I’ve got a heavy chest Roarers, with lots of rugby league stuff weighing me down. The heaviest burden comes via the bitterly disappointing NSW team announced by Laurie Daley and Co.
Wearing my blue-ish cap (because I live in the state), there are too many out-of-form, under-done or injury-plagued Blues heading for Origin 2 in Melbourne.
I predicted an easy Maroons win in Origin 1 in Sydney – and it could have easily have been so – but a solitary one-point win by the Queenslanders has allowed the Blues selectors to paper over the cracks and once again pick a team dripping with conservatism.
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Undoubtedly, NSW will pump up and send out another highly defensive outfit at a time when they should be trying every which-way to find the try-line, and get the scoreboard humming.
Hello rampaging Raider Blake Austin? Nup. Untried, couldn’t possibly contribute to the NSW cause. He could have been a dangerous wild card for sure and he richly deserved a shot from the bench.
By naming the alarmingly out-of-form Trent Hodkinson and a non-five-eighth in Mitchell Pearce, NSW start well behind the eight ball. Again.
This pair went OK for 40 minutes at ANZ Stadium in Game 1, but the problem was the game went for 80. OK is nowhere good enough at Origin level but coach Laurie Daley felt that OK was OK. It was not.
Both halves went MIA when the series opener needed a hero. By full-time, NSW got a zero from this ordinary pairing, the not-so-shrewd selectors’ choice.
Oh, and the Maroons No. 7, Cooper Cronk, proved to be the match-winner. He was highly visible when the others were either shrinking or hiding.
I can understand why Paul Gallen was chosen, but even though he has the biggest motor of any player in rugby league history, Origin games are something else. The NSW skipper will struggle, perhaps big-time, as the game hits the hour mark. He is not match-fit. Will pretend he’s going OK, when he is absolutely stuffed.
As for gambling on Robbie Farah at No. 9, that’s playing with fire.
For starters he has had a very ordinary season at the Tigers and is carrying a much-publicised shoulder injury; this version of Farah is not the guy the Blues should be looking to in one of the key distribution points of the field. A really bad call to pick him.
While I’m at it, why is Michael Jennings an automatic recipient of a Blue jumper? What does he do in Origin? Does he make breaks, go in search of work, does he really get involved? Just three tries in 13 games for a so-called prolific try-scorer? Not good enough.
The selectors should have strongly considered South Sydney livewire Dylan Walker. Maybe next year, maybe not. Loyalty, old chap.
The Blues have again elected to run without a utility player on the bench. If that’s not rolling the dice with so many injury and fitness questions over the team, I am completely unfamiliar with dice-rolling.
The omission of the damaging and unpredictable Andrew Fifita is very strange, I was surprised that Parramatta’s Will Hopoate was retained on the wing after offering precious little in Origin 1.
And the Blues will be fielding a fullback with absolutely no passing skills. He doesn’t know how to offload, never has. Josh Dugan had one chance to do so in the NRL game against Canterbury – it could have been a try – but no, he went himself.
Manly’s try-scorer and try-maker Brett Stewart could buy and sell this very limited footballer.
By now, you may have the impression I do not fancy NSW’s chances of squaring the series at the MCG. I do not, and the NSW selectors should be grilled unmercifully in the aftermath. But will that happen?
Nope. Zippo chance of that as ‘Bozo’, Lozza et al are protected species with the current media throng.
When Queensland takes an inevitable 2-0 series lead, how about the fellas from the media ask some hard and probing questions, and break the mould. Surprise us all.
The second thing I wanted to mention here is a couple of weeks old, but could easily re-surface in any game, any time, including the 2015 NRL grand final.
Does anyone recall the Cowboys vs Sea Eagles game in Round 12? Less than five minutes to go and the Cowboys cleanly and clearly won a scum against the feed to go right on the attack. The ball was recalled. Why? No explanation.
Travel further back to Round 10 and it is late in the Knights vs Tigers arm wrestle at Hunter Stadium.
Newcastle cleanly and clearly won a scrum against the feed in their own quarter and they were allowed to play on. They went the length of the field and eventually scored the game-clincher. As many folks ask in the text message classics: WTF?
As a genuine league fan, I’d like some urgent clarification on this rule/non rule. It could ultimately determine a team’s finals fate or even the title deciding game.
The third bee in my baseball cap is Channel Nine and their Queensland ‘cheerleaders’.
OK, we all realise that Nine must cover north-of-the-NSW-border games on Friday nights for ratings, but their commentators collectively suck, and there are a couple who have turned sucking-up into an art form. They have been making Friday night ‘projectile vomit time’.
When criticism is due, we get nothing. When a Queensland team happens to lose, shock horror! When the most innocuous thing runs in a Queensland team’s favour – woah! “This is sensational. Absolutely brilliant!”
This drivel is way too hard to hear for my money. At my place, the mute button will be employed from now until season’s end.
And you know what? I’ll miss absolutely nothing.
Dr Yes
Guest
Tim, Any chance of revisiting / commenting on this post-game? Or at least some sort of game review? Just to stoke the fire, my 2c: Criticised halves selection: 2 x good games. Said Austin should be selected - in his first season as a starting half. Surely the examples of DCE and Morgan show how tough it is for junior halves, even ones who are groomed for a couple of years (Morgan) or four years (DCE). For the record, I think DCE & Morgan gave little, and it would be hard for Austin to do much more. In Origin, halves must be the centre of organisation and communication, not just more running inside backs. BTW, Cronk & Lockyer didn't start until 29yo & 27yo - after numerous of semi wins & a GF win or 2. Even then, Lockyer lost 2 series and they were howling for his head. Gallen selection questioned: an average-to-good game, but great leadership. Not personally his best stats (missed a tackle for a try), but lead well in the build-up & on the night. Farah: topped the tackle count, distributed & kicked well. Not his best game in SOO, but good enough considering the next best option was Ennis. Jennings: Very good. M.o.M. Lack of Utility on bench: Worked out well on the night. Merrin came on early to cover Gallen and played his part then and later. Jackson & Cordner contributed in forward rotation (particularly a few good tackles). A hooker could have had a stint, but it's doubtful it would have been as good a result. Predicted a loss with fair confidence: Heading to decider in QLd. Response? Cheers D.Y.
BigRedVeee
Guest
For the hell of it, the team I think QLD would lest like to face i Melbourne would be: 1. Dugan (PS Tim, whilst I agree 100% with nearly everything you had to say.. you are way off the mark about Dugan) 2.Alex Johnson/Topou 3. Josh Morris 4.Dylan Walker 5. Brett Morris 6. Blake Austin 7.Luke Keary/Sezer/Brooks even 8. Tamou 9.Mitch Rein/Peats 10.Woods 11 Beau Scott 12 Frizell 13 Josh Jackson Bench : Merrin, Cordner, Wighton Fifita
BigRedVeee
Guest
Fulton is consistently the worst RL selector of all time...and has been for a while, although Daley has the potential to knock him off eventually. Whilst these clowns are picking NSW teams you guys have Buckley's of beating a QLD team which as everyone agrees basically 'picks itself'. I wonder if we would be saying that if Bozo, Big Nose et al were doing the selecting up here? It was obvious to everyone that NSW offered nothing in attack in Game 1 (sans the NSW coaching gang, and the 3 blind mice,Fulton, Bob McCarthy and Geoff Gerard), and worse, it wouldn't have mattered if the game went for 2 days and the average age of the Maroons was 38...they still wouldn't have looked like scoring. Whilst the 'all-power' game plan did at times look like it was troubling the ageing Maroons, they had no one either on field or on the bench that was capable of taking advantage. I mean it's all good and well to have players like Klemmer, Josh Jackson, Trent Merrin etc sitting on the bench flexing their collective muscles and then coming on fresh and wreaking havoc, but the downside is you have 9 guys who play the same role and no one left to provide the attacking impetus needed to take advantage of the advantage that the so called 'Power Game' affords them. How they didn't pick Austin is just astounding..and then how he was not included on the bench is just plain criminal. I mean hey, it's not as if the guys they have there are tried and tested veterans...like a Fittler or even a Daley himself....which would take a far gutsier selection panel...no not at all.... it's a couple of guys who are struggling big time and let's face it, can both be considered lucky to be picked in the first place. Pearce because of his abysmal record at SOO level..and Hodgkinson because he is a very average player to begin who possesses an attacking game that is best summed by saying 'Defense is the best form of attack'. He got away with it in last years SOO because NSW were able to win the series whilst crossing the line only 5 times in 240 mins...which you just can't expect will happen again. Losing Cronk last year did affect the QLD attack big time...but they stlll should have done better then what they did in Games 1 and 2. Face it, Game 2 at the MCG is already being marked down as a Maroons win. The only chance you guys have is another inept performance in attack by QLD...and if that happens you may just sneak home...but it will be a soccer-type scoreline and another big origin snooze-fest.
mark
Guest
Hi Tim Really enjoyed your article and it's quirkiness I think we have picked a good side apart from the halves, we really need someone creative like a luke keary or perhaps adam reynolds if he wasn't injured. Definitely think Austin would be a better option at 5/8 than pearce. For some reason he reminds me a little of laurie Daley when he was playing origin. Also i would have replaced cordner with Luke Lewis. I can't understand the logic behind leaving Lewis out, every year in SOO he is one of new's best. I guess Daley wants a young side? Jennings doesn't do much at origin but he gets picked every year, he has his moments but he's not consistent enough, he's good and fast enough to have an impact like steve renouf use to but he doesn't get involved enough. Anyway, i still think now will win game 2 but not the series. Cronk is a big loss for qld.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
笑っております
The eye
Guest
よく してる でしょ！笑う わ
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Dugan did kick for Morris to score...
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Nobody follows anybody on the field. Jennings is a daemon when on song and he ought to be roaming around waiting for an offload from Fifita and co.
Charles NSW
Guest
Brett Stewart is by far the best fullback NSW has with facts to prove that. So why is it he is ignored? Dugan is too good to leave out and should be in the centres. In this already it adds polish to the side. Then add Jamie Soward and Adam Reynolds or if not Blake Austin then you have good attacking power. Then have most of the forwards we have but include Lewis then we have good grunt power. All too easy!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Yeah, I don't get the Bozo love.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Well, I am a Permanent Resident there so....
paul
Guest
Actualy tim as a an easts supporter I totaly agree with that article. Dylan should be in jennings going ordinary austin should be ther and cordner lucky to be in side.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Hey Sleiman, san! You turning Japanese on us???
Tim Prentice
Expert
I'm not saying Dugan is an ordinary player. I like his ability to impose himself in attack. And yes, he was the best-performed NSW back in Origin 1. He is strong and quick but that's just about it. In attack he is one-dimensional. Defences know exactly what is coming. With Brett Stewart, who would be my pick, you get speed, a step or swerve, a clever pass or even a kick when he chimes into the fray. A far more dangerous commodity in the Origin arena for mine. You just don't know what the Snake is going to do next.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
お祖母ちゃん知ってるね :D
Tim Prentice
Expert
Fifita not there for defence. Is there to bust the line and create. Others can more than cover him.
Niall
Guest
If for one second we take out all the different biases and wrinkles that go into selecting rep teams (combinations, loyalty, mates, intangibles) and pick the NSW team ENTIRELY!!! on this seasons form what would it look like? 1 Josh Dugan 2 Anthony Don 3 James Roberts 4 Jarrod Croker 5 Alex Johnston 6 Blake Austin 7 Sam Williams (Adam Reynolds' form has been better but out injured) 8 Aaron Woods 9 Mitch Rein 10 Aidan Tollman 11 Tyson Frizzell 12 Joel Thompson 13 Trent Merrin 14 Michell Aubusson 15 David Klemmer 16 Paul Vaughan 17 Josh Jackson I'm not suggesting this team should be picked. I think it shows that form is only a factor in selection when selectors see fit. Same goes for loyalty and other criteria.
Concerned Observer
Guest
Gallen is a solid choice, I don't recall the same scrutiny being given to Hodges and Boyd (to a lesser extent). Farah was not my first choice as captain for the blues in game 1, he doesn't martial his players and he seems obsessed with creating individual plays that have no impact. Gallen might not be creative but he can be counted on to put in 100% everytime. He leads well and knows what should be done when it needs to be. As for talk of Fifita, as a QLD'er I would've celebrated his inclusion. In short, Fifita is nothing less than an idiot convinced of his own greatness. I watched his performance against the dragons, dropping the ball on purpose then standing up asking for a penalty then shouting at the ref when he didn't take the bait. He also has absolutely no clue how to operate, if I recall, it was game 3 in 2013 and QLD had pulled ahead with a few minutes to go, it was down to a set a piece and QLD had just collected the ball via a Mitchell Pearce Special to Slater. NSW had maintained huge defensive pressure at this point, their last set would've been in a favourable position. Slater's running then fifita slams into him, ref calls held then fifita makes a second effort (you know, to rough him up) and was penalised (with subsequent theatrics). I lost any respect for him that day, he had just cost his team any chance at winning due to his own antics. Not a team player and deserves absolutely no praise until he pulls his head from his rear and plays like a prop of his size and strength should
Brad. H
Guest
Hi Tim I wholeheartedly agree with you BUT I would like to add my pet peeve to your list. When a team is defending their line , 9 times out of 10 the outside backs are offside at the play the ball. Why is it that I can see this yet the touchies (whose job it is to police this) are oblivious to this all too common and most flagrant act of contravening a basic game rule. To quote "WTF" !
JayBob
Guest
So is Fifita defending on the edge? And will he be next to Austin or Keary? Lol, we would want to score about 40 points because we'll need them all.