Much like Hugh Hefner, I’m finding it harder to get up for it these days, now that Ricky Stuart isn’t bellowing aggressive, illogical nonsense into any nearby microphone.
Over the past two seasons, there is little doubt Ricky Stuart’s position as New South Wales coach has added greatly to the thrill of seeing the Origin success for my beloved Queensland.
I loved seeing Ricky Stuart fail almost as much as I feared seeing him succeed. In fact, I’m not too sure I could have coped with seeing the angry little man’s bloated, arrogant smirk after a series victory! 2005 was bad enough, and I actually expected NSW to win back then…
As such, with all my fear and all my subsequent enjoyment of another man’s failings, last year’s series got the blood bubbling in a way that went beyond even my own usual State of Origin-led psychosis. I simply could not stand the thought of losing to Ricky Stuart.
Now that he’s gone from the Origin arena, though, having re-ignited his highly lucrative career as a full-time coaching failure at Parramatta, I am finding that I actually miss the rascal.
Because much like the other arrogant rascal he occasionally feuds with (Phil Gould), Ricky Stuart was so detestable and so horrendously offensive as a human being that it didn’t matter how pitiable and pathetic the NSW State of Origin team was, he still made you hate them.
Laurie Daley, on the other hand, is too nice a grinning simpleton to genuinely hate. In fact, despite my general loathing for anything associated with New South Wales at this time of year, I still can’t help but wish Laurie Daley vaguely good fortune.
Watching Laurie Daley go about trying to piece together a side and game plan to win a State of Origin series is akin to watching the athletically-gifted dullard perform a compulsory class presentation to retain his high school sports scholarship.
You can forgive his occasional stumbles (eg. suggesting that Maloney is a good five-eighth selection because he is a ‘calming influence’ on their proven failure of a halfback, Mitchell Pearce, while completely overlooking the best playmaker they have, last year’s ‘long-term solution’ Todd Carney) on the grounds that he’s doing his best.
In fact, despite my strong Queensland allegiance, I actually find myself hoping that Maloney and Pearce can perform adequately, to save Laurie his blushes.
Some people may not believe that this characterisation can be true of NSW’s greatest ever Origin captain, but I’ve heard Laurie Daley’s commentary on Fox Sports enough to recognise him for what he is; a once brilliantly-gifted, instinctive, explosive, inspirational footballer who has nothing to fall back on in his old age except clichéd rhetoric and garbled nonsense.
He seems like a nice, likeable, hard-working guy (and Ricky Stuart was only ever one of those things) and it pains me to say it, but I don’t think Laurie Daley will prove up to this Origin coaching caper. This fact should pain NSW fans too, because they have a stronger, more in-form group of players available for selection now than they have had for years.
Though I question the selection of a halves pairing that is incapable of forcing repeat sets of six with their kicking game (ahead of, say, Adam Reynolds, who is a genius at it. Or, of course, Todd Carney) and I’m also unsure how Paul Gallen playing prop at the expense of Aaron Woods strengthens their go-forward, this is a good NSW side.
Maloney aside (who I would suggest is destined to follow the likes of Campese, Wallace, Soward, Mullen and possibly even Carney into Origin obscurity), NSW’s backline is a pretty fearsome combination (I applaud the brave selection of Canberra’s ‘top bloke’ Blake Ferguson) while their forward pack boasts plenty of skill and toughness.
In a further boost to their chances, Queensland has selected their own fleet of second-rowers, which means they may not even have the arsenal to take advantage of NSW’s make-shift front row.
All things being equal, this match should go right down to the wire. Tactically though, NSW has an unproven coach and a mediocre halves combination to direct the way forward. I just can’t see that working out for them.
In a strange, pathetic way, I actually hope I’m wrong. Laurie has had dodgy knees and Anthony Mundine bothering him for years, I just don’t think he deserves to be a losing State of Origin coach.
But then again, neither does Mal Meninga. Screw Laurie Daley!
Go Queensland!
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