Rarely can two coaches like Laurie Daley and Mal Meniga, plus 50,144 rugby league fans, leave Lang Park with big smiles on their faces.
Laid-back Laurie was grinning for ending an eight-year Origin series drought by winning the first two games, and mighty Mal for having his faith restored by Queensland racing in five tries to one for an emphatic 32-8 victory in Origin 3.
Queensland were so good they even saluted the NSW defence that saved another four to five tries. Simply magnificent.
That was the story of Origin 3 – Queensland’s relentless attack, and NSW’s equally relentless defence. And in the end it was another huge tick for rugby league’s Holy Grail, setting up a blockbusting series for 2015.
But Origin can’t be the code’s sole flag-waver, there are many parts of the game that need attention.
It’s a known problem there are some bag eggs in the code who need sorting out. But when at least 98 per cent are really good blokes who are dedicated to the cause, and know how to behave, rugby league shouldn’t suffer by the stupidity of such a small percentage who can’t lift their game.
And that includes the administrators, right from the top.
Chairman of the ARL Commission John Grant must never be allowed near a microphone. Thankfully he was kept well clear of one at the presentation, or he might have congratulated the Queensland Reds on their display.
There has never been a more invisible CEO than Dave Smith. The Welsh banker knows his rugby, as every boyo does, but he’s well shy of league nous. He should have a chat with John Quayle and David Gallop on how to be available on tap to keep league fans up to speed.
Smith’s latest rare appearance was to suggest more women should be involved at club board level. No argument here, but hardly an earth-shattering expose.
Then there’s Todd Greenberg, the NRL’s head of football. He was so successful for six years as CEO of the Bulldogs, he was a shoe-in for the new job in the admin revamp. But the game needs a recovery from him to shore up what the new NRL is all about.
Finally Jim Doyle, the former New Zealand Rugby League CEO, who was pinched from across the ditch because of his success. But he has no sense of timing. Why would Doyle release yesterday that there are many league players who have been found guilty of illegally betting on rugby league games?
“But I don’t want to release the details today to affect Origin 3 tonight,” was Doyle’s statement yesterday.
Then why, pray tell, did he say anything? Just leave the big announcement until tomorrow, even next week. How could such a senior rugby league administrator be so lacking in lateral vision.
It matters not, Doyle’s heading back to New Zealand to become boss of the Warriors, but he’s left a mark in Sydney he would rather not have set.
Vast improvement is there for the taking in important areas.
But to Laurie Daley, Mal Meninga, their support staff, and especially the players, thanks for a superb Origin series. It had a bit of everything, not the least of which was massive talent.
Linedropout
Roar Pro
So a group of people that (arguably) has the sole purpose of moving the game forward and keeping up with the progression of other codes needs to drag the game back in time to the days of biff and the shoulder charge?
chis
Guest
Outside SOO the crowds for club NRL were strong in the Gallop era.
Meesta Cool;
Guest
You lost me in the headline, This years Origin WAS NOT a great series, the first two games were an insult to our sport, especially game 2. Now, let's get on with the Season, the stage is set for a very interesting couple of months.
Paul
Roar Rookie
Why are Sydney based clubs stopping a second Brisbane team? NSW conspiracy? I reckon it has more to do with the Broncos not wanting a second Brisbane team.
Paul
Roar Rookie
Channel 9 is the governing body these days along with Sportsbet and the like.
john badseed
Guest
Wow, you're right, he has represented Australia!! Never heard of him. Never heard of John Ribot de Bresac either and he also played for Australia. Hope Grant is as good an administrator, the other John really helped the game.
Storm Boy
Guest
AFL do the same. Goes back to well before NRL started in Australia.
Ken
Guest
Roarsome, I think there's pro's and con's there. You're absolutely right that Sydney based players may be more likely to switch to other Sydney clubs. On the flipside though, Sydney clubs do have to deal with a heap of other Sydney clubs that can more easily poach their players. Although Melbourne's history is a little murky, can you imagine any Sydney team holding on to a group of elite players like they have? Regardless of whether the Sydney factor is a net gain or loss, the geographical identity that many of the other teams have is definitely a plus. Brisbane has probably the best location advantage of all considering their huge exclusive population base. The Warriors are mostly Kiwi's and surely that's a positive, North Queensland pulls a lot of players from the area.
Ken
Guest
and do we need to start again from 2007 because of the Titans? Bugger that means that no QLD teams have ever won a premiership! Oh but wait, we changed the rules this year with the zero tackle dead in goal rule... better restart those stats again this year. 100+yrs of history isn't worth anything is it? Let's just throw it all away.
Ken
Guest
What did Gallop do wrong? He took over when the league was still fairly hungover form the SL days and left it in a very healthy (and free of media ownership) state. I suspect of course that you're referring to his handling of the rorts but the feather duster he hit them with should make him a hero of Storm supporters,. They punched a huge hole in the integrity of the competition over at least 5 years, damaging reputations with sponsors and fans, and the sole penalty he handed out was to make them ineligible for the finals that year with their non-complying NRL team.
Peeeko
Guest
Lower tier comp? The new teams were expansion, they were asked to join an existing comp. should all the boston celtics nba titles not count because Toronto and Miami were not around in the seventies?
Peeeko
Guest
No way, only a small ain't of olayers are Sydney bred. Brisbane has a massive advantage
Phill
Guest
Fist is to announce that the NRL started in 1995 or 1998 as a truly national competition and celebrate its foundation and that it is not part of the current/previous NSWRL and all statistics should reflect this. This will encourage other regions to be involved in some thing new and not be hounded by statistics from a lower tier competition of the past. The fact that they have been able to get away with this deceit is embarrassing and disrespectful to all Australians and will be seen as this in the future to come. This will also be the beginning of the end of the Sydney Centric label. A second team in Brisbane/Ipswich is essential and Perth which should already have happened. The game needs to keep moving forward and the Sydney power brokers seem to be stifling this in the fear of less income the NRL generates for themselves.
Ben
Guest
While Folau has slowed the sinking of the ship, water is still spilling over the sides and the wave of European rugby is on the way. The NRL's biggest problem is not Folau but player management - i.e. how do you convert wayward little boys into professional sportsmen.
fiver
Guest
I think that says more about the state of Australian Rugby than bad business nous of the NRL.
fiver
Guest
i think we know what its about, game gorn soft, bring back the biff, bring back the sholda charge... etc etc.
dayer
Guest
I agree PAT, thank god it's only a few who keep on bagging the NRL with their opinions.
Andrew
Guest
Turn it up Turbydewd, it seems Sydeny centric as majority of clubs are in Sydney but Brisbane has the rights to Friday m=night Footy. If QLD clubs/ fans want a share of the booty get cranky at Brisbane. Canberra and Melbounrne get little air time on Friday nights and Melbourne would prefer that due to AFL competition.
Linedropout
Roar Pro
I've never agreed with anything on this website more than this.
Linedropout
Roar Pro
What exactly is it that people expect from the commission and especially Todd Greenberg etc? There's a lot of finger pointing going on, but it's never about anything in particular.