“Losing is a disease… as contagious as polio. Losing is a disease… as contagious as syphilis. Losing is a disease… as contagious as bubonic plague. Attacking one… but infecting all. But curable.”
This is a quote from one of my favourite movies of all time – the 1984 drama The Natural, starring Robert Redford. While that movie might be older than some of you (it is certainly older than me), the quote is very appropriate when we talk about the state of the NSW Blues at the moment.
NSW are absolutely infected with the disease known as losing. Will 2016 see the squad find a cure?
It’s been almost an entire week since State of Origin Game II. I was lucky enough to have been up at Suncorp Stadium and it’s true what they say, it is certainly an experience like no other.
Part of that is because Queenslanders really do love State of Origin much more than we do in New South Wales. Perhaps that’s what happens when you support a team that knows how to win. In Queensland, people wear their Maroons jerseys to work with pride.
In New South Wales, I get odd looks from co-workers when I wear my Blues scarf to work on Origin day. They may be looks of pity.
The experience in Brisbane was so exceptional in fact, that I wasn’t even disappointed when the Blues lost. Instead, I found myself caught up in a sea of Queensland emotion that didn’t quite extend to me applauding Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk.
But now that it has dawned on me that NSW has just succumbed to its 10th series loss in 11 years, I can’t get the words from The Natural out of my mind – or this quote either – “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.
Will insanity prevail for Game III or will Laurie Daley dare to do something different? The answer to this question very much depends on what Laurie’s position on loyalty is.
Laurie began to make his position clear after the siren sounded for Game II. Only moments after the Blues had gone down, Laurie fronted the media and declared that there would be no changes for Game III because his team wanted to win.
It’s a shame that wanting something does not always make it so.
Should Laurie Daley decide to field the same team in Game III, the only possible explanation is that it is a nod to loyalty and will give players like Paul Gallen, Robbie Farah, Michael Jennings and Greg Bird one last opportunity to run out in front of their home crowd.
Irrespective of what happens in Game III, this will be Paul Gallen’s final stand.
Despite my desire to win at least one game this series, I am a person that believes in loyalty and could completely understand why Laurie would choose to field the same team.
Even though Paul Gallen has been one of the most unsuccessful captains in Blues history, perhaps even State of Origin history, I think he has earned the right to lead the team out one more time. He may not have earnt much in terms of success and may have forgotten how heavy the trophy is, but I feel he has earnt an appearance in Game III at least.
Even though the other three players I mentioned have not made any declaration about whether they will be available for Origin next year, should Laurie select them for Game III, I am hopeful that it is also a nod to loyalty. This must be their last series, along with Gallen.
Michael Jennings in particular not only blew two try-scoring opportunities, but also had a hand in two of the Maroons tries. He should not play Origin again.
There are plenty of people who disagree with giving Gallen and Co. their final opportunity to celebrate with their home fans. Some have argued that to have a celebration, there needs to be something worth celebrating. We all know that there has been precious little to celebrate in the Blues dressing sheds over the last decade.
Instead, the argument is that Game III could be used as an opportunity to blood some new players and give them the Origin ‘experience’ before next year.
Daley made comments over the weekend suggesting that one of the reasons he was careful about blooding young players too early was because he was blooded too early and he felt like this had been detrimental to his career.
If there is one thing we have learned from this year’s series though, it is that the debutants selected were more than up for the challenge particularly Tyson Frizell and Greg Bird, who were among the best for the Blues last week.
While, blooding new players too early might be a potential risk, I hardly see the risk at giving players an opportunity in a game that means nothing. The alternative is far worse – exposing the newer members of the squad like Moylan and Mansour to three losses in a row and absolute Queensland dominance.
If this route is taken, this game should be promoted as an opportunity to give NSW Blues fans some hope for a win and some hope for a future rather than as a ‘farewell’ for one of the most unsuccessful State of Origin captains this state has ever seen.
Going back to the quote that I started this piece with, the important thing for coach Daley to remember is that while losing is a disease, it is most certainly curable.
I would be very keen to hear your thoughts though – do we make big changes for Game III or let Gallen run out one more time?
Over to you Roarers.
This is @mary__kaye from @ladieswholeague
V.O.R.
Guest
Yer a full strength Australian team walked it in 34-2 in the World Cup final against NZ. The Kangaroos had 8 Queenslander's in the run on team and 11 players filling spots in Australia's 17.
Doug Graves
Guest
Strange comments defending Jennings when you earlier said this: "I do believe though that winning teams are created on winning combinations and in order to make these combos we need to allow players the time in the squad." Jennings has had 7 YEARS in Origin and failed in combination with J.Morris in the centres repeatedly. Enough is enough. He's a myth at NSW level. "Say after 2 years these players are still not performing with one another, then bring in others who will." Exactly. I agree wholeheartedly. That's why I'm calling for Jennings and Morris's heads. Jennings has had 7 and Morris has also had 7 years to solidify their positions at centre. They have both failed in this regard as far as anyone paying attention should be concerned. Not to mention the fact that they both bring a losers mentality to Origin having been in only 1 winning squad in 7 years..... Further to my argument against Jennings, he has a grand total of 5 tries in 16 Origin games. Then he let in 2 during game 2, so lets call it 3 tries in 16 games. Then he bombed a sitter to tie the score so lets call that a grand total of 2 effective tries in 16 games. J.Morris has 5 in 14 games so hardly any better. Then you look at a player like Greg Inglis who Morris is supposed to cover, well he has 17 tries in 27 games, obviously Inglis is not being covered effectively. So Morris is not only failing to score, he's not actually doing a great job on Inglis either. He's another myth at NSW level. The bottom-line here is both players are simply not up to Origin standard no matter how hard you fanboys keep spinning things. As far as picking new centres for NSW, I'd say keep Walker and bring in J.Croker (with J.Bird on standby). Both players have earned a shot at Origin level and we cannot continue to hold them back with Origin duds.
V.O.R.
Guest
That type of cynicism does no justice to the players who strive to the top level in their sport to achieve their childhood dreams....for example a young Cameron Smith being inspired by a rugby league warrior called Gary Larson. I see a ton of heart and the money as a byproduct.
V.O.R.
Guest
Queensland culture is different from NSW culture and Queenslander's first and foremost support a team that represents who they are. Simple. Where you come from is important.
Kingcowboy
Guest
Hi Mary, off topic here but Semi is doing your Eels no favours and making the club look weak. Could you see a Bennet, Halser or Bellamy put up with his antics?
Rellum
Roar Guru
Where you come from is important. It is not just country based. That is one of the reasons Origin is os important to QLDers
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
And let's forge the very dark book from which the sugary film was derived. In the book, Roy needed money for retirement and accepted a bribe to throw the last game. He has a change of heart but is struck out in his last at bat by a new up and comer. The media then discovers the truth. Roy Hobbs was not remembered as the best there ever was - he was remembered as a cheat and a sell out. All of his records are erased from the baseball's statistics. Quite a gut wrenching finale - and not one that Hollywood was prepared to put out there.
sheek
Roar Guru
Anyway, Don't talk to me about artificial borders. We have Islanders & even Englishmen falling over themselves, wanting to be seen as NSWmen or Qlders, just so they can play SOO. It's all about the money..........
sheek
Roar Guru
You miss the point entirely. The country's the main thing. Where you live within the country is less relevant.
sheek
Roar Guru
Huh? That's an entirely different matter altogether. Not even on the same page.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That's right. He is always there or thereabouts when a try is on. A shame for NSW that they haven't been offering him anything.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
Thank you Brendan. I have tried to explain to me one-eyed Blue friends the Qld tries have generally come from, set plays, attacking moves, taking advantage of a situation and summing it up in a second and fooling the defence while the three NSW tries - meh. NSW have zero options in attack. It's one off barge at the line and hope for something for 5 tackles. Then on the 6th, a mid field kick down Boyd's throat.
Fairdinkum
Roar Rookie
The time has well & truly arrived to make changes moving forward starting now.If some changes aren't made for game 3 there wont be any for game 1 next year as the usual excuse of he's not ready or we don't want to throw him to the wolves in game 1 at suncorp will be heard.For me players such as G Bird,Gallen(who's retiring from rep anyway),Woods(can't believe he's being mentioned as the next capt),Tamou,Jennings,Walker,Fifita&Ferguson need to be moved on.I can't find a standout replacement for Farah at the moment(please don't say Ennis,he's failed before)so by default he stays for the last game.Blood the newbies in the last game so they are ready next series.If not for suspension & injury Frizell & Bird would still be on the outside looking in.
QConners
Roar Pro
A good centre is able to find themselves in those positions to score as Jennings always does. Who can you say that is miles ahead of him as one of the best centres?
Bluey
Guest
Is that you Bozo? ...or just another clown ?
Smell the fear
Guest
Maybe Mary and all the keyboard warriors here can write a letter to the nswrl and take Daleys job for next year? Some great football minds here and plenty of experience
peeeko
Roar Guru
check who actually played in those games and then check the world cup when Australia were at full strength
peeeko
Roar Guru
NSW b would be QLD B
peeeko
Roar Guru
Mal was a very likable fellow with dubious coaching ability as well. maybe he just had better help and senior players to run the plays and training
peeeko
Roar Guru
not harsh, i think any comment of NSW needs to look at the quality of the QLd havles and hooker that we dont have