When is the best time to play men’s State of Origin? This is always a topic of conversation at this time of the year as the quality of the NRL diminishes due to the number of players missing because of the series.
While player outs do give the next generation of players an opportunity, it’s clear that the quality of game suffers (just ask anyone that watched all the games last round). But I have an idea.
I think we should play State of Origin at the start of the year. It should be the first game that the players play and should be played even before pre-season starts.
Some of you might have some concerns about doing this. Do we get the best product if this is the first game that the players play in a couple of months? Are the players in peak physical condition? What about injuries? If a player gets injured in the series, that may rule them out for club football before the season has started.
These are all valid concerns and good reasons why the timing of State of Origin is important.
But then why was this the approach taken with the women’s State of Origin?
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The first game happened two weeks ago. The Queensland Maroons won 18-10 after a Julia Robinson and Shenae Ciesiolka masterclass.
All the players acknowledge that Origin is the toughest game of footy they will play all year. It’s even tougher than the internationals.
It’s also one of the best nights of the women’s footy calendar. The game continues to be played in front of record crowds and in front of record audiences on television.
When people watch that game, they are expecting quality.
Game I was quality, but it was not to the same standard of previous years. There were 30 errors in the match, with each team contributing 15 to the total. Attack looked slightly disjointed and some players looked like they needed a little more time to get into the flow of the game.
But that’s not the players fault. For several players, it was the first game of footy they had played in almost two months. It’s not unreasonable that they looked a little bit rusty, just like the male players do at the start of the year.
We did not set the players up for success by making it the first game of the year and coincidentally, having the series opener in the same week that the NRLW pre-season kicked off.
In a year where the competition has expanded significantly, the first week and the third week of pre-season were disrupted due to key players missing.
I completely understand how challenging it is to get scheduling right, but there is an opportunity here for the NRL to really consider what an optimal women’s footy calendar might look like. I would also suggest that this be prioritised over any further expansion of the women’s game so that we get it right.
If the NRL is intent on having the men’s and women’s State of Origin at the same time, perhaps the NRLW should start sooner and then be paused for a couple of weeks while the series takes place.
Perhaps the women’s State of Origin could be held at the end of the NRLW season and then potentially even flow into some internationals for the Australian Jillaroos.
There are endless opportunities and we can certainly do better that what it looks like right now.
It’s not good for the players but it’s certainly not good for people we are trying to convert to the women’s game.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Now onto Thursday night’s game in Townsville. I have no idea which way the result will go. I am confident though that we will see a much better game, now that the players have had the chance to play a game and spend some more time together.
Queensland are obviously in the box seat. They have not lost on home turf since the series was rebranded to State of Origin and the decision to revert to Ali Brigginshaw at lock with Zahara Temara at halfback was apt.
But NSW do have some key-ins, including Simaima Taufa and at the moment Isabelle Kelly is named to play after that horrific throat injury in Game I.
I’m tipping the Blues, but by four points. For those doing the maths at home, that means that Queensland will be crowned the winner of this year’s series.
wilbas
Roar Rookie
It ruins the competition...we have these boring weeks when all players are in camp and byes are everywhere and first grade teams full of reserve graders...The injuries and the imbalance it causes is disruptive at least and can destroy a teams premiership run. It has lost its magnetic appeal...no more biff no more jewel.
wilbas
Roar Rookie
I don’t understand why the women’s game which does not have a complete competition yet, should be lifted to the same level as the men’s game. You can not suspend the men’s competition for state of origin..The so called jewel in the crown has become tarnished somewhat since they bleached SOO. The jewel in the crown was replaced with a zircon in 2013 and I say unequivocally that the public interest in the game waned once they banned the punch. Traditionally rugby school was created to take away the angst out of young men and as a social tool rugby league or contact sports served the society by the fans witnessing a bit of combat and sometimes a punch on to hose down the aggression that builds in communities. Folks would go to the football and get their pound of flesh and many of the Mum’s enjoyed that aspect of the game.The theory is if you see a bit of controlled violence you are less likely to cook some up in the real world. I remember where I worked in a large transport company and come the SOO night we would work till 8pm if we finished quick …There was a hell of a lot of banter with calls of ‘GO THE BLUES ”as the drivers finished up and were leaving to watch the game….followed by glory hunters and pacific islanders who would yell a counter cry ”GO MAROONS’..It was apparent most were into the prospect of the game. THAT WAS BEFORE 2013…After that it fizzled out with the urgency to finish and rush home for the game gone….The banter I noticed disappeared…Yes the mad league fans but the rank and file non league nuts did not care anymore because that unpredictable blow up was gone. The NRL does not fully realize it yet but I noticed it wane for ten years and the anticipation started to evaporate with each year following Gallen’s glory punch. The game loses fans every year..and these are people who loved the game so much that they can not bear the sanitized version that acts as an imposter. Maybe the men can get false eye lashes glued on to match getting their brows waxed…and the ladies like the biff more so then the fellas.
Nakinz 14
Roar Rookie
NFL not nrl
Nakinz 14
Roar Rookie
Welly very easy don .. the state of origin runs for 9 weeks .. it’s not part of the nrl .. lot of teams are effected by the state of origin.. throughly injury and the camps .. well I used this on you don ..in the nrl . Which is the biggest sporting competition in the world .. you don’t see Tom Brady not playing half way through the competition cos he got rep game coming up . You want best players playing every week .. it’s not fair on the fans who paid good money to watch b players playing for a month ..while your best players are cotton up in wool .. so yes it does ruin the competition.. it takes the gloss of the competition.. oh really u going to use that ..I seen my team the warriors whip the broncs in the past with there b players .. putting 54 points on the broncs .. I give you soo many examples of the weaker teams doing well ..but you are missing the point the standard of football goes down .. when you got the best players on the sideline ..funny that ..yet fans are expected to turn up and get charge full price right lol
Don
Roar Rookie
How does it ruin the competition? You've had the sides impacted by SOO the most win a good % of their games in the past month, or come close in good contests. 2 sides with little SOO representation have just been spanked.
Nakinz 14
Roar Rookie
But does it work .. maybe from a commercial view it does .. having the state of origin run from for 9 weeks is way too long and ruin the competition..that the whole idea of nrl is to be fair competition that why u got salary cap .. having the best players not playing .. does nothing for the competition..
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
Crazy - the big money is for mid season winters nights when everybody is home so bizarre suggestion
C Morris
Roar Rookie
How was the Sunday game a dud? It was the highest rating of the 3 games last year (higher than the decider).
ScouseinOz
Roar Rookie
The wheel always gets reinvented when people talk about origin. The men's series has it perfect now. It's not even worth discussing. The end of 2020 season killed that debate forever. The NRLW ideally should run end of August to end of November. It fills that space within the mens finals and internationals period. The media and broadcasters will give it more funding and attention and the mens and womens matches would compliment really well in the calendar. However, I don't think NRLW will ever be long enough to crowbar origin within their season. Prob best to have the women's 1st and 2nd matches on the Thursday of the Men's 2nd and 3rd matches. Have the third women's origin 2 weeks after on a stand alone Wednesday. Think that then gives time for pre season into the NRLW.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
It's interesting - - - just the notion of a 3 game series EVERY year is a massive kick in the guts to the H&A season. As it is - SoO provides the 3 big crowds and 3 big TV ratings results. Beyond that - - seriously - - it's meaningless. It's not a club premiership. Players are contracted to club - not state. In essence - - that consistency of the presence of this 'Rep' level serves mostly to diminish the club comp. The AFL learned this long ago as the club comp went national. Granted the NRL doesn't have so many states as the AFL has to try to manage - - however - - 3 games?? EVERY year? What about a 3 game tourney every 3 or 4 years? Ideally ONLY pre season works - start the regular season a little later (and having no byes would help compact the season a bit??)
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Leave it as it is. Not early season as players not match fit at that time. After the GF? No. Various rep gamesd and the time when players go for any necessary surgery/.
Don
Roar Rookie
Why does everyone want to change SOO? It works in the middle of the season both commercially, and for fan engagement. We moved to a Sunday - it was a dud commercially, and the same people asking for changes again are the ones who asked for a stand alone weekend. Playing as the first game/s of the year is literally, the second worst idea for it after playing it at the end of the year. It works, leave it alone.
NQR
Roar Rookie
I think they should schedule an annual game in eTownsville every year. Here you have a mid week game supported by a record crowd? Queensland and especially regional Queenslanders support their team and rugby league far more than those down south it would appear. You’ll probably find another 5000 NQ supporters actually couldn’t travel to Brisbane and then be in Townsville within 24hr that would have loved to have attended both games? Ask the Blues girls how they enjoyed their experience and I bet they loved the support even though most were wearing Maroon. I believe the tickets prices for Townsville were significantly higher than the 10-20 dollar price’s and free tickets in game 1 (NSW)? Maybe it’s time Sydney NSW acknowledged that they aren’t the centre of the rugby league Universe. The Roosters had a NRLW team before the Cowboys speak volumes? Well done girls for a terrific game.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
I’d go the opposite way and condense Origin into 5 weeks. Week 1 for camp and then the games on weeks 2-4. Week 5 for recovery. Suspend the premiership for that period, maybe run a Challenge Cup style competition on the weekends to keep players not playing Origin match fit.
Brendon Waldron
Roar Pro
I don't know about that far apart, but I do think there's merit to lengthening the time between games to create mini origin periods with several weeks of uninterrupted football in between instead of one long origin period that becomes a drain...
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Scrap the Allstars game Season opens with Origin one Origin Two mid season with full bye round Origin three after end of home and away rounds, before finals, full bye round
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Literally the worst idea ever. No comparison between men’s and women’s game. Women’s game still relies on men’s game for its funding. It will play when it’s told to play. When it can pay for itself it can decide when they want to play.
Brendon Waldron
Roar Pro
State of origin should be in the middle of the season, the players are in great condition and it's over long before the finals. The women's state of origin should be the same, so they need to decide when their season is. I say keep men and women's origin in the same period and move the NRLW season to the middle of the year, that way they can unshackle the women's GF from the men's where it's played in the middle of the day in front of nobody and make it its own even like it deserved to be...
Nakinz 14
Roar Rookie
I say at the end of the year ..shorten the season .. only play each other once .. and if you really want shake it up .. only play 3 games if you need decided .. nobody needs To play a dead rubber ..only to make extra cash .. greed is not good ..