Why NSW are destined for Origin failure

For kids south of the Tweed, it’s winning a NSWRL flag. Winning the grand final was the goal of all the clubs but it didn't matter where the players came from. St.George won eleven in a row from 1956 to 1966 thanks to club secretary, Frank Facer's shrewd management. Each year he kept the winning players but added one new player, the best from NSW or Qld. He signed Harry Bath on his return from England in 1957. He signed other Queenslanders Kevin Ryan and Elton Rassmussen in 1961 and 1962. Graeme Langlands on 1963 from West Wollongong. Barry Beath in 1966 from Eugowra, NSW. He took the best from NSW and Qld for St.George. It is interesting to note that the 4 tackle rule was brought in for the 1967 season. There was going to be a handover after the 4th tackle but the Kiwis objected saying there should be a scrum and we fell for it. I started playing in the under 6stone7lbs as a front rower. Scrums and scrum penalties dominated the game, it was nothing like today's game.

Very few New South Welshmen could name their first captain. I thought I could because I have plenty of Rugby League books and records. I have "ORIGIN Rugby League's Greatest Contest 1980-2002" by Jack Galloway. It lists the team players, reserves and coaches of the 1st State of Origin, Lang Park, 8 July 1980. It lists Beetson as the Qld captain, but the NSW team doesn't have a captain marked as such. The book is by Jack Galloway, a great Australian Queenslander who served in the RAN in WW2. Maybe it is because SoO is more important to Queenslanders.

Really missed a fit Tommy the last 2 years…. and knew it wouldn’t take long for players Luai to show true colours when against the wall. If I were blues coach next year I’d start interviewing eligible players to see what Origin means to the them and tell them to go out and prove each week why they deserve the right to represent their state. Our best Origin players the last 20 years did exactly that (they understood origin)…… Freddy, Joey, Luke Lewis, Hoffman, Morris boys, Buderus, Girdler, Fitzgibbon, Matt Cooper, Kimmorley, Ben Kennedy, Barrett, Menzies, Hindmarsh, Jimmy Maloney, Jake Trobojevic, and before this year even Teddy gave his soul to earn his spot. Origin type players!!!!

The best cattle comment is an interesting one, because even this year before the series started, a lot media pundits were saying NSW had a better team on paper. I thought they were wrong, and I think the series has shown them up in that assertion. The reason I think this happens is that there a Sydney bias in the rugby league media. Most of the NSW players play in Sydney and most of the Queensland players don't, and it takes longer for them to recognise the non-Sydney players' quality. An example of this was how the NSW back 5 was vaunted at the start of the series, with virtually no talk of good the Queensland back 5 might be. So much speed and some excellent finishers on the wings. Granted, losing Latrell Mitchell, and Trbojevic during game two weakened the NSW back 5, but they were comprehensively beaten by the Queensland back 5. The other part of this, is the proven champions vs the up and comers. The up and comers could be better, but you won't know until they play against each other. So who had the better cattle? Queensland, but a combination of bias and untested potential, meant that was not recognised before the series commenced.

Winning Origin means more to Qld than NSW. When the Blues play in Qld they are up against every Queenslander. When Qld play in Sydney they are up against every NSW NRL fan. Big difference.

Since when have NSW had the better cattle? It’s like a comparing prawns to lobsters. Maybe you’re right that money is more of a priority for many players than playing Origin but Munster, DCE, Hunt and Holmes are on equally good money. Difference is they wouldn’t believe they are entitled to be selected before Cotter, Collins or Coats. Ego is a major reason NSW struggle IMO. Gallen and Tedesco have been leading NSW in recent years. Their ability to identify a team mate in a better position is something I’ve always questioned? Smith and now DCE have been leading Queensland to plenty of wins.

Yep, Munster. Hammer, Coates, Grant, Walsh and Taulagi were in hot pursuit despite having to turn and chase. Tedesco, Frizzell, Martin and Moses I think all stopped and walked when Creighton started running and they were close to him when he picked up the ball? I think Martin’s first interest was mostly about holding back a Queensland player with To’o the only Blue even attempting to support.

Nobody else other than DCE chasing Crichton????? There were six other QLDers in pursuit. NSW kids want to win a flag???? What’s winning a “flag” got to do with footy?? Sorry mate, I’m not on board with what you’re trying to say.

If I was a Broncos fan like the author , I'd much prefer that my team was winning the odd title than QLD doing well. QLD teams have won very few titles this century and as Manly fan I'm a lot more jealous of the Pennies , Storm and Chooks than QLD. Billy is getting a lot of praise just like Fred did when NSW were carving up. Plenty of coaches have had a dream start and I'll be interested to see how it pans out with Bill. QLD look a bit light on in the halves department and it's good for them that DCE hardly ever gets injured but he does get old.

what is this constant line that NSW have better players?? Stevie Wonder can see that, yes even on paper, Qld have had a superior squad over the last few years .... and obviously well before that too.

"until you learn to respect the game over the almighty dollar and stop picking blokes that are injury prone or of the grub variety." So Qld players don't get paid or care about money? They aren't sponsored? Munster, DCE, Fifita, Hunt, Ponga...these are some of the highest paid players in the game...you think they'd all play for free? And Qld don't select 'grubs'? That'll do me...Here's an article for you of Qld greats openly discussing examples of them playing dirty: https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/my-dirtiest-tactic-queensland-maroons-legends-confess/news-story/a8f8e7341322c0a241aa99dd44133f0b

NSW have a bigger pool of players to choose from. But for mine, the difference is that Qld players don't want to let their team mates down. NSW are happy to let someone else do the heavy lifting when times get tough.

The only thing I disagree with is this: “ 2 + 2 is Daly Cherry Evans running down Stephen Crichton when everyone else had given up. ” QLD had another 4 or so sprinting back and the entire team was in the defensive line within a tackle. :stoked:

Here we go again. NSW has the best cattle, best coaches, blah blah blah. We hear it every year. Just like the worst QLD team ever that won the series. Dean, accept the fact that Blues players are no better than QLD players except Slater's an exceptional coach, unlike Fittler.