Would it be that hard to change the scheduling of the representative season and play the State of Origin series first, followed by the Test between Australia and New Zealand?
And, at the same time, stop pretending the City-Country game is something that it’s not and make it an under-23s game, for the best young talent available?
It is just plain wrong to be playing the Test ahead of Origin and it really is ridiculous that this order of things has been allowed to continue for so long.
It is disrespectful to the Test match concept to make it the first game of the representative season as opposed to the last.
Consider this reverse scenario.
Origin I could be going ahead this Wednesday, May 11, at ANZ Stadium, instead of the scheduled date of June 1.
That would be followed by Origin II on June 1 at Suncorp Stadium (scheduled date June 22) and Origin III back at ANZ on June 22 (scheduled date July 13).
Then, the representative round, as it is called, could be played on the weekend of Friday, July 15, to Sunday, July 17.
My preference would be for the City-Country game to be played on the Friday, the PNG-Fiji and Samoa-Tonga games on the Saturday and the Aussies-Kiwis Test on the Sunday afternoon.
But whatever the scheduling of that weekend, the main point would be to turn the dates around so that the Test comes at the end and the Origin series serves as a genuine selection pointer to it.
No-one can say the players aren’t ready to play Origin now, a month earlier than scheduled. If they’re ready to play Test football then they’re ready to play Origin.
What is the actual purpose of the mid-season Test? It is not a genuine Anzac Test anymore, because it is played almost two weeks after Anzac Day. The accent is on club football on Anzac Day now.
What does a one-off Test like this mean? To give it true meaning, it should be played after the Origin series, so that selection can be seen as a reward for outstanding performances in the interstate arena.
That’s what NSW-Queensland games, going back to pre-Origin days, were – virtual selection trials for the Test team.
And City-Country was played before the Blues-Maroons games as a selection trial for those clashes.
The City-Country concept always seems to be on its last legs, but somehow manages to keep going. The latest version, in Tamworth on Sunday, was weakened by many pre-match withdrawals, mainly to the City team, yet they came out and won, 44-30.
Good luck to them, and there were some fine individual performances, but how can you properly rate those performances in terms of Origin readiness when there are a number of NRL mid-range and inexperienced players playing in that game?
If you want to keep City-Country alive, make it an under-23s game that is a stepping stone to something bigger, down the track.
And enforce some hard-and-fast rules where the selected players must attend an official team medical, like they used to have to, rather than this ridiculous situation we have where some players are withdrawn by clubs acting in self-interest.
City-Country can continue to have a life if the organisers get real about what the game should actually represent. Otherwise, it has run its race.
If the Test was played after Origin, then the game would regain the respect it deserves.
Even in the weeks leading up to the Test that was played on Friday, there was more talk about Origin and possible NSW players in contentious positions, like the halves and fullback, than there was about the Test.
Put the Test in its right place on the calendar and let it achieve true meaning again.
turbodewd
Guest
Greg Inglis
Kavvy
Guest
Makes perfect sense. If it was post origin would have the gravitas it deserves Top article
Klee Gluckman
Guest
It doesn't matter when you schedule the test match. Even if played after origin it is still a one off game. I don't buy the argument that its not fair on New Zealand, because with Queensland being so dominant at origin level they will make up the bulk of the squad regardless of when its played. A one of test match is always difficult and unsatisfying. I think test matches should be played in bunches. Not one offs, and even it was played after origin, it would have been just as meaningless. That's why end of year tests are good both sides can pick squads predominantly from the NRL Finals.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Both Nikorima brothers were eligible for Australia under residency laws. Jayden having moved here when he was 12 is also eligible for QLD I believe whereas Kodi would not be because he was over 13 when they moved. Kodi said in an interview last year I believe that while Jayden has pride in his nation of birth he's always identified as a Queenslander and an Australian since they moved whereas he has always been a kiwi boy. Would be interesting to see Jayden realise his potential and play for Australia and Kodi to keep improving and become a mainstay in the kiwi side to see them battle it out.
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
The test doesn't need to be mid season but SOO does. There's nowhere else to put it. Post season space is quickly filling with more internationals planned for minnow nations and the big 3 plus the nines and all star concepts along with the expanded WCS which could expand even further into a knock out cup.
Pilferer
Guest
The clubs have to be ordered to play all selected players for it to work . Though club doctors will still be told to rule players out.
Agent11
Guest
Sounds like a positive move as far as scheduling goes. Would love to see the pacific test, plus NZ vs England during the origin period, along with of course the womens games and youth rep games. All games played over a one month or possible 3 week period where the NRL stops.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Have to agree with Sleiman there turbo. You've said it a million times, yet each time everyone wholeheartedly disagrees with you. I think this just goes to show you that people still feel connected to the concept of Origin being a state-based thing. Allowing "honorary" players would give you the games best going head to head, but we already have the All-Stars and test football for that, so why dilute the tribalism of Origin? This is such a unique product that gets stronger and stronger every year. I'm really unsure what problem you are looking to solve with this proposition.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
An idea like that seems harmless but it unintentionally serves to denigrate Test rugby league. If there was a way of it not doing that, then Origin would merely end up becoming an All-Stars type of match. After all, why stop at one Honorary Blue/Maroon?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
"...its the appendix of rugby league." Classic!
Pilferer
Guest
Yep lets give the aussies state of origin as a warm up just to stack the odds a little more in there favour. Even if there was another comp to run along side origin like kiwis vs Polynesian combined team the nrl clubs wouldn't release there non origin payers anyway. Radradra call is terrible, the Samoan coach claims milford wanted to play, and how the hell can can jaden nikorima play for the aus under 20 team when his brother played for the kiwis less than 24 hours earlier . The eligibility rules are a joke!
turbodewd
Guest
Origin must allow at least one Honorary Blue or Honorary Maroon per squad. LIke ive said a million times, as an analogy, wars throughout history have had sprinklings of mercenaries or tiny groups within large forces. I mean u had the polish pilots fighting in British planes for example. Id like to see the best non NSW and non Qld player in the NRL be allowed to play as an Honorary Blue. I mean it just makes things official. in the past weve had Lam, Tiquiri, Thorn, etc And 90% of punters have no idea of the composition of each team.
turbodewd
Guest
Im only interested in Raiders games and Origin....and obviously the finals and GF. All Stars, City-Country, Tests - there is something lacking in all of these. Im just not fussed.
Mark
Guest
Agree Test should occur AFTER SOO but post season But play 2 rep fortnights also Week 1 - NSW and QLD CvC Week 2 - SOO I Week 3 - SOO II Week 4 - SOO III This allows other games like a 4N Pacific Cup to be scheduled
Slane
Guest
I just don't get why we need to have Tests and even SOO in the middle of the season. Full disclosure, I was born in Melbourne so that might have something to do with it, but I just don't get it.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Just to be "that" guy, but SOO should be A trial for tests, not THE trial. Give that RL is expanding in Australia and aims to expand further, we will see more and more players that qualify to play for Australia, but don't qualify for Origin. Example 1 would be Radradra, Example 2 would be some of the guys coming through the Victorian system. Sure they are few and far between now, but who knows. I just think that if we are serious about making the game national, juniors from outside NSW and QLD shouldn't feel that the only way to a test squad is via Origin.
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
All of this is happening in 2018 guys http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/pacific-test-has-future-alongside-state-of-origin-but-citycountry-set-for-axe-20160508-gop2mb.html
turbodewd
Guest
I think City v Country is no longer relevant. All the players live in Sydney anyway. And there is no true city folk v country folk rivalry...maybe there was 40 years ago....not anymore. And no one is interested, all the stars avoid it to get over niggling injuries. If it HAD to stay then, sure, make it for under 23s. Noone ever gets passionate about City-Country except the mayor of Tamworth. Its not appropriate in a supposedly national comp. this isn't the NSWRL....or is it? There is no Qld equivalent...its the appendix of rugby league.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
The test needs to be pushed to the end of the season. You can still have the other Nations playing, once SoO moves to the Sunday night slot next year, and they will be a better series between the PI nations as it won't be one game but 3 matches in the round robin. Maybe even work out how NZ could be involved.
Renegade
Roar Guru
You're making too much sense Greg.