Six hit ups: Soward not so bad for State of Origin

A big round of NRL football generated a number of talking points over the Easter weekend. So much, in fact, that my patented ‘five talking points’ simply wasn’t going to get the job done.

Besides, that format jumped the shark ages ago. Any time that hacks like Brett McKay and Paddy Effeney are stealing it, I know it’s overdue for me to evolve.

So, instead, it’s time for a scintillating six hit ups…

1. Do Souths have enough depth?
Granted, it’s early in the season and the Bunnies are missing a few key players, but I have some serious concerns over their depth.

In the off-season, the Rabbitohs said goodbye to Issac Luke, Glenn Stewart, Tim Grant, Chris McQueen and Dylan Walker. While already this season, they’ve sustained injuries to key players Adam Reynolds, John Sutton and now Sam Burgess – though the big forward is due back next round.

All that roster unrest ensured that the team the Bunnies rolled out against the Bulldogs on Good Friday was a little underwhelming on paper, and incredibly underwhelming on the field.

Let’s not mince words: Souths were very poor against Canterbury.

However, every team is allowed one stinker per season; it happens. What is of greater concern for Souths is whether or not they have the depth to compete for the premiership this year, knowing that injuries play a role in every team’s fortunes.

When fully fit, they’re still one of the teams to beat, but with a lack of quality across the park, it’s evident they’ll need to stay even healthier than most teams, and they’re not off to a great start in that department.

2. The NSW Blues could do worse than pick Jamie Soward
Injuries, suspensions and a lack of form make the NSW team for State of Origin 1 an absolute lottery. If you canvased 100 people for their Blues team today, I’m confident you’d get 100 different teams; such is the lack of automatic selections for Laurie Daley and the selectors.

No positions on the field are more uncertain than the halves.

The incumbents are Trent Hodkinson and Mitchell Pearce. One is horribly out of form, and the other isn’t even playing yet. There’s also the small point that NSW lost 52-6 in the last game with that pair ‘controlling’ proceedings.

From the other candidates, Blake Austin, Adam Reynolds and Adam Sezer are all currently injured, while Josh Reynolds, James Maloney, Luke Brooks, Luke Keary, and anyone else up for nomination, all come with question marks the size of Uluru.

As such, the Blues could do worse than picking Jamie Soward.

His tactical kicking game remains one of the best in the NRL, and though not a flashy player, he’s extremely adept at executing a gameplan.

As crazy as it sounds, there may be plenty of merit in the first player NSW picking being Soward, and then building the Blues around his abilities.

3. Bunker blunder
It’s one thing to get a decision wrong – even with the benefit of watching a video replay – but to compound an error by failing to admit you got it incorrect is just plain embarrassing.

Yet NRL referees boss Tony Archer is refusing to back down from his assertion that the referees got it right in not awarding the Roosters’ Latrell Mitchell a try in the dying seconds of their match against Manly.

Archer said: “The bunker viewed all the available angles and there was insufficient evidence to overturn the decision. For Mitchell Aubusson to be onside, both of his feet needed to be behind the ball.”

There’s just one problem with that statement: Aubusson was behind the ball. It couldn’t be clearer on the replay. It’s utterly baffling that anyone could suggest otherwise.

Not a great weekend for the NRL’s new Bunker.

4. Hoppa’s a no-show on Sundays
Over the weekend, it was announced that Will Hopoate would not play or train on Sundays this year, due to his Mormon faith.

I respect and admire his dedication. I think it shows tremendous strength of character.

There was some predictable backlash to the announcement, especially after Hopoate said that if the Bulldogs make the grand final – a game that is obviously played on a Sunday – he may still play in it.

Many felt this was hypocritical, but as Hopoate himself explained, Sundays for Mormons are “…a holy day reserved for holy activities like attending church and studying the scriptures. Also, where possible, we abstain from work and recreation.”

He’s not being ‘half faithful’ by saying he may play in the grand final, as has some have suggested. “Where possible” are the key words in his statement.

Case closed. Pitchforks away people.

Just one last comment on this topic: I do wonder, though, if it’s only fair that Hopoate pay back to the club a percentage of his salary for the Sunday games he’ll miss?

5. Broncos versus Cowboys lives up to the hype
How often does a much-hyped game fail to live up to the expectations?

Whether it’s a battle between two teams that hate each other, a top of the table clash, State of Origin, or a grand final, many eagerly anticipated games fail to live up to the buildup.

That certainly didn’t happen in last year’s grand final, as the Broncos and Cowboys provided us with a thrilling, exciting and brilliant game, which even went to extra-time. It was the best grand final ever.

So what were the chances the two teams could deliver all that again on Saturday night? Hindsight would say the correct answer is ‘very high’.

Great play, drama, golden point extra-time, a one-point victory. It all happened yet again between the two Queensland sides, with the Broncos winning this time, in what was easily the best game of the year so far.

Kudos to both teams, and please sir, can we have some more?

6. Time for a concussion interchange
The NRL’s crackdown on not allowing concussed players back on the field is to be commended.

Given what we are learning about brain damage and the potential long-term effects of concussions, the new due diligence in caring for the welfare of players is a welcome change.

It has, however, been mentioned by a number of pundits that an 18th man should be added to game day rosters, so that concussed players can be replaced outside of the eight interchanges currently allowed.

Given how strict the game now is on concussion, I think it makes sense. In particular, if a player is concussed from an illegal tackle.

I think the NRL needs to look at this immediately.