State of Origin has been destroyed by the New South Wales media. What was a great spectacle full of violence, bravery, stupidity and athletic achievement has been brought down to school yard sand kicking by some journalists who have aligned themselves with the Blues.
Numerous articles and conspiracy theories have been written about refereeing bias, when in reality the standard of officiating in the NRL is terrible anyway – but equally terrible to whoever is playing. Every one of their articles talks about how the Maroons are favoured by the footy gods and administrators.
These journalists could begin their own show called “So You Think You Can Whine”, Channel Nine would love it.
These ridiculous theories hit a new low when News Limited journalist, Paul Kent, suggested on NRL on Fox that Nate Myles intentionally lead with his head to deliberately take Robbie Farah out of the game.
There will be many jokes about the fact that the contact was unavoidable given that Nate Myles has a giant head, the size of which rivals small moons. But this is no laughing matter.
Let us break this down.
On a simplistic level, Paul Kents’ accusation suggests that Nate Myles, the best player for the Maroons this year, was sent out to intentionally clash heads with the best player from the Blues, Robbie Farah.
Firstly, from a business perspective this does not make any sense, the risk does not match the reward. If anyone was going to do it wouldn’t it be your least valuable player taking out the opposition’s best? This technique offered no guarantee that Myles would come out of this incident unscathed while impacting upon Farah in any way.
The accusation assumes that Nate Myles was willing to risk possible permanent brain trauma, broken neck, broken facial bones and dental damage by running full steam into another persons head. Not just a head butt but a running, head spearing, NFL style hit, with no helmet.
Would it not have been easier and safer for him to use the point of his shoulder in line with the traditional NRL technique?
In recent times the effects of concussion and repeated head knocks in sports which are not pugilistic have become apparent. The NFL is at the forefront of this as past players are now starting class actions against the organisation for not making them fully aware of the dangers.
Players are now aware of what will happen to them if they suffer repeated and significant head clashes. Nate Myles does not appear to be the most intelligent man but he does not seem completely void of common sense either. Anyone with a pulse would not attempt this.
I think everyone can agree that this was not intentional: myth busted.
However, this is only one conspiracy theory debunked. The Sydney newspapers have been rife, especially after game one, with articles about refereeing robbing them of victory. There is always someone else to blame.
These articles and level of whinging seem like the journalistic version of a five-year-old in a supermarket. It is undermining what was the best State of Origin series in five years. A fiercely aggressive and entertaining contest has been sullied by a few individuals’ emotions getting the better of them.
In the space of three games the New South Wales media has managed to curb my enthusiasm as a neutral viewer and there could be many more like me.
Can these journalists not accept the series for what it was, a great spectacle? This had the chance to go down as one of the great series. Sadly suggestions of the Paul Kent variety will ensure that it will be remembered for its bitterness and vitriolic statements.
What these journalists need to remember is that there is only one reason you lose a game: you have less points on the scoreboard.
The Big Show
Guest
Paul Kent is nothing but a grub and liar. NSW always gets the rub of the green.
Tony Archers Maroon Underwear
Guest
Myles is a dirty player thats why he was QLD player of the series. Though that incident I would say was just a hard driving tackle with a hint of head-butt and Kent is nothing but a journalistic shiver looking for a spine to run up. Big Picture - QLD with out fail get the big inexplicable game breaking decisions This series. 1. The Inglis no try try. A huge call goes against NSW. 2. The Hodges no try try. A huge call goes against NSW. 3. The Bird tackle penalty (WTF) A huge call goes against NSW, the nastiness of this penalty was its timing guaranteed points to QLD 4. Game 1 - Jennings binned, the decision obviously turns the game - He should have been binned no question but so should have the third man in a QLD player, A huge call goes against NSW. 5. Game 2 - Cronk was binned it turns the game for NSW they undeniably win of the back of this decision. Cronk should have been binned it was a clear cut professional fowl. 6. Game 3 the decider - Tate enters a completed tackle late and dangerously punches Bird in the temple... everyone sees it, everyone waits for what should be the big call, and its officially ignored. A huge call goes against NSW. When Tate remains unchecked for a blatant bining offence in a series where some one has already been binned for the same thing, we all must realise that Tate remained on field due to an official fear of what the likely outcome of a binning call would have been. Theres no conspiracy theory, just facts QLD were gifted games and its not just been this series, This year was just more overt. Can anyone think of a huge inexplicable call going against QLD in the last few series???? anyone anyone????
SandBox
Roar Guru
"It's NSW's time" from the Daily Telegraph and "Queensland will know what's coming but I don't know whether they will be able to stop it." all after SoO2. A NSW friend did some pretty serious gloating after game 2. Seems a lot of media and NSW fans get carried away regularly with 1 win. They start crowing like a Rooster Christmas morning, celebrating having so many Hens to chose from. Only to find, a few hours later, ending up Christmas lunch. Imagine if three of the hottest women in the world invited them home. Say, Sofia Vergara, Miranda Kerr and Scarlett Johansson. A NSW supporter would go PE before unziping. Whereas a QLDer would go seven rounds, and be forever remembered by the ladies in question. They would sigh right in front of their current squeeze, remembering the power of that QLDer. Of course, the NSWelshman would be heard to say "even Colombians want to play for Qld." Lets run a conspiracy theory article in the papers of NSW for the next 300 days about those Colombians
qlder
Guest
just having a dig mate not serious. its a sport its all in good fun. lol yeah I'd tip him to go to the semi's with that melon
The Barry
Roar Guru
haha - are you fair dinkum ? That was tongue in cheek mate - I thought it stood out fairly clearly but anyways...he does have a decent sized melon though. If it's not the NRLs biggest it's in the semi-finals...
Raugeee
Guest
Speaking of grubs, how come Grant's swinging arm every tackle doesn't rate a mention? If you legislate against the way Myles tackles you're legislating against tackling!
Raugeee
Guest
Isn't it because Rugby League is a tough, high impact, collision sport that we love it? From my point of view Farah fell into that tackle and landed in a different position to that which Myles was aiming for. Are we to legislate away from tackling? What would that leave us?
Blaze
Guest
Indeed
qlder
Guest
have you measured every head in the nrl what a stupid statement.. although you do make some other good points thats just not one of them.
Kim Hart
Guest
Well it seems apparent that this is exactly what their jobs are - write salacious slanderous made up nonsense to get the westies beating their chests about the inequity of it all.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I get sick of this 'biased blues' BS. Queensland journos are just as biased and one-eyed. For every telegraph story there's an equal and opposite one in the Courier Mail. It's all part of Origin - it's not killing it. The only conspiracy is that they want to sell papers. Just enjoy it for what it is - hype ! Myles didn't just do lead with the head once, he did it several times. His first crack at Farah, he missed the first time so he stepped back and had another shot. It was blatant. He is a grub. The risk v reward argument is stupid and could be used in every court case in the world. "Why would I murder him your honour, the risk far outweighs the reward." Case dismissed. Myles has the biggest, hardest head in rugby league so there's very little risk for him. At the end of the day good luck to him. Origin is becoming a grub-a-thon anyway with elbows and niggle in every tackle (from both teams) that wouldn't be tolerated at NRL level. Kent, like most NSW journos, has been effusive in his praise of how good this great QLD team is - that gets conveniently forgotten though. It is his job to be highlighting parts of the game that he thinks were controversial.
Kim Hart
Guest
Good grief.
qlder
Guest
great article. the Daily telegraph is a disgrace, every article they write is bias. I have never seen such nonsense how do these people have jobs. David Riccio has to be one of the worst. I wanna read about the game not made up excuse of why they lost. they always have an excuse and always will. unless they win the refs are terrible. they are calling nate myles and cam smith dirty did they miss the first two games. qld had to fight back, you can only cop that sht for so long.
Blaze
Guest
Your probably right, they are unqualified, about the same as your declarations about some media personalities.... I really don't think I need to spell out that my comment is my opinion on an opinion based site....IMHO. After all, it is named "the roar, YOUR sports OPINION."
Kim Hart
Guest
Well not so funny story. I was playing aussie rules for school (I've played all 3 codes at some point) and a kid running in to kick a goal dropped flat and dead. Turns out he had a brain aneurism [sic] and it popped at that moment. Tragic.
Kim Hart
Guest
Fair enough, perhaps next time indicate that it is an opinion though. Just to be clear though - you aren't close pals with Nate so your declarations of his state of mind are entirely unqualified?
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
But the head will still be in front of the shoulders. If the defender doesn't place their head in the correct position then he risks getting knocked out or headbutting the ball carrier by accident. I cannot for the life of me see how Myles could have predicted where Farah's temple would be when he made contact. If he can do that then the army would be paying him hundreds of thousands of dollars to operate their tanks.
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
eagleJack, please think about what you're saying. Some times a defender will get their head in the wrong position while driiving with their shoulder. It usually results in the tackler getting concussed. This time it went the other way, mostly because Myles tackled Farah around the shoulders instead of his thighs and waist area. Driving with the shoulder is usually done around the waist and thighs. It can lead to concussion for the tackler if they get their head in line with the hipbone or leg. Queensland have lost players like Dallas Johnson to concussion because they got this tackle wrong. Maybe Myles was trying to prevent himself getting knocked out like Johnson used to. I think it's silly for anyone to say Myles did it on purpose. When you look at the tackle in real time speed it's obvious that Myles didn't have the time to predict where Farah's temple was going to be when he made contact with him. I think what happened is Myles went around the upper torse and drove with his shoulder because he wanted to get Farah onto the ground and slow the play-the-ball. Farah was slowing down the play-the-ball throughout the series.
Blaze
Guest
I have followed his career in the the nrl, and it's fairly obvious to me what kind of player/bloke he is... If you choose to ignore his on field and off field behavior when judging his character then so be it, I however won't. So spare me the sarcasm and the self righteous attitude mate, I have and opinion about him and so do you, well done.
Kim Hart
Guest
I live in Sydney, I have seen it frame by frame with Kent in the background hysterical. I still maintain that he doesn't tackle frame by frame o reviewing it that way is fatally flawed. You wouldn't test the impact of a car into a wall at 60 by having it hit at 5.