The first NRL split round for the year was a complete bludger. Four borderline unwatchable games, with three blowouts and one ‘close’ one decided by a converted try but of terrible quality overall.
If we thought blowouts and poor quality games were bad enough already in 2021, we’ve just got a taste of the impact of this year’s State of Origin series.
Fans reacted to the weekend’s results the way they normally would based on how their teams have performed so far. Some Panthers fans in particular reacted pretty poorly to their 20-point loss to the Wests Tigers.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
But it’s too harsh to pot the players who are out there during the Origin period, who are coming up from second grade competitions but still are expected to maintain the level of the incumbent, and build immediate combinations with established players who aren’t in Origin camp.
It’s always been weird how the NRL views almost everything through the Origin lens. Young players who show promise are pigeonholed as either being ready for Origin or not, rather than judged on their ability to carry a team to a premiership.
When Melbourne Storm star pair Harry Grant and Cameron Munster were injured in early May, the initial diagnoses was reported almost entirely against their ability to be fit enough for Origin Game 1 (they are).
Newcastle’s fullback Kalyn Ponga has a groin injury, with which he’s missed a bit of time. He still went to Queensland’s camp, but was sent home not long afterwards after being ruled out.
Ponga is now out for an extended period, possibly including even the second Origin. His club’s coach Adam O’Brien has his own problems, with an underperforming club in free fall and his reputation and perhaps even his job on the line. But he’s now without Ponga for an extended period of time.
“In hindsight his best chance for Game 2 would have been to stay here and keep working with the group that works with him,” O’Brien said about Ponga on Sunday.
Again, the commentary around this isn’t that Ponga will miss critical, season-defining club games, it’s about his fitness to be able to play Origin.
Knights fans must be ecstatic that after missing all this time, Ponga will come out of a long injury break straight into the Origin cauldron.
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
We’re constantly told State of Origin is the pinnacle of the game, which is undeniable.
But should it be? Should clubs be handing over their best players to get bashed up, back up days later then disappear again as the three-game series plays out?
For all the unforgettable moments he provided us, Johnathan Thurston was never quite the same after getting a bad shoulder injury during Origin.
Are North Queensland fans just supposed to be proud he represented Queensland, or are they entitled to be filthy about the lost opportunities for the team they pay to watch? Can you think both thoughts at the same time? Sure you can.
Is it truly a contest of the best of the best if there’s no players from Tonga, Samoa, England, New Zealand and other countries that aren’t in Queensland or New South Wales? And yes, I’m ignoring fuzzy selection practices.
Surely to grow the game and get buy-in from across the board it’s the international side that needs to get a bump?
Well, no.
As is usually the case, the answer is money. State of Origin is a colossus that brings advertising dollars, sponsorships and opportunities to cash in that aren’t there for the regular season. It gives Channel Nine monster midweek prime time ratings, which is what pushes rugby league into the top tier when it’s end-of-year-review time.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
When the next lot of negotiations kick off for the game, it might be a smart idea to separate the Origin series from the regular season to make a little extra cash.
That would likely drive down what broadcasters are willing to pay for a non-Origin package, which ironically would prove that Origin is too big for the regular NRL season.
The mythical ‘casual fan’ is an Origin regular. They love to watch, then they then go away but don’t take with them up a new love for the game of rugby league. The consistently massive ratings for State of Origin are yet to translate into more eyes on the club game.
People consume Origin games, then they’re gone until the grand final. Fans stick around, but endure six weeks of a vastly inferior NRL competition.
I know nothing’s going to change, because this is rugby league and there’s far too much money at stake to change things now. It’s not clear what actually could change that would help the regular season. Origin selection limits from each team? Three Origin weekend byes? Shut down the NRL for a month and play Origin standalone?
Disband Origin altogether and play an international tournament?
I don’t want Origin to go away or get lessened. I love watching the series while praying no one gets injured. I’ll be a keen watcher this Wednesday and if Melbourne wasn’t under lock and key, I’d be there.
But it’s just so strange a competition is so happy to disrupt itself to such a massive extent for a significant portion of the season for a three-game series between two states.
And it’s okay to have those two thoughts at the same time.
Michael
Guest
This year's NRL has been one of the worst I can remember. The blow-outs are so frustrating and while I'm a NSW fan, that was not a great origin game 1. However in a year like this at least Origin gives fans of lower ranked teams something to cheer for. Otherwise fans of teams like Bulldogs, Broncos, Tigers, Knights and Titans have probably tuned out. If they do make the finals, we know the top 6 will knock them out. I'm a souths fan, but after 2 50 point drubbing to the top 2, I'm not expecting anything other than a GF replay. And of the top 6, only Manly weren't there last year. It must be getting pretty boring for teams consistently out of reach. I know I didn't go to many games in 2003-2006 when Souths weren't a hope... was hard to watch a team get belted each week.
PaulC
Guest
Spot on Don. The Sydney Centric Commentators have very convenient memories & can't remember when the Broncos were some times having 10 players in SOO selection. Now that Penrith have 6 selected we have worry about them returning to the regular competition after the 3 games.
Brunny Boy
Guest
I want my team to win a Premiership. I don’t mind if players in my team are individually recognised for their outstanding performance, but that shouldn’t come at the expense of my team. SOO does that year on year. I love SOO as a spectacle but it needs to change to allow for an uninterrupted and uneffected NRL season
Olympic Park Oligarch
Guest
As a Melbournian who did not follow a team before the Storm entered, I find it fascinating that the pinnacle of the competition seems to be something that is randomly slotted in on a couple of Wednesday nights and potentially has the opportunity to derail a teams season with an injury or two. It’s Premierships or bust for me. I’ll watch Origin, but would be ore than happy for all Storm players to elect to sit out.
Nat
Roar Guru
It is, when you sign an NRL contract you are given that option. Of course you can opt out/retire afterwards without issue. I'm talking about playing G1 then choosing not to play G2 in favour of club land and go back for G3. These days I'm sure there could be dispensation if they sat out one series but played for club and came back next year. They were trying with Cam Smith after he had officially resigned so it must be possible. Not sure a coach would pick that player again who chose not to rep the year before, unless it is Cam Smith. Not sure if Joey or Alfie actually officially retired before their comebacks.
Conan of Cooma
Roar Rookie
I doubt it would be part of an NRL contract, as many players have opted out of Rep footy while on existing contracts. Like I said, there is nothing available from the NRL about this, I am genuinely intrigued as to the rules around Rep availability.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
Maximus Insight, "Two Melbourne clubs just packed out a stadium in Perth on Satuday with 55,000 people". That's a big crowd, but still only 90% capacity, therefore around 5,000 seats remained unsold. When the NRL SoO was played there a couple of years ago they got over 60K (max capacity/largest ever crowd at stadium - at the time at least) and thousands of people missed out on tickets. Obviously that SoO didn't include a WA team either, average ticket prices to the NRL game were significantly higher than the AFL game, and WA is a strong AFL state. The NRL SoO works, big time, and for whatever reason/s the AFL's didn't/don't.
KenW
Roar Rookie
This descended into an AFL vs NRL thing - partly my fault but not my intention. So I'm just going to agree to disagree on the tribalism aspect, and I have no argument that SOO was tried first in AFL (I stated it myself in my response). I'll even go further and concede that AFL is generally very well-run and always worth looking to see how they handle things. But when it comes to dealing with scheduling of important representative matches/series, they are the least experienced of any football code. They don't have to worry about internationals, and their SOO series was never the juggernaut that the RL one has consistently been over the last 4 decades. In this area they don't have the answers.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Which Raiders losses were shocks though? I’ve named two, but losses to the Storms, Souths, Roosters, Panthers aren’t shocks... Anyway, if this season of record blowouts, lopsided games, unprecedented dominant top 5 is working for you, then I’m genuinely glad for you... no sarcasm there, as much as it sounds like it :stoked: I think the onfield action has been pretty predictable and like the weekend just gone, pretty boring I hope it all changes
Paul
Guest
It could be easier than that. Get all of your players with islander heritage, to declare their allegiance to the country that one of their parents, grandparents may have come from. Then refuse to play for NSW or Queensland. Your problem with the contract payments? Other clubs want to buy the better players. You can’t just simply pay players less, to keep your best players.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I am not a Bellemey fan but his attitude to Origin is spot on. He wants as many of his players to play Origin as possible. He has been partially responsible for getting guys like Welsch picked by talking up their potential ar Origin level. He makes a big deal about producing Origin players. He wants them to go cause he knows they come back better players.
Don
Roar Rookie
I think Lyon actually had to sit out a club round in the first year he made himself unavailable for Origin. Haven’t checked but rings a bell.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Play origin matches on Sunday evenings @ 7:00pm. Players will get a minimum 7 day break prior to the Origin match & a minimum 5 day break after the match. Fans can have Origin BBQs or gatherings on Sunday afternoons/evenings. It would be easier to get to the grounds on weekend rather than struggling after to get there after work.
AWesternRed
Roar Rookie
Origin helps divert attention from the Storm- Roosters hegemony that has dominated the NRL for 20 years. Maybe if my team had more of a chance of winning it all then I wouldn’t be as invested.
Joey
Guest
This year it’s brought Penrith back to the field, so 15 teams are pleased about that. They’ve been given a free escalator ride. If not, they’d be still looking up at Mt Everest, wondering how, or if, they should attempt to climb.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Yes, Origin stuffs up the NRL with some playing with weakened teams while others get the bye. And I know it's irrational but it annoys me that they give two points for the bye. Everyone gets one so there is no reason for it.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The first Sydney competition was interrupted by the first Kangaroo tour of Northern England because they had to go by boat. Easts probably would've won it as they were without the great Dally Messenger. There were no Queenslanders so it was really NSW v Yorkshire and Lancashire.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Certainly was different before the bronco’s entered
armc2906
Roar Rookie
I’m all for less disruption to the NRL season. Unfortunately if the 3rd standalone game after the season was a dead rubber, I doubt anyone would watch it.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I did tell you it would improve but it is going slower than I hoped. Worst case scenario is 3-4 years for teams to get up to speed to be able to defend at least competitively. I think the NRL needs to do a lot to improve the pathways and the standards of coaching and player development.