bit of belief they need to turn effort into belief.
Yet you can see the pendulum shifting. The Blues have been the better team for the last three games but they have only won one. That will change soon enough, most likely on the back of a small stroke of luck.
Funnily enough, Souths find themselves in the exact same situation. They are so close.
Their attack can rip teams to shreds yet their defence drops off at crucial times, letting teams back into games. It’s an easy fix but hard to pull off. Defence is all about attitude and mentality. St George won a comp on the back of it and Melbourne with a team with less superstars than you think pride themselves on it.
Sometimes on the field you just know that you can defend your way out of any situation. It’s a great feeling to have because attack comes naturally while defence is always a work in progress.
When Souths ‘get’ this, they could become a force like Queensland or Melbourne. At the moment the Bunnies love the footy in their hands but can’t grind for 80 minutes.
Once they change that around and it snaps into place they will give this comp a run for its money.
intrigued_footyfan
Guest
Todd, Nice article. Your name always comes up in September regarding big NRL GF moments. Any stories of the impact on your life? Does/did it haunt you? We always hear of the celebration of the winners. It would be interested to hear from the otherside.
Dom
Guest
I am a die hard bunnies supporter (yes I go to the games) and I think attitude has a huge part to p,ay in there game, they have a lot of confidence players inglis, Sutton, Luke and the perfect eg sandow. These blokes when playing with confidence can make the game their own, I fear a big loss to someone like Brisbane or Melbourne wil seriously damage their confidence and they will fight to stay in the 8. If Brisbane go down like they have the last 3 weeks I can still be confident they wil bounce back. But being a souths supporter u learn to play down any hope of a premiership until the trophy is in hand. As for blues there is no such thing as out originned!!! Shut up Phil Gould!!! These guys are top athletes and competitive as you will get. Blues wil win origin soon maybe if Ricky didn't want to make the game half about him Jennings wud stil be in reserve grade and he wouldn't have come in with a retarded hey maker that probably cost us the game in the end. With the players nsw have now bring back Bellamy to steer the ship and we probably would win. P.s I know sandow has left souths but if he was playing at the moment in that side the scores could be anything, il stick withreynolds though
todd byrne
Roar Rookie
No doubt Ricky can be a bad sport. He takes losing extremely personally and this is the negative side of being so intense and competitive. On the positive side though there are many good attributes, but yes it looks bad in public... I think the players step up at Origin time for many reasons, the main one being it is the most respected series in league. I don't think match payments mean bugger all in this arena but a good showing obviously does contracts no harm. I agree with NSW should take that 'beat em whatever is thrown at us' attitude, much better than blaming the officials, although I love a good Us v The World attitude. And yes, as we saw last year, QLD won when NSW were the better side and came out next game and blew the Blues off the park - scary thought for Game 2.
todd byrne
Roar Rookie
Hi Johnno, Yep, thats me mate. 100kg and built like a brick shithouse.
todd byrne
Roar Rookie
Hi Q1der, Fair point. It was an outstanding defensive display and as is so often said, the mark of a champion team is to win when not playing at their best. The most telling thing from a QLD perspective is that they were on the wrong end of everything but made their rare trips into the NSW half count. As for over coaching, not sure I agree. The teams that have been dominant in recent years (Storm and Dragons) are hallmarks of structure and Melbourne especially have designed sets of six... as for Ricky's antics, there is no contest - his intensity and passion are his greatest strengths but also his worst weakness. He doesn't lose gracefully at all and that can spill over into his public comments.
Gareth
Guest
I'm not sure I'd give Ricky so much credit. He has a lot of negative aspects in his public image - in a nutshell, he's a piss-poor sport - so I wonder how deep that runs outside of the public eye. When it comes to blokes like Hayne, Jennings and Bird, Origin is a godsend. They're all very obviously discontent with their respective clubs, so getting the opportunity to play the sport they love while unencumbered by the issues in their day-to-day is always going to be pretty desirable. Throw in the extra payments, and effect having Origin player on your resume has on your asking price during turbulent times that might see them at a new club next season and of course they're going to get up for Origin. What I'm worried about is Ricky fostering in an attitude that what NSW are doing now is good enough, they just need to get the referees on board - when he should be taking the attitude of "if we have to beat the opposition and the officials, so be it". As for the pendulum swinging, it's going to come down to the halves. If Todd Carney can play to his potential consistently at this level, he might be the catalyst - but let's not forget that as shaky as he was in his debut, Queensland were a long way off their own potential too. Their forwards fatigued early, and the backline made some pretty uncharacteristic errors.
Johnno
Guest
Is this the same todd bryne that's played for the roosters and warriors.
todd byrne
Roar Rookie
Hey Johnno, It's been a while for the Red and Green and I'm not predicting they'll win it this year, but it is definitely the best they have looked in a while after hovering around the 8 for the last few years.
todd byrne
Roar Rookie
Gday Hoy, Yep, the law of averages says NSW have to win eventually, but for me there has been an improvement over the 3 games last year and last Wednesday. It's probably easy to say NSW are simply copying QLD's blueprint with selecting a core group and holding junior Blues camps etc but for mine NSW finally seem to have their house in order. It's a work in progress to instill a culture amongst Blues players. And yes, the pressure is on Sticky but he's the kind of coach who would be driven by it. I think Origin coaching really suits him - as you read in the press he is emotional and intense, something which is perfect for a short space of time and getting players 'up'.
Q1der
Roar Rookie
You know not one (NSW) so called media expert has congratulated the QLD team on a courageous effort considering the lack of ball and field position from a quite determined NSW side. I think the real difference between the two teams is NSW are over coached by a coach that I don't overly regard and this is due to his crazy after game antics including no show for presentations, media bans, finger pointing and bad sportsmanship. Qld the media tells don't have a coach figuratively speaking! Yet seem to show up year (six in a row) afetr year! Go figure!
Hoy
Roar Guru
The power might be shifting to NSW for the Origin, but you would hope so after 6 years. I honestly don't see much difference in NSW now than over the last few years. They won a game last year. In the last 6 years they have only had one shut out, so they have won games before. Tell me this, what happens under Ricky if they get done 3 blot this year? I still don't see that they are any better under Ricky than any other coach. Still odd selections, still infighting. They will have to beat QLD soon or later. That is a fact. I won't want to read the press when they finally do, because they will be automatically called the best team ever. If they were British, they might even be knighted. Simple fact is, QLD can't continue to win. Players change, luck will go NSW's way, etc.
Johnno
Guest
It seems south sydney have not had that winning feeling or winners mentality for 40 years. 1971 last premiership. Minor premiers in 1989, they year canberra won there 1st title . Balmain knocked them out that year some talented players south had that year and for many years via there great south juniors leagues club. When the teams song glory glory to south sydney is sung at olympic park homesbush, well that will be quite a day. Would be a great bet for punters who will win a title next cronulla sharks or the rabbitohs. Tough on struggle st 40 years at redfern no title. Chris Sandow was seen as a premiership halfback too, well not anymore at parramatta. Maybe if Greg Inglis stays they may win, sam burgess is a star, best forwad souths have had since Mario.