I’ve been bemused by some of the chatter this week suggesting that Ricky Stuart’s head should be on the line if the Blues don’t win this State of Origin series against Queensland.
Let’s look at some of the takeouts from Game One.
1. NSW were arguably the better team on the night. Even some of the Queenslanders have admitted that.
2. I’m pretty confident that everyone in rugby league understands that Inglis did not score that try. The decision to replace the officials for Game 2 only lends more weight to that theory.
Because the game had such a controversial ending I don’t think Ricky should be criticised for putting a short term media ban on his players. He wouldn’t want one of his players to have an emotional response and then become the subject of intense media scrutiny coming into Game 2.
Remember, Ricky took over from Craig Bellamy, who in my opinion is probably the best coach in the game.
Since then, he’s broached the gap between the two teams – on the scoreboard at least – considerably.
This is a great Queensland side. No one should forget that.
Last series, NSW lost the first match in a close one; won the second narrowly; and then got beaten in the third when Queensland played pretty much the perfect first half.
So the Blues went down 2-1 in a series that everyone predicted would be won easily by the Maroons.
Before this series kicked off, most punters were saying the same thing. And yet, Ricky got the boys fired up and they could have easily won that opening match, had a few calls gone their way.
If people say Stuart shouldn’t be coach, then I have a simple question for them: who’s a better option? Origin is about building people up for an occasion.
Gus was the best at it, but from what I’be heard, Ricky would give him a pretty good run for his money.
He does a great job at getting the players up for the battle, and tactically, he’s done a very good job too.
I think he’s the best man for the job, whether he wins this series or not.
Former Dragons coach and player Nathan Brown writes an exclusive weekly column for The Roar. Brown, who played 172 games for the Dragons and coached them for a further 142 games, is currently the head coach at the Huddersfield Giants in the UK Super League.
Jesse James
Guest
If he he would take the job Matty Johns is my Blues coach. Copper Cronk credits him for making him the 1/2 he is, many people say he has one of the sharpest Rugby League minds going around. Add to that he is a very charismatic person, I think the players would truly "bleed" for him.
Chop
Guest
I think Ricky has the passion for the SOO job, but his selections are terrible. I could see him doing the same job as Mal, front office, media facing role while someone with actual coaching ability and some tactical nous takes over actually running the team.
Ceebow
Guest
Maninga is now whinging and blaming the media if he doesnt become an immortal bwahahahaha he just gets worst as the years go by. talk about hypocritical.
Gaz
Guest
Brownie, history tells a different story, Stuart as a coach is a loser and not a very good one at that. Meninga on the other hand freely admits he isn't a good coach and credits his coaching and management team with instilling success into the maroons. Maybe therein lies a clue to aid in a Blues series win. But for now the greatest thing Queensland have going for them is Stuart is coaching NSW.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
2 of which were uncontested due to QLD players blatantly taking out the NSW contenders. Surprise , surprise - no penalty given in either instance. Let's see how the same scenario plays out with a vocal Blues home crowd in game 2.
mushi
Guest
What type of help. Psychiatric
Meesta Cool
Guest
Queensland have the right idea, they have a full time team manager (With coaching staff). Mal is a very smart people person. he gets the best out of his team year in/year out, he has a plan for the future, so that if someone is injured or choses not to play anymore, everyone has an idea who the successor will be.. This year DCE and Barba and Nielson have been given a sniff for the future.... what has Ricky done, recycle a lot of old names, fortunately for NSW injury to some of his 'pets' has forced into bringing in youth!. it is time to make these young players the nucleus of the next few years team.
Mac
Guest
Wrong, compare last year to the 2010 demolition and their is a HUGE difference in how it set's the team up for the following series. You'd have to be pretty simple not to recognize that..
Mac
Guest
Absolutely dishes, the Blues are only now starting to recover from the Laurie Daley selection clangers that have kept NSW on the back foot the last few years..
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
"i thought we did well to get very close last year" - that is about as good as saying that "we didn't lose, we came second!!!"
dishes
Guest
ricky is doing a good job, a thousand fold better than someone like bellamy who had an atrocious record (with good players) and said publicly that he felt awkward coaching against the storm starts. ricky has the commitment and he is trying everything, leaving no stone unturned. i thought we did well to get very close last year. even if he isnt successful, it wont be from lack of trying and passion which is what the blues need. laurie daley to coach? what a joke. his inadequacies as a selector plagued the team for a couple of years.
Gr8trWeStr
Guest
Des Hasler must be close to getting a chance, if he wants it, after what he's done at Manly and now Bulldogs. Ricky might be good at revving the boys up but that can be done as an assistant. As good as he was on the field responding to play, there is no great evidence of any great tactical coaching nous in any of his, fairly unsuccessful, coaching stints. His premiership success was with a team built by Graham Murray.
Arthur Fonzarelli
Guest
The NSW team should be selected by NSW fans the way the All Stars teams are selected. That way we ALL share the blame (or the credit). The team might actually then reflect what the majority of the paying public wants. Then once the team is picked hand them over to Brian Smith or Des Hasler.
Bigbaz
Guest
We here north of the border agree with you totally. we would actually go further and appoint him for life.
turbodewd
Guest
Nathan, Pearce launched 4 bombs at Tate which he easily defused each time under little pressure. That spoke volumes to me about the creativity Stuart has instilled in Pearce OR Pearce has no creativity himself.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
GC Tiger, The most imporant thing is that the coach is NOT the selector. Craig Bellamy will probably retire as our best ever coach and he was unsuccessful in Origin mainly because he struck a hot Maroons team, but also because he selected his own Storm players who should not have been there. Anyone that I know who I respect that makes a living from the NRL know that Stuart has no idea when it comes to recruitment and team selection.
KSI
Guest
Gus only coaches teams that are great to start with. His origin teams were always massive favourites. He will never risk his rep unless he thought he would win easily and have a couple of Andrew Johns or Brad Fittlers in the team.
M.O.C.
Roar Guru
"Leave Ricky alone, he’s the right man for the job" - based on what exactly? - his fantastic coaching record at club, SOO and international levels?.
Mac
Guest
Good article Brownie, agree with you 100%
Raugeee
Guest
I'd say Brett Kenny....for what it's worth. BTW, how come Gallen escapes criticism as captain? 4 games 1 win, not very encouraging. Notwithstanding his heroic efforts as a forward his whinging/whining technique as the leader are quite pathetic. Reminds me of Gordon Tallis - too busy telling the crowd to **** off game 3 2002 to notice that the last kick at goal should have been taken by Lockyer and not Tuqiri. Raging Bull also got sent off game 3 2000 for telling Hollywood the truth - compare that with Lockyer's efforts when things were grim. Surely Farah should get a go. He's an intelligent player and they make good captains, he's a club captain to boot and the West Tigers are going great this year. Finally, I can't wait till Gallen has one of his tremendous brain explosions and gives away a crucial penalty or throws a ridiculous pass. It's well overdue!