As we approach what will be an exciting third State of Origin rugby league match for 2017, it’s time for a re-think of the concept.
Not because it’s broken, in fact Origin is as strong as ever despite Queensland’s dominance over the past 12 years. The Maroons are going for an 11th series victory in that twelve-year span on Wednesday night, which would be an incredible achievement.
The reason it’s time for a re-think is the impact the series has on the National Rugby League season.
The NRL, one of Australia’s biggest professional sporting leagues, completely takes a back seat for nine weeks, or 35 per cent of the home-and-away season.
Players are forced to sit out for club teams the week before each game and some rightfully so, sit out the game after, some of which are played just two days later.
This year, players such as Cooper Cronk did in a top-of-the-table clash in Round 14, have sat out the game in between as well, up to twelve days before Origin to ensure they are ready to play for their states.
The NRL try and give teams with the most players byes the week before or after Origin, however this is a guess, often ending up with matches being played between teams missing multiple players and teams missing none.
Last weekend the Rabbitohs and Roosters played with the Chooks missing four players and Souths none, while the Storm played the Eels missing six players, more than a third of their team.
They battled manfully but ultimately had no chance.
Some of these end up with a vastly different result than would have been if both sides were at full strength, which compromises the integrity of the NRL ladder.
Then you get games such as the Storm versus Cowboys one recently where both teams are missing multiple players and the teams are virtually unrecognisable.
Players are so desperate to play Origin they will miss all their club games but magically be available for Origin.
Some play when they are clearly injured, often at the expense of the premiership chances of their club teams, who pay the great majority of their wages.
That was just the case in Game 2 this year when Cowboys superstar Johnathan Thurston played and will now miss the rest of the NRL season. In 2016 Billy Slater did the same and it cost him effectively two seasons and almost cut his career short.
And yet the clubs and fans readily accept it.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
You really couldn’t make this up if you tried. No other professional sporting league in the world allows its competition to be so compromised by its representative/all-star game.
Imagine this happening in any of the North American sports? Or a bit closer to home, the AFL.
From 2018, the NRL competition should shut down for three weeks for the Origin series, to played either on a Wednesday or Friday night. To make the space in the fixture, take out the byes and reduce the season to 23 games if necessary.
Or play the series in October after the grand final.
Football has international windows in which club games are often suspended to ensure the best players are always playing and to keep the integrity of the competition intact.
It will give the NRL competition back the focus it deserves as one of the premier leagues in Australian sport.
And not impact on Origin, the goose that lays the golden egg for the game. In fact one could argue by having it as the primary focus of the rugby league world for three weeks would enhance that series as well.
It all just makes too much sense.
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
I think SOO has become way over-hyped . The NRL has a profitable and simple to market product and they are going to wring it for all it's worth irregardless of any of the downsides to the regular competition . I think when SOO started it had a great deal of meaning . The rivalry ,in my eyes, stemmed from Qld not getting a fair look in when it came to national team selection . I think the series did a lot to improve that situation , however , the NRL competition now has plenty of non Sydney clubs and players so that factor is really no longer relevant . I get why the players are motivated ( cash ) but I don't get why the fans are . That being said .. warm the set and cool the tinnies ! Should be a great game - Qld by plenty , although I am conflicted :)
Roger Ramjet
Guest
NRL will lose a lot of revenue from broadcast rights without a finals series I suggest. Who would pay 1 billion dollars plus for broadcast rights for not even a proper home and away competition. Once the season was over the interest would be gone (most be thinking about cricket) and many players would be unavailable in any case due to fatigue and Injuries requiring rest or surgery.
Roger Ramjet
Guest
Storm will fall short again I predict
Craig
Guest
So teams whose players perform well are punished and dragged down to the level of poor performing teams and players? That's a great philosophy.
Rellum
Roar Guru
You do get that SOO used to be played as a selection series for the 3 Test series that would follow not long after, player also in the middle of the season. In no way should it have always been played at the end of the season.
Rellum
Roar Guru
SOO does nothing but enhance the NRL. The players who play in it get better because they are playing at a higher level, then then take that experience back to the NRL and improve those players around them. The standard of the game improves overall, it does not lessen because a few players miss a couple of games. Not only that, younger players get real first grade experience which helps them and the club down the track. The comp itself is unaffected as the teams with the most SOO players are usually there in the finals.
steveng
Roar Rookie
SOO should be and should have always been played after the NRL season is over, no other flimsy compromise should be introduced, especially now that the NRL is suffering so much!!!
Joe
Roar Rookie
I'd understand if they bought Origin players they know what they're getting but in many cases clubs are creating players that are good enough to get picked for Origin. I know they have the choice on contract renewal but it makes no sense to invest in player just to let him go because he's been picked for Origin. I get its been this way for a long time but it still doesn't make it fair in terms of letting the competition carry on during Origin because some teams get an unfair advantage playing depleted teams. In a close competition that could be the difference between making the eight and missing out. I think they've started to recognise that with one stand alone Origin next year and I hope it continues until all three are stand alone...just like rep round is for International matches. And as a Storm fan I definitely wouldn't enjoy watching the Storm play against a team missing their stars.
matth
Guest
It's funny how no one south of the Tweed ever used to complain when it was pretty much the Broncos who were decimated. I'm sure one of the Big 3 retire Storm fans will be grateful for the Origin period where their young transition team get to play games against other teams missing their stars. Swings and roundabouts. It's been this way for a long time now. Coaches and recruiters can plan their rosters, knowing exactly what's coming. If they choose to stack their team with Origin players, then they are smart guys, they must believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
matth
Guest
I think the NRL might baulk at giving up the second most lucrative product in their calendar (i.e. finals series) and giving the AFL free run at owning finals.
your kidding
Guest
Nothings going to change. Origin is the big ratings winner. They may tamper with the formula slightly but why would they make any big changes. The NRL rely's on origin cash. Origin takes priority over the NRL competition and it looks like it will stay that way.
Roger Ramjet
Guest
All three should be standalone and played on Sunday - NRL byes those weekends- Shorter prep time though - 5 day break then for any SOO players having to back up on the Friday night game(s) the following week.
Carlos
Guest
SOO is a crock. I would've been spewing if Walters had picked Corey Norman. We desperately need him and Moses playing as many games together as possible. I couldn't care less about SOO when it comes to Parra. I want whats best for my club. I feel sorry for Cowboys fans at the moment, that injury was always going to happen yet they allowed him to play potentially ending his career and the Cowboys season.... For what?
Joe
Roar Rookie
Totally agree. I thought Storm had two winnable games but for their missing players. That's four points and might very well be the difference between 1st place and home semi and 4th or making the four and dropping out of the top four altogether and that pretty much makes a big difference to a teams premiership chances. I get that Origin is a money maker but its still a rep game...I'm sure people would not be happy if International games were played on Wednesday while the NRL still ran its games on the weekend and rep players miss out on playing NRL. Next year is a step in the right direction and hopefully the first step to complete Origin rounds where NRL games are not affected.
IP
Guest
Good points. Not an NRL supporter as such but the state of origin concept is one excellent product differentiator over the fluffers. Imagine if the AFL had the chutzpah to bring back state footy instead of the meaninglessness All Australian team they name. Maybe shorten the season slightly and play a origin as a precursor to the internationals? What about each state gets a crack at a touring test team?
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Its not a true H&A season
Last Straw
Guest
Scrap the NRL finals series and declare the team at the top of the ladder after completion of the home and away rounds as Premiers, as they have been the best team of the season. Play the State of Origin games over three consecutive weeks after the final round of the home and away season. After all, the current NRL finals series it almost a separate competition from the home and away series anyway, so why not replace with the State of Origin series and kill two birds with one stone - the best team all season wins the NRL season (rather than the finals lottery) and the SOO issues of breaking up the home and away season and injuries to key players affecting the home and way series are removed. That also allows the SOO teams to be picked from the best performing players from the season, and the Australian team for internationals to be picked from the best performers in the SOO series.
DB
Guest
NRL is what it is, based on supporters preference ~70% premiership season v ~30% Origin, and that would reverse during the 8 or so weeks around origin. Soccer would be 70% socceroos v 30% A-league, AFL is 100% premiership season and Cricket before Big bash was 95% Australian cricket side. There is no right or wrong. To say so is to tell the supporters they are doing it wrong.
terrence
Guest
Tlux, Exactly right and perfectly explained.
Tlux
Guest
Every year we celebrate how tight the NRL ladder is, come September. The robust salary cap process and free-agency allow clubs to buy and sell players relatively quickly (compared to AFL's '8 years of service' laws) I think Origin acts kind of like a 'performance cap'. It restricts teams filled with rep talent from completely dominating the year. It gives coaches another challenge. Yes, you can fill your team with Origin players, but between May to July, you might struggle. Look at the ladder right now, Storm, Sharks and Roosters are on top and are absolutely STACKED with origin players, imagine how far out in front they could be with out missing their star players. Plus it gives opportunities to blood young players. How many games is young Brandon Smith going to get at Melbourne if Cameron is playing every week? Without injury, the number would be zero. NRL just need to work out how to sell these 'origin period' fixtures. Take the game to the suburban grounds, take them to country, play a double/triple header somewhere like Gosford or Rockhampton. Anywhere but the 80,000 cavern of ANZ.