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I love the game of rugby league. I love watching it. I love writing about it. I love talking about it. But over the last week or so I’ve been utterly convinced that everyone involved in the great game is just bat-guano crazy.
Of course, at this time of year, it’s somewhat expected. Commonsense and objectivity are thrown out the window during the State of Origin months, as passion and geographical allegiances take precedence over sanity and impartiality.
I’ll strongly point out that I do not exclude myself from that: I’m a New South Welshmen first and foremost.
Most of the madness I’m referring to centres around Wednesday’s State of Origin encounter, specifically, the altercation between Paul Gallen and Nate Myles.
Even using the world ‘altercation’ is a bit silly on my behalf: Gallen hit Myles in the head a number of times in quick succession, starting with a swinging arm, and followed by a combination of head punches. He ended up earning a mere penalty on the night, and a one game suspension the next day.
They were the actions of a mad man, let’s be honest. Yet what followed was even crazier.
Gallen stated the next day that he shouldn’t have been suspended for throwing punches. That’s right, he purposely attacked the head of another player, and then was legitimately surprised that he received a punishment for it. Madness.
Post-game, the victim, rather than being bitter or vengeful, seemed to actually enjoy it. Said Nate Myles: “How good is it? Let’s be honest, everyone wants to see it.” Followed by “It’s one of those things mate, it’s Origin football. He put a couple of good ones on me.” Madness.
Though it seems other Queenslanders weren’t so relaxed about it.
On Channel 9’s The Footy Show on Thursday, Gorden Tallis was seething at Gallen.
Go to YouTube and enter Tallis’ name alongside Terry O’Connor or Ben Ross, and then let me know if Tallis should be the voice of reason on such matters. Madness.
I guess Big Gordy’s attitude isn’t so much crazy, but rather just complete hypocrisy.
Paul Vautin laughed louder than anyone at Reg Regan’s ‘Bring Back the Biff’ humour, but when it’s a Queenslander getting belted, suddenly it’s not so funny. Despite glorifying punches and constantly showing footage of himself in a dust-up during his Origin career – and it was actually more a slap – Fatty wanted Gallen sent off. Madness.
Blues coach Laurie Daley called Gallen’s punches a ‘great Origin moment’. Madness.
You would think that NSW winning the opening match in the series for the first time since 2008 was probably a better Origin moment for a debutant coach.
In fact, you would hope that Jarryd Hayne’s try was a better Origin moment, especially considering that it was the ultimate compliment to Queensland. After all, it was a play we’ve seen the Maroons run countless times for Billy Slater tries.
Even Michael Jennings try should be rated a better moment that Gallen whacking Myles, seeming as it was one of the best individual efforts by a Blue in recent memory.
Yet it wasn’t just the punch-up that led to some crazy Origin comments.
Many Queensland fans want wholesale changes to the Maroons team, pleading for the world’s best fullback, Billy Slater, to be moved to the wing. Along with Johnathan Thurston or Cooper Cronk to be dropped for Daly Cherry-Evans, and Ashley Harrison retired, not to mention a a host of other moves. Madness.
Have fans completely forgotten that this team has won seven series in a row, and have merely lost one game? A game in Sydney, no less, in which they looked great in the last 20 minutes, and in which they didn’t get much luck (apparently) from the referees?
Meanwhile, Hayne was one of the best players – as usual – for NSW last Wednesday. Yet some Blues fans are calling for Brett Stewart or Josh Dugan to come into the Blues side at fullback. This is before Jarryd Hayne got injured on Friday night. Madness.
It seems no one was immune to the lunacy, with Roar Expert Brett McKay giving Ashley Harrison a rating of eight out of ten on our Origin special podcast. An eight? I wrestled with giving him a three, which I thought to be too high! Madness.
The insanity wasn’t limited to just State of Origin either.
Ricky Stuart told half his Parramatta Eels playing squad that they wouldn’t be required next year. Never mind that there is still half a season to go this year. Madness.
The Newcastle Knights, whose reliance on older players has come into question after a raft of injuries involving said players, signed 35-year-old Craig Gower. Not really madness, but certainly an interesting decision that could backfire on the club.
It seems like everyone involved in rugby league is just a little bit cuckoo at present.
And I can’t stress how much I love it!