Before I go any further, it’s important for me to announce my bias. I enjoy men’s State of Origin, but the result does not bother me at all.
I know that in my lifetime, I will see the NSW Blues win the series plenty of times. I’ve already seen them win several times. With a 50 per cent chance of my team winning each year, I like those odds.
My club team on the other hand, I may never see win a premiership, so when it comes to State of Origin conversations, I tend to preference the needs of my club over the needs of my state.
After Mitchell Moses’ outstanding performance against the Canterbury Bulldogs where he set up two tries and led the Parramatta Eels to a 34-12 win, I had a feeling he would be selected for the Blues.
Deservedly so.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
His game has matured greatly over the past couple of years at the Eels. In the past his performances have been erratic, but he has developed control over his own game, particularly in last year’s finals series when he was able to guide the Eels to the Grand Final.
His kicking game has become a real strength and his decision-making has improved considerably, knowing when to run versus knowing when to kick.
After the dominant Queensland performance in Game I, the series now sits on a knife’s edge and my view is that Moses being selected places him in a no-win situation.
Take the best case scenario. Moses plays Game II and the Blues surprise us all and win at Suncorp Stadium.
Nathan Cleary is unavailable for Game III too, due to his hamstring injury, so let the fairytale continue with Moses playing Game III, the Blues winning and then lifting the trophy at ANZ Stadium.
Moses will have had the thrill of helping his team to a State of Origin victory, but will unlikely ever be selected again (unless Cleary is again unavailable).
No matter how well Moses performs, he will always be behind Cleary. There is almost nothing that Moses can do in these next two games which would see him unseat Cleary.
Other than personal pride and a desire to win, that doesn’t give much incentive for a player to push for selection. What if the opposite happens and Moses has an average game and the Blues lose Game II?
Will the knives be out for Moses? Probably. Rationality seems to fly out the window when we talk about State of Origin.
We’ve seen how quickly fans and the media can turn and we need look no further than Nicho Hynes.
He has been part of the extended squad for the past two years. You would assume that is because NSW saw him as part of their future plans and thought there was benefit to him being part of the camp.
After being put on the field for 12 minutes during Game I (out of position to cover an injury), Hynes was criticised for a lacklustre performance.
In the last couple of weeks there has also been increased pressure on the Cronulla Sharks due to their poor record against top eight teams. Hynes has come under the microscope and has not played his best footy.
He’s now been completely dropped from the squad, labelled ‘not an Origin player’ and also called ‘fragile’ in the media. Incredible how all it takes is an average 12 minutes in a position that isn’t your own to be called ‘not an Origin player’.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
I have no interest in any player that plays for my team (or any player at all for that matter) to go through that.
The reasons above are why I would have chosen Adam Reynolds for that jersey.
Reynolds is an older, experienced player who is also having an exceptional season. Even with a quieter game against the Newcastle Knights, he still scored the match winner. He also apparently knows every single blade of grass at Suncorp. (Rumour has it that he he individually inspects them each time with a tiny magnifying glass.)
Reynolds is towards the end of his career, so he would be under no misapprehension that he was simply filling a spot until Cleary was fit again.
But regardless of who is wearing that No.7 jersey, I have fingers and toes crossed for a Blues win next Wednesday because I certainly don’t want any of my players subject to the roasting that will take place after another series loss.
matth
Roar Guru
Exactly this. But Mary was up front that like many, many NSW rugby league fans they are more interested in their suburb than their state. Funnily enough I’ve been criticized on this site in the past for being more about my state than my country.
Adam
Roar Guru
I'd have a mental break down as well
steveng
Roar Rookie
The Blues are a lay down misere to win SSO-2, its how the SSO playbook was written and enshrined in the holy SOO 1982 rules :laughing: it doesn't matter who's at halfback as it won't make any difference, Reynolds is just too old and judging by his last effort and SOO being at least 30% more competitive, he won't be much chop, leave Mosses to get all the blame no matter what happens, then lets have a go at Freddie as that is also part of the playbook. The Blues always seem to go from certainties to uncertainties which is also part of the playbook. My ptip, Blues by 8 points and Mosses and Freddie the hero's of SOO :laughing: :thumbup:
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
And that was the thrust of Gus’ argument
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Players can only make themselves unavailable for rep selection if the coach allows it. Their contracts require them to be available for rep selection.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Cleary & Moses also have those same abilities, and more. Cleary & Moses’ kicking games are elite.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
At the expense of Cleary ???
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Gus didn’t call for him to be dropped, he still wanted him on the bench, he just didn’t think he was ready to be an Origin halfback.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Adam Reynolds spent the vast majority of his career playing in Sydney, but after maybe 15 home games for the Broncos he’s suddenly a “Suncorp specialist”. Please. What happens then for Game 3 in Sydney ? After he’s a “ Suncorp specialist”. To suggest Mitch Moses was picked solely on the strength of one game is just ridiculous. He was picked on an outstanding body of work going back 6 years now. He was picked because he’s in his prime and Reynolds was not because he’s on the back nine of his career and a constant injury risk. Moses was absolutely the right pick.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
So short sighted. Every Origin game adds more big game experience to a players knowledge base. Mitch Moses playing even one Origin game benefits the Eels enormously. To think otherwise shows a complete lack of understanding of the competitive process
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Though I'm Qld if I wanted to win Nico Hynes would be my first pick. Can't believe they didn't pick him. Reynolds is ok but not the best version he has been and to me not as good as the alternatives for Origin.
Emcie
Roar Guru
To be honest I don't remember much of the coverage at the time, just the talk around the place. Most people in my circle put the series loss down to cronks broken arm, and most of those despised dce at the time. That said, that may have been after the putting 50 on the blues when cronk came back for game 3...
Brett
Roar Rookie
Well thought through Mary, and Reynolds is the choice that was mad to ignore. But you’re definitely showing your NSW side when you mention personal pride and love of winning as the only motivators for Moses. Tom Dearden knew he was only keeping the chair warm for Munster last July, but was overwhelmed with the honour and responsibility of playing for the people of Qld.
Bonza
Roar Rookie
And just like that we might be back to the dark times. Don't think it matters who's 7. Qld not only have top level spine but mobile tough forwards and dangerous outside backs. Will be cheering on the boys nonetheless Freddie has to sell them the Make History narrative
Panthers
Roar Rookie
At least he decided to put in an effort for Australia. :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah,I agree with all of that… but he got absolutely caned and blamed for the 2014 loss
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
He left the Panthers so his card was marked
Emcie
Roar Guru
I don't disagree, and I'd say the Titans were happy to feed the victim narrative at the time given how tattered their reputation was back then. DCE was going to be the saviour of the club after all
Emcie
Roar Guru
The crowd had turned before origin, there was a lot of talk about whether he should have been selected at all in the lead up and he ran out to boo's from both sides at the game. The backflip was literally about 15 days before the origin game he played and still pretty raw. It's hard to understate how much people disliked him up here at the time, and I say that as someone who thought the criticism was massively overblown
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I'd think Reynolds would be in a bigger no-win situation. He captains the biggest team in QLD and if he led NSW to a win at Suncorp I'm sure the reception he got next Broncos home game would be mixed.