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The NRL have inadvertently written in a new rule that may give the NSW Blues their first Origin Series win in nine years.
NSW versus Queensland is war. The rules are always different in war, and it has been often said that the only way for the Blues to beat the Maroons is with an axe.
With the help of the new “concussion rule”, maybe they don’t need an axe.
We all witnessed how the Blues on-field general Robbie Farah remained on the field after he was heavily concussed by a Nate Myles head “tackle” in last year’s Origin. If that same incident happens again this year, the NSW skipper would be forced out of the match.
The new rule is clear: remove the player from the game.
A player who has suffered a concussion must not be allowed to return to play in the same game. The assessor should not be swayed by the opinion of the player, coaching staff or anyone else suggesting premature return to play.
Farah will always be an obvious target as he has no replacement and is crucial in the team’s spine as well as being the captain. The Maroons would also struggle if they lost their skipper Cameron Smith, although Daly Cherry-Evans, a club halfback, would be a handy replacement if the concussion rule claimed Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston or Billy Slater.
Come to think of it, the Maroons seem to have the concussion rule covered, just like every other position on the field.
Given the ferociousness of Origin tackles it would be naïve to expect that the concussion rule will not be a factor. It should influence the bench so that if any key position player is taken out, he can be replaced by someone similar.
NSW cannot risk selecting Robbie Farah to play 80 minutes and not have an adequate back up as they have done in previous years. Ideally, they need another top class hooker, but someone who can also play other positions if Farah remains fit and going well.
Michael Ennis is not the answer, as he was disappointing in his last Origin campaign, and Kurt Gidley, while the ideal profile, looks a shadow of the class player he once was.
The in-form Eels nine Nath Peats fits the bill perfectly. He would be an asset to NSW to relieve Farah prior to half time, and could also be a pinch hitter in the forwards if required.
I wonder if the bookies will be betting on the concussion rule being used in this series?
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