With the announcement of the NSW team by coach Laurie Daley, a number of emotions have been shared by supporters. Like, haven’t I seen this team somewhere before?
To which the answer would be yes, yes you have, as it’s exactly the same as the one printed in a Sydney paper the other day.
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While this might seem a trifling concern (hell, the entire world’s more or less known the Queensland game one team since July 2009), it is something of a less than stellar start to new coach Daley’s career in Origin espionage.
It is widely known coaching a representative team differs significantly from coaching a club side, and this is particularly true for State of Origin.
For what ultimately constitutes four hours of football, the State of Origin series is an arduous campaign, as the extraordinary interest it provokes invites intense media scrutiny.
Because of the fact all the players are supreme athletes to start with, the role of handling (and manipulating) the media is one of the coach’s key responsibilities, yet – at the very first opportunity – coach Daley has been gazumped by the press.
My apologies if this sounds paranoid, but if a team list is being leaked, what else likely to be leaked? Game plans? Roommate lists? Pub golf scores? Anthony Minnicello’s phone contacts?
And, more importantly, who is Leaky McLeak-Leak?
Former NSW coach Phil Gould used to warn his players about the Queenslanders in their club sides, and remind his men how they were ‘spies’ who would stoop to any low (XXXX probably) if it meant an eventual Maroon victory come Origin.
As a man who hass attempted to warm the seat in Gould’s NSW coaching teams of the past, you would think Daley would be well across this, but herein lies another concern.
Where Gould is bullish and forthright, Daley comes across as affable and, well, slightly dithering.
The mind games Laurie the Learner is about to go through are unrivalled in rugby league, and anyone who thinks his old mate Mal is going to go soft on him obviously cannot remember the sight of the big man steamrolling Daley repeatedly in their first Origin encounter.
The choice of Daley, who has spent a far greater number of hours in broadcast roles than on the training paddock post-playing days, was always going to be huge gamble for the NSWRL.
Now that proceedings have passed beyond the prolonged ‘yeahhhh he might be a shot at a bench spot’ phase, things are about to get real.
Daley is suddenly facing footy’s equivalent of scaling Mt Everest in bed socks with a rookie five-eighth, a lock playing in the front row and a backup captain on the bench.
If Daley thinks his media work is going to get him an easy ride through the Origin wringer he is mistaken, and far more accomplished coaches than himself have been broken by the interstate series.
The time is now for him to take ownership of the Blues campaign, and that’s got to mean no more bloody leaks to the media.
And, for the next couple of months at least, no more Mr Nice Laurie!
Felix
Guest
Haha wow Joe, you a little bitter there champ? So your solution to NSW's woes is to take away all the good players from QLD because Mal has had a massive advantage by having internationals? Perhaps you should invoke the next try wins rule too, it might get your lads over the line.
Silvertail
Guest
Wrong wrong , your all wrong , Julian Assange is responsible for this leak , we should arrest him , extradite him to Australia and as punishment he must live with Mr Buzz and Mr Kent for life ,
NSW Joe
Guest
Beppo the clown could have coached the Qld team to the victories they enjoyed. Mal Meninga was a hack NRL coach when he didn't have the cattle and has proven nothing yet until he coaches a side without 80% internationals week in week out.
Carl
Guest
I like the drama on that but it sounds so American or so channel9
GCtiger
Guest
Wow cant believe they just had that. what a wankfest. 3 of the players could still get injured. they should play this Monday game on Sunday and name both teams on Monday after medicals.
Clark
Guest
The obvious problem with releasing the team on a sunday is if those who get selected are obviously going to sit out their Monday night game. In this case it was apparently Phil Rothfield at the DT who linked it. which is quite funny since his beloved sharks are playing on monday night, but in reality the Sharks players concerned were basically certainties anyway. But in reality it has robbed fans of a potentially challenging contest.
Mango Jack
Guest
Lol! We'll need a team of 58 to keep all roarers happy!
Nick
Roar Guru
The leak is Laurie Daley. He was advertising at least 7 picks months ago. And he never denied it when other people were mentioned in passing.
Ricky Stuarts beard
Guest
In reply to CGtiger, I think you will find the qld team will be named at 630 tonight which happens to be 1/2 hour before tonight's game kicks off. And in response to you Chris, we have tried the tough guy coaches(Bellamy and Stuart) and that didn't work so why not try nice guy Loz
eagleJack
Guest
Looks like QLD have leaked their team as well. Kennedy on the bench.
Mals
Guest
Cause he needs to fund his punting!
Chris Chard
Expert
Keep your eyes peeled for a special bonding night market update...
The eye
Guest
Get Laurie to read 'The Roar' - then we'll have the halves we want,and everyone will be happy !
planko
Guest
Interesting .... It will be interesting to see how Carney goes tonight ?
planko
Guest
Does 13 mins count as a stint Chris ? Having said that towards the end of his arm breaking career Canberra would have been happy with 13 mins per game.
Chris Chard
Expert
Well the Journo who made the announcement has also bagged the Roosters from pillar to post this year...
Mals
Guest
"I think Mal has suggested it before but NSW were worried he could have accidently stepped on their coach" or Big Mal eating the NSW coach... lol
Mals
Guest
Best political candidate interview ever ;-)
planko
Guest
Chris , what do you think about this ? This team was leaked before the Storm Vs Roosters ? Considering the players leaked and how important they have been so far to their success I am smelling a rat ......
Chris Chard
Expert
In the past I would have said Willie Mason but he appears to have not made the cut...