Billy Slater had a powerful presence in the second two Origin games this year, but to label him as the best in the series is an absolute joke.
As multiple commentators and meme-makers have already observed, it’s pretty weird to give the title to a player who didn’t even appear in every fixture – and who played on the losing team.
Yet that in itself isn’t the only problem with Slater getting the goods.
More simply, there were multiple players who outclassed him over the course of the series.
On the New South Wales side, both Boyd Cordner and James Tedesco were consistently better, with Teddy putting in what was arguably his very best representative performance during the first match.
On the Queensland side, both Valentine Holmes and Daly Cherry-Evans outplayed Slater in the third match.
Cherry-Evans, in particular, was a force of nature on Wednesday night, channelling all his pent-up frustration at being denied a Queensland jersey into one of his most stunning displays of dexterity and organisation in a long time.
No doubt, Billy the Kid had an impressive opening twenty minutes during the final game.
But an impressive opening twenty isn’t enough to guarantee a man of the series accolade, especially when each game had players whose performances easily outshone Slater’s brief moments of inspiration.
The fact that Darren Lockyer has said that Slater won by a landslide makes the process even more contentious.
Billy Slater of Queensland. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Even if you conceded that it was plausible that Slater was the best man over the three games, there’s no way you could say he was light years ahead of Cordner, Tedesco, Holmes and DCE.
And I haven’t even mentioned Damien Cook, who brought the thunder after what seems like an endless rotation of New South Wales hookers, and deserved to be rewarded for his contribution every bit as much as Slater.
Until the votes are revealed, you have to assume that this is a legacy win rather than a genuine reflection of Slater’s performance.
That’s problematic, because Slater has already received his share of accolades. Few would deny that he’s the best fullback ever to play for Queensland, and possibly the best fullback to ever play in the NRL.
More to the point, it stifles the recognition that should be allocated to up-and-coming Origin players, or even to players who are midway through their Origin careers.
By taking the focus off the next generation of players for both sides, it cements this series as a tribute to the past rather than a beacon for the future.
There’s also a basic issue of process at stake here as well. It’s simply not meaningful to award anyone such an award if it’s done for purely sentimental criteria.
Origin is one of the most unique events in the Australian sporting calendar, but with viewing numbers declining it’s important to get this stuff right.
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
yeah Lockyer and Tallis seem to think there should be changes..
Chiranth Krishnakumar
Roar Rookie
100% agree with this article
The Barry
Roar Guru
Maybe they could number ferrets and race them. The winning ferret dictates the Wally Lewis Medal winner AND becomes Lockyer’s new hairpiece. Second and third placegetters become Mal’s new eyebrows...
The Barry
Roar Guru
No, this year it was balloons with a name inside that they threw darts at. Easy mistake to make...
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
I totally agree with the opening line of the article; it is indeed an absolute joke! But let's move on to other things...
canetoad
Guest
EDIT The NRL claims it’s heard what NSW has to say and will make changes for awarding next year’s medal.
Pilferer
Guest
Yawn!
Steve from down south
Guest
The way everyone is carrying on you would think Billy was Donald Trumps son
Remo Shankar
Roar Pro
Hey BA, lay off Lordy...his latest post has cracked over 50 comments....now that's a mighty fine effort in anyone's language, except maybe for Terry Leabeater post his tongue operation...
Remo Shankar
Roar Pro
Isn't that what they did this year?
BrainsTrust
Guest
The biggest problem is not that Slater got the Wally Lewis award because you had Daley who always was in bed with Queenslanders throughout his career, ignoring the convention you favour the winning side, Slater has never been a shirker unless a losing plays heaps better than any of thew winning side, but that the greatest shirker and con man in rugby league history has the award named after him. Wally Lewis rode the back of his team mates, he was never fit enough to play top level rugby league, If Wally Lewis had played for NSW they would have not won a single game.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Next year they're going to have a giant chocolate wheel at the ground and pick man of the series that way...
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Maybe direct your criticism at The Roar editors. They obviously think it was worth publishing 6 days after the game, like they think David Lord articles are relevant and Dane Eldridge articles are some how funny.. despite averaging about 5 comments each.. Its the website that is getting stale unfortunately..
Phil
Guest
I thought I must have been reading last week's news then I checked the date the above story was written, 17th July.
DP. Schaefer
Guest
I wondered about this yesterday. Lets count the number of articles saying Billy shouldn't get the award V the number of articles saying O'Sullivan shouldn't have been awarded a try Sunday night. Or V the number of articles highlighting the number of tries scored off forward passes (out of interest, all Roosters tries were scored off forward passes Sunday, one line-ball, one slight but obvious and one blatantly obviously forward). And while we are doing that. let's ponder which dilemma really affects the outcome of players positions and careers, teams rankings on the ladder, coaching and ancillary jobs, sponsorship $$. I'm amazed that in 6 days against 6 months the articles about the SOO origin award would outweigh the others combined. Some people really have an irrational angry bee in their bonnet about this.
RoryStorm
Guest
As others have stated above.........move on Billy. Nothing to see here that hasn't already been written one million and one times already. Try coming up with a story Billy based on your own thoughts on a story that hasn't already been written. Do what the Herald Sun do on a Tuesday when there is little footy news. Here's one for you. How about the 10 best players of all time who's surname started with either a Q, X or Z.
Larry1950
Guest
Billy, I get it! All you New South Welshman are pi**ed off that one of your 'new dynasty' world beaters didn't get man of the series. I suggest Slater is suspended for the rest of the season by the NRL so he can't help the storm take your Sydney premiership interstate, will that make you & the other writers happy!
Southee 658
Guest
One of the most blatant cases of nonsensical bias I've seen in league and even if he was miles ahead in points...HOW?! Sure he was good in game 2 but no where near his peak and i thought he was managed by NSW. The same goes for game 3. The hyperbole around Cronk, Smith and Slater is insane this year. Unbelievable players but I cant wait to see them go so the NRL can finally move on...
Zkavalieryz
Guest
move on to another topic, tired and sick of this one
Craig
Guest
Finger on the pulse mate, this is number 10000000 article on this and you’re the last one out with nothing new to add.