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One of the rare assets Channel Nine has over Fox’s dedicated channel are the exclusive rights to call the Origin series.
So when Channel Nine made a big thing about the announcement of the NSW Origin One squad for be exclusive on the Nine news last night, that was a big deal for the station, and for free to air.
But someone leaked the squad to the Daily Telegraph the night before, so the 17 names were splashed all over the back page yesterday morning, making the gala dinner last night in Sydney for the exclusive announcement a big pricked balloon.
New coach Brad Fittler wouldn’t have leaked it, he’s one of the very few high-profile and high-quality rugby league champions who works for Nine, and while the other two selectors Greg Alexander and Danny Buderus, work for Fox, they wouldn’t dump on their boss.
So that means someone in the NSWRL who has leaked the squad, which should be an automatic sacking offence.
Brad Fittler (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
There’s always plenty of talk about the lack of culture in NSW rugby league, there’s a prime example where it stinks. Leaking would never happen in Queensland, it’s a tight ship, and one of the major reasons why the Maroons have won 11 of the last 12 Origin series.
While the Telegraph had the exact 17 names, only nine had the official correct jersey numbers the team will wear on June 6 at the MCG, for the Origin opener.
And what a vastly different clash it will be with Fittler naming 11 debutants, with more than half the squad coming from the three leading NRL clubs right now – Panthers, Dragons, and the Rabbitohs.
It’s a form team.
Only James Maloney, James Tedesco, Tyson Frizell, David Klemmer, Boyd Cordner, and Jake Trbojevic have survived from Origin 3 last season.
NSW Blues captain Boyd Cordner (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Gone are Blake Ferguson, Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne, Brett Morris, Mitchell Pearce, Aaron Woods, Nathan Peats, Andrew Fifita, Josh Jackson, Wade Graham and Jack Bird – the biggest clean-out in Origin history.
And the new boys on the Origin block are Josh Addo-Carr, James Roberts, Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic, Nathan Cleary, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Damien Cook, Jack de Belin, Tyrone Peachey, Angus Crichton and Paul Vaughan.
Plus the two add ons: Tariq Sims and exciting young Raiders winger Nick Cotric.
Brad Fittler was always a very positive footballer during his NSW record 31 Origin caps, having debuted at 18. Now 46, he debuts as Origin coach with the same positive outlook.
And he’s been gifted a clean-out of the very best Queenslanders totalling 151 Origin caps, to be offset by the return of a 30 capper – but still 121 caps shy on experience – and a genuine goal-kicker.
Cameron Smith’s 42 caps, Johnathan Thurston’s 37, and Cooper Cronk’s 22 will be a massive 101 caps worth of experience on the retired bench, while Darius Boyd with 28 caps, and Matt Scott’s 22 have been dropped.
On the credit side Greg Inglis will be not only back in action after missing all last season through injury to make his 31st appearance, but his first as the new skipper.
Coach Kevin Walters will also have to find a new goal-kicker with both Smith and Thurston gone.
He has four options with Valentine Holmes, Ben Hunt, Cameron Munster and Dane Gagai, but none are anywhere near the world class of Smith and Thurston.
But a word of warning to Brad Fittler and the new-look NSW squad, don’t ever underestimate what Queensland can produce despite their major shakeup.
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They have the culture that only knows how to win, while NSW has proved far too often they have the culture that only really knows how to lose.
But there’s a saving grace for the men in blue.
Only six were involved last season when NSW literally threw away a series win that was there for the taking.
There was nothing wrong with the coach Laurie Daley, it was the players, and especially Boyd Cordner’s captaincy, that cost him his job.
Fittler now has the responsibility with a host of new faces who haven’t been Origin tainted in the past.
And it’s Cordner’s chance for redemption.