Gus, Ivan, Robbo and JD: How the coaching brains trust can give NSW a new Origin identity

State of Origin was created for Queensland. For decades before, the interstate contests had been horribly lopsided, as those currently playing in the Sydney competition routinely thrashed their weaker neighbours.

In an effort to keep Queensland relevant and competitive, they came up with State of Origin.

A change to the eligibility rules allowed players to be selected for the state they were originally from, rather than their current state of residence.

This allowed the Maroons to pick the likes of Arthur Beetson and Kerry Boustead, who had left Brisbane to try their hand in Sydney.

From that very first encounter at Lang Park in front of over 33,000 rabid fans, Queensland embraced the underdog tag. Up against a formidable NSW team, the Maroons breathed fire into a dormant fixture.

The moment Beetson traded blows with his Parramatta teammate Mick Cronin, the Queensland Origin narrative was born – and it endures to this day.

But if you scratch beneath the surface of this tiresome trope, you’ll find that the mythical Maroon magic that gets spoken about in hushed tones is not entirely as it seems.

Let’s take the concept of loyalty. Pick and stick. There are first grade footballers, and then there are Origin players. The Maroons have dined out on this propaganda for decades, when the reality is that they often struggled to find 17 quality Queenslanders.

Is it loyalty when you select the same blokes game after game because there aren’t any better options? Should picking and sticking be lauded as some feat of mateship when no one else is putting their hand up for selection?

More painful still than the fabled Queensland spirit is the degree to which NSW have bought into it. Instead of creating our own Origin narrative, we just do whatever Queensland does, only much, much worse.

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Brad Fittler’s last two series are a prime example. In Game 1 of the 2022 campaign, Freddy inexplicably dropped an in-form Josh Addo-Carr for the more vertically blessed Daniel Tupou. Why? Because Queensland picked tall wingers.

After losing that series and copping a stream of criticism for team selections, Fittler recalled Addo-Carr this year despite indifferent club form. Why? Loyalty. It’s what Queensland would have done. Addo-Carr went on to play two of his poorest games for the Blues, both of which New South Wales lost.

When people say that New South Wales don’t get State of Origin, they’re right. We don’t. Because it was created for Queensland. But the time has come for change. After four decades of playing by their rules, it’s time for the Blues to create our own Origin narrative.

So, what strengths could New South Wales rugby league capitalise on? Two things – talent and resources. We have more of both.

It’s not just in terms of players. Across storied clubs like the Panthers, Rabbitohs, Eels, Roosters, Bulldogs and Raiders, we have access to some of the greatest coaching minds in the business, but due to petty politics and club rivalries, those resources remain under-utilised.

Instead, we appoint coaches with limited NRL experience, surround them with blokes who have even less coaching experience, and expect things to just fall into place. As Fittler has clearly proved, having superior players doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to use them.

Fittler and his brains trust have taken a very simplistic approach to Origin – Penrith are the best team, so let’s pick Penrith players to play Panthers football. Queensland quickly figured out that rushing out of the line and pressuring our playmakers stifles the attack. Three years later, we’re still waiting for Fittler to roll out Plan B.

Several years ago it was unilaterally decided that the role of the modern Origin coach is a full-time gig. Billy Slater embodies this fallacy like no other. Rumour has it that Slater was locked in his basement during summer pouring over film of Queensland players. Dry that one out and you could fertilise my front lawn.

For all of the talk of the Queensland team imbibing the resilient spirit of those impacted by natural disasters and Slater busting out his Zulu phrasebook, it’s time for a little perspective. Queensland won the first game of the series after the Blues capitulated, and they won Game II against a New South Wales team missing their four best players.

So, what’s the answer? Hiring a club coach didn’t work. Hiring a former Blues great didn’t work. Based on the names being thrown around, such as the Johns brothers, Jason Ryles and Paul McGregor, there doesn’t seem to be a new plan on the horizon.

Here’s a crazy idea – try something different. Let’s finally take advantage of the vast playing and coaching talent at our disposal and create our own Origin legacy.

Just picture this scenario. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary takes control of the defence. He has engineered the best defence in the NRL over the past four seasons, so he might have something to offer.

Assisting Ivan would be Roosters coach Trent Robinson, who, despite his team’s indifferent season, still boasts the ones of the best red zone defences in the competition.

Trent Robinson. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

And why not model our attack on the top attacking sides. Crazy, right? For Game I we could have Jason Demetriou piloting the South Sydney system, Game II could see Brad Arthur roll out his Parramatta game plan, and Ivan could lead the Panther approach for Game III.

Taking it one step further, why not revolve the players with the coaches? With Demetriou in charge, Latrell Mitchell, Damien Cook, Cody Walker and Cameron Murray would be selected. Then Clint Gutherson and Mitch Moses might enter for Game II. Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Dylan Edwards and Isaah Yeo would then bring it home for Game III.

If injury strikes, you’ve got the Cowboy trio of Scott Drinkwater, Chad Townsend and Reece Robson on standby.

The constant shifting of attacking philosophies would make defending the Blues a more difficult exercise, and rotating players would limit the need for preparation. In his five-game coaching career Billy Slater has apparently cemented himself as the second coming of Jack Gibson, so let’s at least make it challenging for him.

Des Hasler could show the team a few set pieces and trick plays, Todd Payten could provide guidance on how to turn a losing program around, and Ricky Stuart could use his man management skills to help the team bond and unite. With so many resources at our disposal, the possibilities are endless.

With this many cooks in the kitchen, you’d certainly need a firm hand to navigate the team through a long campaign.

Someone with Origin coaching experience, a person that can command respect from players and coaches alike. Sounds like a job for one man: Phil Gould.

Phil Gould. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Gus would be the perfect person to act as the public face of this New South Wales setup. Playing silly buggers with the media and trolling hapless fans on Twitter has become second nature to him these days, so locking horns with The Daily Telegraph would be child’s play.

But this is New South Wales rugby league. If there was a Latin phrase for self-sabotage, it would be emblazoned on our logo. The concept of the Rabbitohs and the Roosters working together is farcical.

The idea of Parramatta teaming up with Canterbury is laughable. Ricky working with Robbo? Ivan working with Gus? Sounds like pure insanity.

Perhaps, but insanity is using the same failed approach year after year and expecting a different result. After defeat in 14 of the last 18 Origin series, what do we have to lose?