Wayne Bennett defied bookies odds and exit polling to produce a stunning Origin boilover on Wednesday night, in the process leaving New South Wales with no option but to stall the series with an unnecessary legal challenge or move Jack Wighton to five-eighth.
The supercoach masterminded an 18-14 triumph to re-emerge as the Blues’ kryptonite, vanquishing Brad Fittler’s vaunted team of favourites and five-eighths by cunningly selecting players in their positions.
Lifting the injury-plagued Maroons was the latest in Bennett’s mental stronghold over NSW, reinforcing his position in the interstate pantheon as the southern state’s master tormentor by once again transforming water into whine.
With the Blues’ talent pool reduced by bubble restrictions, it leaves Brad Fittler with scant options to rescue the series this coming Wednesday at a half-filled, now-cynical ANZ Stadium.
As always after a catastrophic defeat, talk in the NSW camp has already turned to the principle of ‘pick and stick’, and how it should be avoided at all costs.
This could see the coach parachuting in Ryan Papenhuyzen or Nathan Brown, or even taking extreme measures by bringing in reinforcements from outside the bubble, like David Klemmer or an attorney.
With the Blues dominating on paper but collapsing again under the Bennett mystique, Fittler may have no option but to tackle his adversary in the Supreme Court – and not the one that seats 52,000 near Caxton St.
While completely unprecedented and bananas, experts inside the camp say litigating Bennett is the most meritorious avenue for Origin success, and furthermore, nowhere near as bad as naming TBA.
Not only would a televised court showdown improve the ratings from Wednesday night, but it would also help the Blues find a “meaningful transparency” to the game other than Clint Gutherson’s edge defence.
Staunch Blues supporters have wasted no time blindly supporting the move, even pointing to a number of irregularities in the opening match that could already render the mastermind’s miracle workings null and void.
Not only was it an Origin match suspiciously staged in November against a team of Storm players made of 85 per cent Bacardi, conspiracy theorists also highlighted that according to some previews, it was history’s first-ever dead-rubber Game 1.
This was in addition to the match being inexplicably hosted by Karl Stefanovic, before obscurely being played on a round oval in a city that calls devon ‘fritz’.
NSW’s paranoia then went into overdrive with the game deep into the second half, with officials beginning to suspect a US election-style ruse after learning they had led the match until the Maroons overtook their score.
But while consideration was given to demanding play be halted for a recount, thankfully cool heads prevailed to allow the match to run its full 79 minutes and 58 seconds.
Despite accepting the disastrous defeat, Blues officials have now conceded the only way to overcome Bennett is by lawyering-up due to his unbreakable psychological grip on the state, plus there are no more halves to choose from.
But the obvious question has been raised by constitutional law experts and sane people alike: how would a legally disputed Origin series actually be resolved?
Some have suggested utilising the current processes of Golden Point and retention to the carryover champions, however, these options have been rejected on account of both last benefiting Queensland.
With confusion reigning due to the scenario’s unprecedented nature, many predict it could result in the scene of a self-barricaded Fittler being forcibly removed from the sheds 40 days after full-time, albeit this time for legal purposes and not a waiting cab to The Cross.
However, legal experts have warned NSW of the real possibility that much like Donald Trump’s crumbling grip on reality, Bennett’s aura could potentially transcend law. This could see NSW’s crack team of QCs overpowered by a single solicitor from Burpengary, or Felise Kaufusi stalling.
steveng
Roar Rookie
sheek, don’t worry about Trump he wasn’t as smug as Freddy, a better reference is that the Blues are trying to stack the deck like Biden/Dems with their Supreme Court and increase it to 5 lol
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Mate I think he will be writing quite a lot when he finally lands in jail! You can talk all the leaves you like then!
The Late News
Roar Rookie
luminary? like having the candle burn at both ends?
Big Daddy
Guest
Dane, does that apply to the Bledisloe cup. The Aussies won winner take all 4 th match last night. Maybe that's what Joey was talking about.
Walter Black
Guest
Brad Fittler claiming that he has won. It seems he went for a beer at half time winning comfortably and when he got back to his seat he was suddenly behind. The Blues won because Fittler has said they did.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Dane, can we get a conviction against Benny on the grounds that he dabbles in the occult ? He seems to do this strange dance and chant these incarnations at half time oranges that totally transforms his players and they come out and play a second half as if the opposition has disappeared from the field. Possibly we get the court to rule that they have to change coaches at half time, possibly that might work because I reckon Freddy's half time yoga session was dismal failure.
sheek
Roar Guru
Dane, Let's go straight to the best of the best: Don Rumsfeld. Also, let's just paraphrase him, rather than bother with the verbatim quote. "We have known knowns, & we have known unknowns; We also have unknown knowns, & of course unknown unknowns". Okay, the last one is added for amusement, but heck, you can't beat this!
sheek
Roar Guru
Dane Eldridge – The Beetoota Advocate needs You! Freddy Fittler has gone from as smug as Trump to unsure of himself, & I for one, am immensely enjoying his discomfort, as I am Trump’s at present. SOO2 will be a test of how good a coach Freddy Fittler really, really is.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Too funny! Well done.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
He wouldn't be the only current Immortal disqualified on that basis.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
If he is on fire, Todd Carney could... actually, never mind.
Big Daddy
Guest
After watching Rudy Giuliani the other day Trump could do well to employ one Dane Eldridge as his legal representative. He'd be back in the White House already.
Tony
Roar Guru
I doubt that
Tony
Roar Guru
John, there's an A to Z article currently in the works
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Wasn’t that what was said at the Blood Bank when Dracula tried to enter? I have now officially run out of poor jokes!
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Are you willing to provide us with a “list” of your indiscretions in alphabetical order?
Big Daddy
Guest
Haven't you read his book on personal health and well being.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Its half time. STOP the COUNT !!!
Tony
Roar Guru
Well that rules me out then
Tony
Roar Guru
With provision for a golden point decider if necessary