Well, here we are, on the cusp of probably the biggest game of the year, and there is much to anticipate even though it’s in pretty much alien territory, Melbourne.
Sure, the game will attract an impressive 75-80,000 crowd, but I’m not comfortable the game’s leaders have once again scheduled a game of such magnitude in a city that doesn’t rate rugby league as we do in NSW and Queensland.
STATE OF ORIGIN LIVE SCORES – GAME 2
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I appreciate our code should be trying to spread its wings – and I also have high reverence for the famous and often magical MCG arena – but the State of Origin series is thrashed out between two Australian states, and Victoria isn’t one of them.
Anyway, we were told many moons ago Game 2 in 2015 would be south of the NSW border and so be it.
I’m excited about the game’s prospects and here are some of the things I’d like to witness.
I cannot picture it, but I’d really like to see the Blues’ halves pairing of Trent Hodkinson and Mitchell Pearce play the games of their lives and steer NSW to a stirring win that squares the series at one apiece.
But from where I sit, the 7 is way down on form and confidence and the 6, well he’s not a 6 and never will be. I’d like them to make me eat my words but I suspect that ain’t going to happen.
I’d like to see NSW skipper Paul Gallen play a team game.
Gal has worked miracles to get a start in this game but there is every chance he will overplay his skipper’s role and get in the road when the ball should be headed elsewhere.
Make a zillion tackles, feel free to sledge the Maroons from a to z, and graft out those hard yards, champ. But please, make sure the pill gets to those who can manufacture points with it when they need it most.
I would like to see fewer cheap shots and more freakish skills and genius plays. Nup, it’s Origin. That was wishful thinking.
I’d like to see NSW players such as Josh Dugan, Michael Jennings and Trent Merrin given ample chance to showcase their wares.
I’d like to see one of league’s most exciting players – Greg Inglis – in full cry, even though they’ve picked him out on the wing.
It will be really interesting if Johnathan Thurston plays at halfback instead of his advertised position at No 6. He is the best halfback in the world, Cooper Cronk is out injured, so why play the seriously in-form JT at 6 when he is blitzing all comers at 7 for the Cowboys? I suspect Mal is foxing and that Daly Cherry-Evans will be stationed at five-eighth more often than not.
I would like to see the phenomenally gifted Billy Slater get through this game without anyone labelling him a grub, a late-tackle merchant, or anything else that comes to mind. He is one of the best fullbacks I have seen, no need to cheapen the brilliance with anything unsavoury.
This may be getting a tad too indulgent but here are five more things I would be thrilled to see tonight:
• The on-field refs being decisive and the video refs complementing their decisions (but not blindly).
• Robbie Farah playing for his team and not himself (he doesn’t have to).
• Coach Laurie Daley giving Bulldogs wrecking ball Dave Klemmer a decent go.
• Exciting Cowboy Michael Morgan to ‘arrive’ at Origin level and be recognised as a top-line player.
• Channel Nine to cut the crap, keep the talk to serious football, and allow the game to start on time.
These are my wishes list Roarers. Surely, I’m not asking too much?
And may the better team win, fairly and squarely.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Yes. existentialist, I really enjoyed the contest and overall spectacle. It was Origin footy at its best - had a bit of everything and much more. Referees deserve a wrap for keeping a very good 10 metres for the majority of the game. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Bring on O3.
Existentialist
Guest
I think you pretty much got what you wished for Tim! Cracker of a game!
Ronald M
Guest
Well said that man. Origin is a massive marketing opportunity for the NRL and it is crazy that we do not use it to its maximum potential. Having worked in Melbourne on and off over the years, I was most impressed by today's full front page spread in the Herald Sun paper on Origin. In an AFL mad city that sort of advertising is like winning the lottery for the storm. You can almost guarantee that storm game attendances will be higher after Origin 2 than they otherwise would have been. The storm are nudging average gates of 15k a game now which is certainly better than most NRL clubs. I agree with Flat White, one Origin Game in Melbourne every year for a decade would grow this game in Victoria like you would not believe. Not doing so is simply pandering to the old guard at the expense of the future. What we need to be aware of is that such a heads in the sand approach could see our sport fall further down the Australian sporting pecking order and that would be a very unhealthy place to be.
Targa
Guest
As a neutral (NZer who prefers union but follows a bit of league - I support Queensland though thanks to Graham Lowe) I'd like to see some decent tough forward play - that was what made SOO really good in the 90s. Now it is all about 'the spine' - not the big fellas and the Kiwis and Poms seem to be the toughest forwards in the NRL
Andrea
Guest
I would like to see a great game of rugby league where the refs actually do their job properly, keep them back their 10, (it makes it a much better spectacle to see them be able to spread the ball and run). Beware the "milking", as both teams have plenty of "milkers," & get the decisions right. If the refs are going to penalize for slowing the play the ball, make sure its for both teams! Ensure the video ref is allowed to reverse obviously wrong decisions on-field eg: who feeds the scrum after a possible touch by the opposing team. I am getting sick of the refs getting crucial decisions wrong and the video ref not fixing it when we (the viewers) get replay after replay showing that they got it wrong. I would like to see the better team win for their abilities and skill rather than a ref stuff up! Here's hoping its a sell-out! Can't wait!
Wolly
Roar Guru
Completely agree with your point about Gallen. Watching him and Bird constantly taking hit ups in the opposition twenty has almost landed me in Callan Park with a straitjacket.
littleredrooster
Guest
We know you don't follow Easts, with your incessant covert bagging of their co-Capitan....
Tim Prentice
Expert
What are you on about? I do not follow South Sydney, never have. This column is about Origin 2. Feel free to contribute in an intelligent way for a change.
Little Red Rooster
Guest
You've identified your own shortcomings there old son..still bitter about that try under the sticks by ju ju when we took the minor premiership from you in round 26 2013?
MAX
Guest
The late, great Rex Mossop had an expression ' at 6's and 7's' in describing the action. Your reasoning to have JT @ 7 and DCE @ 6 is the most intelligent comment on O2 I have read to date. Rex may smile upon the scene when that $2.5M pairing display their freakish skills. At least one of your wishes fulfilled.
Tim Prentice
Expert
I'd like you to write with the slightest touch of humour LRR. Stop chewing lemons.
Fairdinkum
Roar Rookie
Sorry Tim but some things never change. Slater WILL do something grubby & cowardly.It's in his DNA. Captain hog WILL get in the way & overplay his hand.Likewise Farah.
Little Red Rooster
Guest
I'd like to see you write with a little more skill Tim.
Long Black
Roar Rookie
"....that doesn’t rate rugby league as we do in NSW and Queensland." Without having immediate access to statistics, I'd wager that average home crown attendance at Melbourne Storm games would eclipse many of the NSW based teams and definitely one of the Qld teams. I'd like to see a Melbourne game every year. One 'home' game for each team and one neutral venue.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Klemmer v Boyd .... Mmmm. I'd like to see that.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Done deal JJ.
Bonza
Guest
Agree on all points. If it's what I'd LIKE to see then probably Aaron Woods scoring a 90m intercept try in the 79th minute to win it. And every player secretly agrees to belt their opposite number resulting in everyone going to the bin for 10. Except for Klemmer and Darius Boyd, who are left out there alone.
Jimbo Jones
Guest
"I would like to see the phenomenally gifted Billy Slater get through this game without anyone labelling him a grub, a late-tackle merchant, or anything else that comes to mind." If he doesn't do it, I won't call him on it. Deal?