NSW’s most successful coach Phil Gould has laid blame for the Blues’ continued State of Origin failures upon the “selfishness” of Blues team leaders Paul Gallen and Robbie Farah.
NSW succumbed to yet another Origin series loss at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night in going down 26-16, after being defeated 6-4 in game one earlier this month.
It is Queensland’s tenth series win in 11 years and in a thinly-veiled attack while commentating post-game on broadcaster Channel Nine, Gould spoke scathingly of the Blues team’s hierarchy in skipper Gallen and vice-captain Farah.
More from Origin Game 2
» Game 2: Queensland seal the series
» State of Origin results
» Re-live the action with our live blog
» Origin 2 in pictures
» Five talking points from Origin 2
» NSW need to find their Origin identity
» State of Origin Game 2 player ratings: Queensland
» State of Origin Game 2 player ratings: NSW
“Over a period of time I have said I have been astonished by the selfishness around this camp and around this team and in the leadership group and I don’t think it has allowed the team to evolve and to have it’s own culture and its own chemistry,” Gould said.
“It has been all about a few individuals and not about the state and about the team.
“It is no good sugar-coating the bitter pill. I keep saying that is the problem with us and until that goes and until that element is removed from it NSW can’t get over the line against this (Queensland) side.”
Gould has been a continuous critic of Gallen for some time now and called for him to be dumped from the Blues side last season.
Gallen will retire from Origin after game three next month. But the Sharks skipper said in the lead-up to to game two he would not step aside for younger players even if the the final interstate fixture was a dead rubber.
Game 3 in Sydney could also be Farah’s final Origin game.
Gould said Gallen’s and Farah’s ownership of the team had stifled the development of their Blues teammates.
“The solution (to winning Origin games) is having leadership in your playmaking positions, fellas that take ownership of the result at crucial periods of the game,” Gould said.
“NSW hasn’t cultivated that person and they have had to live in the shadow of the leadership we have got and the leadership has been very selfish and very domineering and it hasn’t had the chance to grow.”
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Gould is great as a tactical commentator. Everything else is unprofessional. Like the rest of Channel Nine (expect Sterling and Sampson)
Red Dog
Guest
I don't like Gallen ( as a footballer ) and never have but now I despise the grubby big self centred pig of a man , there is no way he can claim to be anything other than a narcissistic egomaniac . He deserves to be booed by blues fans along with the QLD fans in Sydney .
Doug Graves
Guest
Perhaps the problem is that the Blues, as a team, are literally an absolute weather vane. One moment they look like world beaters but in the blink of eye they look like amateurs. It's been happening for years. One of the main causes of this is probably the lack of leadership from the top down, from the selectors and coaching staff right down to the "leadership" group of Gallen et al. Gould has got a great point about NSW even if he does occasionally engage in weather vane like behaviour. No use denying it.
Mike the Oz
Guest
As a Queensland I can't believe I'm saying this...but I agree with Phil Gould...wow that hurt. Nsw do have a problem and seemingly Farah, probably more so than Gallen is the issue. I don't know why he's so hyped up. Compare him against Smith and however cruel the comparison may be, I would suggest there's a difference between 'important' touches/runs vs Farah. When QLD are on the front foot/quick play the ball the greatest hooker ever will look to get the ball into Cronk or JTs hands. Farah picks up, runs five metres diagnally and tries to then play as a first receiver. Bizarre behaviour. And as someone has said - is it feasible with Farah there is so much smoke but no fire?? NSW do have what it takes. I think losing Dugan hurt you more than you probably realise I know I wasn't the only maroon relieved to see him out. Hopefully you can build off the performances of new guys like Frizell who for me was the best forward on the park and Mansour who looked great in game 1. Maloney looking more and more comfortable is such a positive for you as well. But seriously get rid of guys like Klemmer and Moylan who are complete myths. One push and shove from Klemmer is all he's ever done. He can now barely make an in road against a tired old pack coming off the bench. Jackson caused us more headaches last night. I've heard Moylan compared to everyone from Billy Slater to Darren Lockyer. It's impossible to express how embarrassing this is and how completely undeserving. When was the last time a Qld debutant was immediately declared comparable to a great BEFORE doing anything. If you want to pick a guy who looks dodgy under the high ball and is soft in attack and defence you will never win anything.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Brilliant comment. 100% accurate. That way if / when they win he can say "I've been saying for years that this group was coming together" when they lose "I've been saying for years this would happen"
Dingo McNumbat
Roar Rookie
Phil Gould is an absolute weather vane when it comes to the Blues. Any time they look like getting on top he's blathering on about them coming together as a group. Any time they look like getting steamrolled by Queensland he claims to have seen it coming and calls for the axing of everyone. Last night he oscilated between these two positions about 4 or 5 times.
steveng
Roar Rookie
You can add Daley to that list also, and some of the old folks that are responsible for the administration and running of SOO for NSW. In the telecast last night, what I noticed at half time in the Qld rooms, was that Billy Slater was in there giving GI some tips and so were other Qld legends, whilst on the other side, this was not apparent in the NSW rooms. The culture with NSW is none existent and the way that things are going, NSW will never ever win a SOO in the next 11 years!
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
Gould's comments regarding the leadership group for NSW is strongly redolent of reports coming out of the Wests Tigers regarding Robbie Farah. Reports suggest that the coach believes that the young Tiger halves are intimidated by Farah and do not feel capable of leading the team. Coach Taylor was pilloried in the media for telling a club "legend" that he didn't fit into his plans going forward. But now we hear Gould saying the same thing about Farah in relation to NSW. Can they both be wrong?
pete bloor
Guest
I suppose it might be a case of if the known quantities aren't enough time to test the unknown?
Lovey
Guest
Farah is a playmaker in the same position as Cameron Smith. A non-playmaker type forward like Gallen is not a good choice as Captain, true. Also he does bring undesirable attributes as a leader. But I guess it was a matter of "who else?". Who would have been the playmaker leaders over this period? If it is a matter of personal selfishness/culture, past and present coaches must bear some responsibility.
anujwa
Guest
Totally Agree Gus. There was lack of communication through & through....