We interrupt this State of Origin period for a round of the NRL. Well, a sort of round. Actually, it’s a shadow of a round, but we should be used to that by now.
It’s not going to change, because the NRL and its clubs don’t like the alternatives to what we’ve got.
That is, Origin games on Wednesdays, each three weeks apart, and Origin players missing from the games played in the round before and being forced to back up quickly in the round after.
We don’t have to like it though.
Byes are sprinkled over this period in an attempt to minimise the damage to teams that provide a significant number of players to the NSW and Queensland sides, but, it’s like putting a bandaid on a gaping wound.
The NRL has five games scheduled for this weekend and all of them are affected by Origin commitments. Some more than others and, most importantly, some teams more than others.
It’s the classic uneven playing field.
Out of the 34 players selected for the Origin game at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, and therefore held out from this weekend’s games, 23 come from teams that are playing. The other 11 are from the six teams that have byes.
Friday night’s game between Canterbury, the competition leaders, and Sydney Roosters, the defending premiers, at ANZ Stadium, should have the potential to draw a big crowd. But, presumably, the crowd won’t be as big as it could have been because of the effect Origin has had on the two teams.
The Bulldogs will be missing four star players – Josh Morris, Josh Reynolds, Trent Hodkinson and Tony Williams. The Roosters will be missing three – Michael Jennings, Daniel Tupou and Aidan Guerra.
The Roosters are warm favourites for the game with bookmakers, primarily because their halves are intact and the Bulldogs have had to find two new ones.
The Roosters’ pairing of James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce were dumped by the Blues and replaced by the Bulldogs’ pairing of Reynolds and Hodkinson, and the result of this club game could swing purely on that.
The rest of the weekend sees Gold Coast, minus one Origin player, at home to the Warriors (none), Wests Tigers (two) at home to Brisbane (three), Canberra (one) at home to North Queensland (four) and Cronulla (two) at home to South Sydney (three).
Only two of the 16 teams in the competition have not been called upon to contribute any players to Origin. Joining the Warriors in that category is Penrith, which is one of the teams with the bye. The weekend off seems wasted on the Panthers.
The big winners out of all of this look to be the Raiders – and the big losers the Cowboys. That’s if the Raiders can get their act together and take advantage.
Canberra will be missing Josh Papalii to Origin, while the Cowboys will be without the star Origin quartet of Johnathan Thurston, James Tamou, Matt Scott and Brent Tate. That situation is grossly unfair to the Cowboys, but we’ve seen this sort of thing happen to teams so often in the past that we’re obviously supposed to accept it as just one of those things.
Some people will argue that this is simply an unfortunate by-product of having star players at your club, and that if you’re not prepared to lose star players to Origin then you shouldn’t bother having them.
They say that it is those star players that make it possible for your team to win the premiership, so suck it up during the potentially hard times of the Origin period. I understand that argument, but it still doesn’t justify what is happening this weekend.
It’s like going to see a theatre production only to discover the big-name star is having a night off and his understudy is playing the lead role. Even if he does a reasonably good job you’re still going to walk out at the end of the show thinking you’ve been stiffed.
Velasquez
Guest
FIFA have International breaks. All domestic games are suspended for that weekend when Qualification or Friendly matches are played. Never do they mix domestic league with international.
NQ Cowboy
Guest
I didn't realise that Chelsea played a contact sport?
fiver
Guest
huh, over the last couple of years they had Dugan, Ferguson, Papali and Shillington all playing origin. That's a decent representation
eagleJack
Guest
To be fair Pearce did confirm that he is ridiculously out of form. SBW to the rescue for the Roosters again. They're going to miss him next year.
KB
Guest
Seems like the dogs are big cats.
Muzz
Guest
Love winning at ANZ.
john badseed
Guest
Good one. So Ricky Ponting rings home and says"I've just met the girl of my dreams. But there's one problem, mum". "What's that?" says Mrs Ponting. "She's a virgin" says Ricky. "Well son", says Mrs Ponting, "If she's not good enough for her family, she's not good enough for ours".
john badseed
Guest
Conspiracy theory No.2 million-How come The Rorters can get Pearce and Maloney rested from SOO and the Dogs Lose their halves? How come the Rorters can get JWH and SBW (so Kadashian) rested from the Anzac Test? What next? A dodgy ref?
KB
Guest
The only culture going at manly is in the yoghurt they have for breakfast..
KB
Guest
Sucko porcupine!
AdelaideWill
Guest
Stop the NRL for 3 weeks and play the SOO on Sunday night each week. Run a 9's invitation cup at the same time with a chance for clubs/countries outside of the norm added to spice it up (Imagine Perth, Fiji, PnG or a few UK teams) - games played on Friday/Saturday nights with knock out rounds in week two and grand final played in week three as the opening game to the final SOO. A three week Rugby League festival
yoyo
Guest
Yep Football ;) Take England for example. They played 8 internationals in the last 9 months. 4 qualifiers for the World Cup and 4 friendlies, averaging an international every 4.6 weeks ;)
yoyo
Guest
There is no such thing as a salary cap over there. Chelsea squad has only 25 players. They have a further 11 players loaned to other clubs. The Broncos have 37 players according to the Broncos website...You see? I'm not comparing apples with motorcars...
Ret
Guest
Once NSW win 4 or 5 series in a row (yeah I know, but stranger things have happened) Origin will disappear. It's all about Queensland. I couldn't be bothered going through the stats, but I read somewhere that NSW actually have a higher win rate in Sydney, than Qld do in Brisbane. Home game comp, with one team getting way more home games.
Lion Down Under
Guest
And what is the size of the Chelsea squad? And what is Chelsea's salary cap? If Chelsea get a run of bad injuries what are the loan and transfer arrangements in place to provide replacement players? Seriously, you're comparing apples and motor cars here, not even apples and oranges.
yoyo
Guest
LOL...Chelsea just played 57 matches in the last season (August 2013 - May 2014). That's roughly 1.6 matches per week in a 9 month marathon. Some matches played in 30+ degrees and some in -0. Now they have 3 months off...Best players play a World Cup in June/July before they start the next marathon season all over again. Standard schedule for top Football players. There is no need whatsoever to stop any NRL matches for Origin or Tests. What are those stupid BYE's for? They are professional athletes. They have almost 6 months off season!!! Jesus, maybe they need more Vita Brits and less beer...
Baz
Guest
Origin is incredible. If this is the price to pay then so be it.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
It's a complete farce. We have eight rounds of NRL and then, just as things are hotting up and the good teams are starting to run into form we... stop. For a meaningless Test and City v Country no less. Then it's two weeks back at full strength, then a farcical 7-8 week period of byes and missing players and players backing up... Before teams are FINALLY back to full strength for the run into the Finals. It not only reduces the quality of the competition, but compromises its integrity too. In a competition where two wins (4 points) can mean the difference between finishing top four and missing the finals altogether, it's a total and utter farce. I really can't believe it's allowed to happen.
Mick the Clown
Guest
I love Soo where it is. It encourages a more equal competition in a similar way to the salary cap. If Soo became a best of 5 series, and 3 more mid week representitive games thrown in we could abolish the salary cap altogether, as those teams stacked with rep stars would get smashed on weekends when their reps were out. That would be great, and encourage players top earn as much as possible, but still having a level comp
George Walton
Guest
I can remember about 5 years ago a doggies fan telling me at canberra stadium just how good that young Barba guy is....bet the guy wishes he never heard of him now.