Parramatta coach Brad Arthur must lament his luck at times. His team got a killer start to the season, then when they hit form, he gets smashed by Origin call-ups.
His Eels have been in red hot form, winning five straight in the NRL to move themselves right back into contention for the top eight and, with a good wing, the top four.
This Saturday evening will see Parra host the Warriors, one of their biggest rivals for a finals berth, at Commbank Stadium. It should be a chance to make a statement.
Instead, it might well be a non-event: Arthur will be missing his pack leader, his inspirational captain and his key halfback after Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Clint Gutherson and Mitchell Moses are all called into NSW camp for the dead rubber Origin fixture next Wednesday night.
While Arthur would never say it – and will be at pains to point out how proud he is to have his stars selected – he would be well within his rights to seethe at how his good work could well be undone by something out of his control and, ultimately, meaningless.
Moses was in the Blues’ squad for Game 2 and might have been expected to be there to see out the series, but RCG and Gutho have been parachuted in on the back of form for the Eels, ruling them out of the ability to actually contribute to the club in one of their biggest games of the year.
The players will take the call-ups when they come, of course, but they might be less pleased about it if Parra are pipped to the eight by, say, the Warriors – who have nobody in Origin. Given that both have nine wins at this stage, that it well within the bounds of possibility.
Many coaches have fired up at the timing of Origin – and more on that later – but in truth, the current set-up is able to adapt to negate situations like this.
Given that nothing is at stake in Origin, Blues coach Brad Fittler could simply have chosen not to include Gutherson or Campbell-Gillard, and instead elevated Scott Drinkwater and Spencer Leniu, both of whom are in camp and on the Bye this weekend with the Cowboys.
This isn’t without precedent. Queensland erred like this in Game 1, selecting Tom Dearden as 18th man and ruling him out of a Cowboys game – ironically against Parramatta, a game North Queensland lost.
In Game 2, they opted to go with AJ Brimson for Game 2, so that Dearden could play for his club, starring as they beat the Panthers that weekend.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
You can go back much further on this, because the idea of leaving players out was widespread in the 1980s, especially for the Blues, with regular NSW stars often left out of the third game when the series was settled.
In the first Origin dead rubber, in 1984, Wayne Pearce was excused NSW duty and played for Balmain instead – against Terry Lamb, who also was allowed to skip the rep game.
In 1985, Steve Mortimer and Noel Cleal were not asked to play and represented their clubs instead, and in 1988, Lamb was again left out for Game 3 before returning to the squad the next year.
Indeed, in 1988, Peter Sterling was sat down for the meaningless third Origin fixture before playing in the halves for the Kangaroos against the touring Lions a week later, but played for Parramatta in the meantime.
Andrew Ettingshausen and Laurie Daley were both left out of 1989’s third game and on the Queensland side, Mal Meninga played for Canberra the week before and the week after the 1990 dead rubber.
By 1993, the practice had died out – Meninga played the dead rubber that year – and by 1996, the Blues were not rotating players and, famously fielded the same 17 throughout the series.
Since then, the concept has fallen away and any Origin side is picked first, with clubs an afterthought.
It’s not new that teams will miss players during Origin. Brisbane had nine – and their coach – play in Game 2 of 2002, but also got the Bye for two of the three games that year. Parra have played all three pre-Origin rounds in 2023, the only team to have done so.
While Arthur has said nothing, Wayne Bennett has been among the most vocal in criticising the current schedule, with several club bosses lining up behind him.
Both Bennett and several club bosses have expressed a preference for playing Origin in a burst in the middle of the year, with one camp that runs the whole way through and no NRL games played outside of it.
This would also remove the need to back up after Origin, which players inevitably do but can have dire consequences, as seen with Nathan Cleary’s hamstring tear this year.
The other option, of moving the whole series to the end of the year as was seen in 2020 during the Covid affected season, would directly impinge on the time set aside for internationals and likely be a non-starter for that reason.
Martin Taupau leads the Samoan team’s war dance. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The three-week window could in fact positively boost the international game: only around 40 players get picked for Origin, but the vast majority of NRL players are eligible for other nations, and the Pacific Tests could be expanded to provide weekend content for broadcasters.
It’s hard to imagine a world where Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand playing off over three weekends – with Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands as curtain raisers – wouldn’t be a valuable product, especially if games were scheduled in the other state to Origin or, indeed, in New Zealand.
With a three-week gap, it’s also possible to get England to visit, as that would allow for a sufficiently long lead-time into major games. Earlier this year, St Helens condensed their World Club Challenge visit into three weeks, with one week preparation followed by two games.
That’s not to mention Women’s Origin and potential internationals that could offer another night’s worth of content and provide a stellar kick-off event for the NRLW season.
Moving Men’s Origin would enable the league to create a clear break in the season – allowing all the other, non-rep players to rest – and built tentpoles around which they can tailor their content offering.
The season currently features 25 rounds spread out over 27 weeks, with each team getting two byes in the Origin period, either before or after the rep games.
Shutting down the NRL for three weeks could see that cut to one bye per team, the effects spread out across the year.
It would also allow the season to be split into chunks, with a major tentpole at Magic Round ten games in, then a five weeks run into Origin, a break, then a ten game run home to the finals.
The current set-up, which denigrates the NRL competition for eight weeks in what should be the most exciting time of the year.
Parramatta have felt the brunt of this, but they’re not the only ones. Origin generates a huge amount of cash for the NRL, but doesn’t come close to what the league itself creates. Yet it remains, for a full third of the season, the main talking point.
It’s time to change it – which would give both Origin, the NRL – and, potentially, internationals – the respect they deserve.
criag
Roar Rookie
I should add, the first game can be on a Thursday or Friday.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
2. There would be 17 rounds with a fair draw. The second competition would be played in the weeks before SoO so there is no disruption to the NRL. It could be called the XXXX Cup. It gives teams another prize to play for. In this competition all 18 teams can play 6 rounds starting with 1 v 18, 2 v 17, … 9 v 10 so that the better teams with more SoO players will be understrength but playing inferior teams. So, the season is the same length, but we have two prizes to play for. Of course, it will never happen.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
1. Playing teams once fixes the unfair draws. I don't see the scheduling being a problem. The home ground advantage isn't a big deal, but it will have to be home and away in different years. Canterbury wouldn't beat Penrith or Souths unless they couldn't play their stars because of SoO. There are too many teams in Sydney but cutting more teams won't work. The joint ventures haven't had much success.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
At least the Panthers get their pick of the Switzerland first 30. When it comes to South Sydney juniors it resembles a lunchtime school football pick a side between the Bunnies and the Roosters with the chooks getting their fair share of of Rabbitohs juniors and lower grade talent. I can't argue that the Panthers don't have great systems and player development though. Capewell, Sorensen, O’Sullivan and Cogger are just a few of the examples of how the Panthers have improved average players at other clubs and helped them to take their game to the next level. Too bad for Souths then that half the Roosters side is made up of Rabbitohs juniors or former Rabbitohs. Perhaps then they wouldn't be forced to recruit players from other clubs to make up the difference. To be fair, Tom Burgess and Tatola didn't play in the NRL before coming to the Rabbitohs. Host was a fringe player at the Dragons and Tass was playing in the QLD Cup. Murray, AJ, Graham, Koloamatangi, Munro, Mamouzelos and Hawkins are all South Sydney juniors. Also, Blake Taaffe played for the La Perouse Panthers so is part South Sydney junior as well as having played for The Entrance Tigers for the other part of his junior development. That's not bad for an inner-city club that lost most of it's demographic to west and south-west Sydney.
Emcie
Roar Guru
1. if you're only playing teams once then scheduling becomes even more lopsided. With 9 Sydney clubs there's a fair chance of some clubs never having to leave the city while other sides have to catch a plane for every second game. And thats before considering the advantage clubs that play evenly ranked or better sides at home get over clubs that have to face them away. 2. 16 games is 30% less then 24, so shorter. Not entirely sure what a mid-year, six round qualifier would accomplish that just continuing the competition wouldn't. 3. As in injuries, suspensions, HIAs and external factors have a bigger impact in a shorter season. Not to mention that teams that get to face depleted sides don't have to face them again when healthy, inflating their position
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
1. So, all teams perform better at home. How does this make the draw unfair? 2. A shorter season also means luck is more of a factor. I wasn't suggesting a shorter season but in another thread I wrote this: Make the draw fair for all by reducing the rounds to 17 so that all teams play each other once. Have a second competition say the NRL Cup where all 18 teams can play 6 rounds starting with 1 v 18, 2 v 17, … 9 v 10 where the number is the position on the current NRL table. The NRL could play games in the NRL Cup on the weekend before SoO so the main competition isn’t affected. If the top teams like Souths can’t beat the bottom teams in the origin affected cup games then they drop down ladder. 3. A shorter season also means luck is more of a factor. How often is luck a factor? In one game I saw a player kick a ball into a defender who knocked it on. He was lucky that a crap kick was rewarded with six again.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
GB Panthers plan to improve there depth they look to the future last off season signed jack Cogger to replace O'Sullivan sign Peachey ,hosking , garner who was unwanted by the wooden spooners, in the past Sorenson and Capewell both unwanted by sharks, all looking at improving there depth. What do the bunnies do sign wighton on 800k and think thats going to solve there problems mate bunnies bring a lot of this on themselves its a 30 man game bunnies seem to blow there cap on 20 then fill in the gaps. I know you are going to say panthers have a huge advantage in there junior base but can still only sign 30 like everyone else
criag
Roar Rookie
I feel like I just need to keep copying & pasting my last comment (if I could find it!) or else send it to Mr Change-the-rules-because-of-this-guy-I-met-at-the-pub. In a nutshell: Three weeks - three origin games, a split round of NRL over two of those, Pacific Internationals the other. You can play the origin games on Wednesday and other nights, but that's it in a nutshell. Players only have to miss ONE NRL game! I repeat............Players only have to miss ONE NRL game!
Emcie
Roar Guru
Home games are 100% an advantage. Every team in the comp has a better win rate at home (https://www.aussportstipping.com/sports/nrl/home_advantage/). A shorter season also means luck is more of a factor, more games reduce that affect. Playing each other twice is impossible which is why there are compromises and a finals system. Realistically scheduling of games is probably a bigger issue then the format anyway
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Make the draw fair for all by reducing the rounds to 17 so that all teams play each other once. Have a second competition say the NRL Cup where all 18 teams can play 6 rounds starting with 1 v 18, 2 v 17, … 9 v 10 where the number is the position on the current NRL table. The NRL could play games in the NRL Cup on the weekend before SoO so the main competition isn't affected. If the top teams like Souths can't beat the bottom teams in the origin affected cup games then they drop down ladder. Bad luck against the Bulldogs but Souths will recover.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
That's impossible with so many teams but the draw is fair because no team plays another team twice. The home ground advantage is overrated even if players say they were inspired by their home crowd. The same draw could be used the next year with home and away swapped.
Emcie
Roar Guru
For a fair draw you'd have to play each team twice, once at home and once away
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Isn't doing a good job, is it???. Utilise my vision for Origin and it will be a quality add-on in the strive for levelling the skill set.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
Well, I'm tired of Souths being made the Bunnies for a flawed system that always finds a way to minimise the impact on the NRL Triumvirate.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
So Origin is played for the money only? It must be nice to think you're playing not for your state but for NRL coffers.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
I'm gonna keep asking, why does the world's toughest (as in physically demanding, not to mention downright risky) code force players and clubs to front up for Game Three when the series is already decided??!!! Money be damned, the NRL already has enough. If Channel 9 and Fox don't like the un-certainty of it sometimes being 2 games, sometimes 3, shop Origin around, there are other networks who'd have it. The NRL competition IS compromised, teams are under-strength artificially. Interstate games used to be trials for Australian selection. Origin may have started off that way but it is now a cash-cow for lazy administrators who have no ideas on how to grow revenue, oh I forgot, there is Las Vegas..
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
No need to change origin scheduling. The NRL could reschedule to avoid playing games before the Wednesday night battle royales and make the draw fair for all by reducing the rounds to 17 so that all teams play each other once. In the weekends before Origin and three other weekends designated as NRL Cup games all 18 teams can play 6 rounds starting with 1 v 18, 2 v 17, … 9 v 10 where the number is the position on the current NRL table. The top two teams play off in a Cup Final on a Wednesday night. The NRL Cup games could be four to six rounds to fit in with the NRL season so as not to lose content. The competition would become fairer and give teams more prizes to compete for.
Jetka
Roar Rookie
No, the games were still spaced out quite a bit. They did have a Sunday game previously. I think the Origin period needs to be condensed but having the games only 7 days part would affect the players at the back end of the season. I know they get paid quite well, but we need to look after our stars.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Give all clubs a Bye in the lead up to an Origin game. 1. This would give the AFL a boost in viewers. 2. It also highlights how silly it is giving teams 2 points for a bye. 3. In this weekend with byes for some I missed a fair bit of action cos I had tuned out.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Finals exist because competitions without them caused interest and support to drop. Finals systems have varied, generally by increasing game numbers, to give more teams a chance of playing in the grand final. St.George-Illawarra being in the bottom eight for most of the last decade is a downer.