As some states more than others can attest, the elevated stage of State of Origin can be a crude and judgmental wench, and Wednesday night proved again she cares not for sentiment or repute. She makes or breaks, but who has she made or broken in 2015?
We all know how it works. Regardless of your standing in club land, the litres of smoke the media has blown up your backside or your level of desire to set the world on fire, Origin will always have the ability to set you on your arse.
On the other hand, abide by her table manners and jump at her command, and you could be the next John Doe turned the crème de la crème of the upper crust.
In her 35 years of separating the stallions from the Shetlands, she has gilded great names and limited careers, all under various guises of a range of alcohol sponsorships.
So who’s the beneficiaries and the buffaloed in Origin’s two-speed appraisal for 2015?
Who will ‘come back from camp a more improved player’ and who will ‘not come back from camp at all’? Who will be swearing with dignitaries and who will be swearing at dignitaries? Whose value’s now inflated and who’s having lunch with Steve Turner?
I’ve diligently fossicked to turn up some of the playaz and the passengers from an Origin series that truly was stacks Origin.
Winners
Will Chambers
OK, after the horrendous scenes of Wednesday night and the preceding years of torture, I acknowledge that picking winners from Queensland is an exercise akin to squashing ants in a shoebox. So to make it look like I actually watch football, I’ve gone for a few lesser lights from an outfit that makes me wish there was a salary cap at state level.
Depressingly, the super-duper Chambers is ranked as a ‘lesser light’.
The Storm speedster burst on to the scene in his Game 3 debut last year, but in 2015 he has catapulted to a new level of horsepower. This series has firmly established the winger-now-centre as one of the game’s premier outside backs, thus erasing any memory of his time at the Queensland Reds.
For this standout performance in the interstate arena, his coaching staff must also credited. So well done, Craig Bellamy.
Corey Parker
As a man who enjoys second-phase play and the clean-cut elegance of a GQ magazine man, I must say that I thoroughly enjoy the later career works of Parker. On the other hand, as a man from New South Wales, I much prefer his younger, balder and much less-effective earlier years.
Salt and pepper, red wine, etc.
Josh Dugan
Shining out through the Blue wreckage is the Dragon fullback’s now extra-glossy reputation. While his stature as a big game player has copped a boost, does he ever play a full 80 without ailment? I reckon he could chain smoke for a decade and it would knock less years off his life.
Yes, Dugan is always limping, wincing or pressing his hand to a major organ as if trying to prevent a tattoo from peeling off, but he always kept resurfacing to make the tough runs. Resembling a multi-coloured panel-beaten Skyline in retirement will be well worth my passing praise.
The MCG
We all mused coming in to Game 2; how would Melbourne cope with the raw boofy power of rugby league?
Being a ground purpose-built purely for international rules fixtures as its name suggests, it was natural that everyone was concerned. But in the end, we all ended up looking like dill pickles.
The MCG project was a raging success as Melbournians flocked to buy-in to the event on the condition it was strictly a novelty. Surely it now begs the question; why the one match every blue moon?
I say give them three a year. There’s more seats, and better yet it’s closer than travelling to ANZ Stadium.
Punching
Scoundrel conduct in the Daily Telegraph versus Courier Mail undercard bout seemed to produce a high level of faux animosity between the two sides.
Luckily for the soccer mums and the wowsers, this manifested itself in to nothing more than a rolling scrummage of shirt-straightening and kitten-slaps, resulting in a 0.17 percent increase in participation and memberships and a minuscule reduction in social media outrage.
However, the purists were left yearning for Cattledog, and with every handbags moment in the middle the value of a knuckle sandwich increased like a rare Bernie Gurr footy card.
Losers
Will Hopoate
Yes, I speak ill of a man of the cloth, so I understand if the Lord must strike down upon me. If he chooses to do so, I hope he is gentle as I have just had my back waxed.
But if it’s any consolation to you up there, Jeebers, you won’t have to waste energy on preaching to the masses about the Son of John having a series that you couldn’t hear over a pin drop.
As his rogue father began the long road to resurrecting his public image with gentle incremental increases in his clownish cable TV career, Brother Hopoate was labouring as a meat-minced butter-fingers in early set carries.
Minor impact means he hasn’t passed the pub test this year, but he’ll be back (and I’m not just saying that so God doesn’t give me rickets).
Mitchell Pearce
Contentious bone alert. Now please hear me out before you all go bacterial.
The Rooster half enjoyed fresh territory in Origin this year – nine weeks of life in early winter not being compared to sink hair. In fact, before his side of the field was paddock-bashed for countless tries in Brisbane, many would attest that he was one of the Blues’ best across the series.
But despite his composed presence and 9pm bedtimes, where does he go now that he’s ably piloted his team for a zero return? It’s a cloudy issue that I’m sure will be calmly discussed by the inevitable lynch mobs usually seen traipsing across New South Wales after any Origin series from 2006-present.
I fear he could be an undeserved candidate for collateral again, thus spiralling him in to an existential crisis which sees him quit football to become the lead singer in a cover band on the RSL circuit.
Daly Cherry-Evans
In the interest of balance, I have found room for a Queenslander. This is because all of my Origin articles are non-biased, plus I get the opportunity to call somebody in Maroon a loser.
With a series fettered by reneging, revolting and rejection, one must say it was an overall loss for DCE. His colours were lowered somewhat both on and off the field, which probably upset him until he realised he could buy Micronesia.
Considering his chilly relationship with Johnathan Thurston, I’m backing him to return and thrive in a Maroons environment that will feel just like Manly.
The citizens of New South Wales
We genuinely thought this was going to happen this year. We thought we could taste Dom Perignon, but instead it was bloody Kool-Aid.
As the scoreboard skyrocketed on Wednesday, all I could think of was Paula Abdul and an animated cat.
“Two steps forward, two steps back.”
Man, she really knows what’s up when it comes to Origin.
Pre-match entertainment
When there’s a showpiece game of league, it can only mean one thing: somebody is bound to humiliate themselves by making noise in the 30 minutes prior to kick-off, and this year was no different.
While face was saved in the final two games with a party CD and some oyster lights, it was the ‘Massacre of Homebush’ in the first game where careers were murdered.
The brutal annihilation of Angry Anderson’s tender poetry in front of an aghast crowd of onlookers proved that the game will forever be preordained to butchering musical acts regardless of ability. A collaboration between Bruce Springsteen and the Beatles wouldn’t be immune.
Free advice. Next time, just hire the Delltones or an album of 1980s panpipe powerballads and use the money saved to buy the kids some goal posts.
3 Hats
Guest
I am a qualified referee and whilst a 50 point drubbing is difficult to blame the officials but this must be said. The damage was done early, Queensland received some really soft Penalties early on where NSW did not. NSW were penalized for off side, hand on the ball, interference in the play the ball etc. Queensland WERE NOT for the same breaches...Simple. The game was all over at 16-2 after, I think it was 26 minutes. And 22 to 2 at half time. The possession rate at that time was 88% Queensland and the Penalty's at that stage was I think 5-1 NSW, even though over the 80 were pathetic the damage was done in the first 25 minutes. They never did recover! That big crowd influenced the officials with the final count 12 to 5, with 2 late penalty's with 2 to go. FRIGGING PATHETIC
Sem yah
Guest
Did anyone notice the Gus silence? Fantastic! I reckon woods should've been promoted to 5/8 instead of Pearce! The latter should have been promoted to a bowling pin! Very effective there too! 5/8 woods just kept passing the ball instead of trucking up the middle! Yup.. Agree with watcher.. The referees were so biased they kept awarding tries to them maroons every time they placed the ball over the blooses try line.. So weird and so biased they were them refs!
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Nice quote. Where's it from?
JayBob
Guest
Cameron Smith makes comment about the refs before every game, he just does it more diplomatically. Also, Thurston would go down as the undisputed champion of "we wuz robbed". You could make a highlights reel of him complaining after a loss. Albeit most of the time deservedly and not in a Maroons jersey.
Justthetip
Guest
Exactly mate. Where are the ball players and variation in attack. It's easy to get off the line early when you know what's coming. Moylan would have provided a ball playing link in a team stacked with quality ball runners. As good as Dugan was he isn't what nsw needed at fb.
watcher
Guest
It was all down to the referees. I mean, every time Queensland placed the ball over the Blues line they awarded a try. How unfair is that. NSW have Tamou, to solve their halves problem all they have to do is find a loophole and select Foran and Shaun Johnston.
Tony
Guest
DaneE, did a whole story of yours get deleted, or what happened ?
Ginger Meggs
Guest
Origin might the the best versus the best footballers but it really brings out the worst in The Roar comments. How anyone with two eyes could defend a team that failed so miserably in every facet of the game is beyond me. Whether it was the players or the bash'em game plan that cost them the game is difficult to determine, but it was certainly not the referees. A ref might influence the result of a tight game with a bum decision but a 46 point deficit? Your kidding. Which was the best team over the series? NSW could have won the first game if Farah picks the right option...Qld the second if the elusive knock-on before the Inglis runaway had not been picked up. So it came down to game 3...and with Cronk back in the side the Queenslanders creamed them like they have never been creamed before. Better then for we New South Welshmen to consider a brighter future. To pick a team that is going places rather than who have been there....there being a decade of failure. No easy task given the Qld monopoly of the current stars, but you have to start somewhere. Like hooker. The previous suggestion of Apisai Korisau is a good one. He gives the most fluid service from dummy half, only runs when he has to, or when he can make good ground, not when there is an off chance he might star with a try. He is a good defender and can make a decent fist as half-back if necessary. He will have to brush up on his trash talk, whining to referees, and aggro media statements. Fullback...James Tedesco is elusive, scores tries (even when his club side is dead last) and, more importantly, does not die with the ball, but combines well with his supports even in the haram sacrum style that Wests employ. Dugan had a good game in Origin 3 but he is essentially a broken field runner and does not chime into his backline like Slater or Inglis. Perhaps his go is winger if NSW cannot come up with someone more dynamic than Hopoate. Let's give youth a chance.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I think MAX's attitude may be typical of older fans who were rusted on to their clubs before Origin came around. For younger fans though I think Origin is part and parcel of being a League fan.
Maroon Blood
Guest
Exactly. I was left scraching my head by Gould's "dear me, dear me" after Qld got a penalty from Beau Scott tackling, lifting and dumping a player who didn't have the ball. Seriously, how on earth is that NOT a penalty??
Maroon Blood
Guest
Anyone who shoves their arm or fist into someones mouth with the intent of causing them physical bodily harm deserves what they get. The way the DT carry on, you would swear Parker was Luis Suarez!! How unusual for that rag to be clutching for straws for a Qld-bashing story.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
The sad part is that yes, he was slow, and yet he still didn't have the first receiver there when he needed them, meaning he had to do a lot of the fifth tackle clearing himself (and didn't do a bad job out of dummy half). He also had the closest thing to resemble a line break (apart from Jennings's intercept).
a
Guest
All QLD are winners and all NSW are losers
matth
Guest
What I love is that we get to choose from Morgan, Hunt, DCE, Milford and Mbye. Great problem to have. DCE would have been better these past two years if he had been paired with Cronk. DCE is more a Thurston light, and needs a general beside him. So Hunt and DCE could work, but I agree Morgan should have the inside running now. His only problem could be that his great value from the bench prevents him getting a starting spot.
matth
Guest
Ennis' service was slow, which hurt his forwards at the advantage line. But it was expected given he hadn't been in the team for 3 years. He tried hard.
matth
Guest
This is the basic difference between QLD and NSW fans. In NSW the clubs were there first and to many fans, Origin is secondary. To QLD the NSWRL destroyed our local club competition and Origin came 8 years before the Broncos, with the Cowboys even later. We will in general give up a grand final to win Origin. Does Origin truly benefit rugby league? Absolutely! It gives the league the funds and profile to win sponsors, get massive TV money to pay the players and keep them away from Union and England, and encourages youngsters to play the sport in the hope of one day being on the Origin stage. Without origin rugby league is a local NSW competition with 7,000 rusted on fans sitting in run down suburbia. Oh wait, that's the Sea Eagles :-)
matth
Guest
Touche. I will say however that a dose of responsibility would help NSW immensely. Yes QLD fans blame the refs just as much as their southern counterparts, but critically, the players do not. No QLD player has produced the "we wuz robbed" comments that Gallen has. Wayne Bennett on his return to the Broncos has championed personal responsibility. You cannot win when the chips are down if mentally you are giving yourself excuses to lose. Great teams find a way even when everything is against them. See QLD in the first series of the dynasty. they were royally shafted in Game 3 and still found a way
Noel
Roar Rookie
Joe, I agree. Love Morgan in there, JT loves him (and doesn't love DCE). It was so frustrating watching Morgan in Game 2 defending in the middle. He did his best, but he needed to be on the edges. His try was straight out of the Cowboys playbook, substituting Guerra for Cooper. Morgan was a good half and an outstanding centre at QCup level. He is the perfect Origin utility, now having played a season at fullback and a season in the halves at NRL level. DCE does not fit the current QLD playbook for some reason. He is a dinky runner, and plays nothing like Cronk. In my view, I would select Morgan, Hunt and by next year Milford and potentially Mbye before DCE. Shame, because he is quality, just doesn't fit the mould for this particular side.
Mitcher
Guest
Adsa mate, do you need some help finding someone to sit down and have a talk to (you know, like a professional). You seem to have some pent up rage inside. If you're actually that worked up from what I recall as a blatant pi$$ take, then I genuinely feel concerned for your health.
turbodewd
Guest
I think you will agree that the magnitude of the loss was unacceptable. NSW did silly tackles and didn't mark up properly in defense. I would have expected the 2nd half to have been less disastrous. The Blues became a ramshackle, eg Tamou head high