- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
First of all, I have to eat my hat due to my last article. I said that the three ‘fill ins’, Josh Dugan, Nathan Merritt and Aaron Woods could fill the gap created by proven players such as Jarryd Hayne, Blake Ferguson and James Tamou.
As I said, I eat my hat.
But a big tip of that hat firstly to Queensland.
They beat NSW at their own game of out enthusing and created an identical result at halftime.
But I want to address the mystical ‘Origin material’ and what it actually is.
I’m going to focus on the NSW squad’s performances rather than Queensland because it is hard to criticise their individual performances in Game II.
Firstly, Nathan Merritt. After a very long wait and a well deserved shot at the greatest level of league, it seemed he was a rookie pulled from an under 18s squad and thrown into hell.
There was such talk of “he is not Origin material” and his debut performance showed that.
Compared to the likes of Blake Ferguson, who apart from one fumble on his first hit up, had a stellar performance.
I cannot see Merritt pulling on another Blues jersey unfortunately.
Secondly Aaron Woods. Although there was some decent hit ups and tackles, his lack of discipline in the top level and little to no impact against a raging Maroons team had me putting my arms up in the air.
The likes of Tamou or Tim Grant have the size and impact to get those extra few metres when needed.
Also, Grant and Tamou had absolutely impressive first games, particularly Tamou in a losing side.
This has me believing Woods has some maturing to do at NRL level before he sees another Blues selection.
Thirdly, although we saw some glimpses of something, Josh Dugan cannot rival the likes of Jarryd Hayne in the #1 jersey.
Dugan is an X-Factor, but Hayne is a much, much more bigger X and far more composed, involved and experienced than him.
But, then what is this ‘Origin Material’?
Opponents hate them and have reason too, because they are footballers.
They are hardened, fearless and rough around the edges.
How many times have you come across a really crazy person who you would prefer to have on your side than against?
That is an element of ‘Origin material’. The more an opponent hates them, the more they deserve a spot on your team.
The media are throwing around all this non-biff and clean the game up but isn’t that what 2.4 mil people tune in to watch?
Menacing, hard hitting, fired up mongrels going head to head for glory.
The replacements for NSW lacked that in Game II. Unfortunately, they were not ‘Origin material’.
Maybe not yet, but definitely not now. I do hope that in Game III they line-up 1-17 like they did in Game I and close the series and end the Juggernaut that is Queensland.
Remember Queensland, it is a draw. 1-1.
See you in Sydney.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.