Its so close you can almost feel it. Origin III is here and Phil Gould said it today, this could be the biggest one of all.
The Blues seem to have the most concerns injury wise with a 20 man squad named this afternoon with Stuart retaining all of the team from Game II.
Keith Galloway gets a call up into the squad with a chance to make his debut if players are ruled out. He gets the nod over Tom Learoyd-Lahrs as a reward for his fantastic form. Glenn Stewart earns a recall to the squad and will play if Beau Scott succumbs to injury.
Justin Hodges is all but a certainty to play his first Origin game in two years and Dave Taylor could face a nervous wait with the judiciary.
Now the teams have been sorted, lets fast forward to Wednesday night. It will be your typical Origin game, but there is so much more at stake. Darren Lockyer's last game will bring out the best in Queenslanders and they will be extremely tough to beat. They will be a lot better side than the one we saw in Game II. There is no more motivation needed to win this game of football and to continue 'the streak'.
New South Wales, well they dont need much motivation to get up for the game either. They know what they have to do to win at Lang Park, they came so close only one month ago. They will continue to play an expansive game which will play into their hands with the dry conditions in Brisbane.
Ricky Stuart has also said this group of men have exceeded his expectations with the commitment and desire shown to win back interstate supremacy.
Its almost like a classic Heavyweight Boxing match.
Queensland- the powerful, well oiled machine who dont think they can win they expect to. Under the reign of Meninga, its become a culture so deeply ingrained that winning football games is as automatic as brushing your teeth in the morning.
New South Wales- The challengers, on the trail and so close to winning back the shield. The past five years have tested the character and resilience of this football team. At times they have passed the test but more often then not they have failed in the big moments. Now the tide has turned, you can sense that anybody can win and its a talking point with every league fan.
Only ten more days and NSW will face their biggest test and more than ever they need to pass. If they fail it will be another case of 'here we go again'.
GO THE BLUES!!!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Issues In The Game.
Another week and there seems to be more and more controversies creeping into the great game of Rugby League.
The question on everyone's lips is whether or not representative players should stand down for 2 club games instead of one to better prepare for the decider in State Of Origin?.
In a perfect world the answer is yes. But is club success more important that NSW winning a State Of Origin Series?. Ricky Stuart would say yes. This was highlighted when he asked the St George-Illawarra and Manly players to consider standing down from the round 16 Monday night game which will see at least half his team in action and risking injury.
Had the Sharks lost today, Paul Gallen said he would have given a lot of thought to standing down from his club duties with Cronulla.
With half the NSW team expected to play on a Monday night 9 days before the game with the other half of the team already in camp. This will mean that Ricky Stuart wont have half his team to train until the Thursday or Friday before the game. If game two of the series was the most important game in a couple of seasons, then the decider could arguably the biggest clash in the history of Origin such is the importance of the game.
Its very easy to see where Ricky Stuart is coming from but its almost certain the clubs will not let their rep players stand down. The NRL clubs are responsible for paying the players bills and making them the players that they are today. Not to mention their team mates who rep players owe a lot of their personal success to.
A solution possibly, could this be the way of the future?
Like Cricket, the NRL could adopt a top 25 or 30 player central contract system that is linked with their club and respective state. With the Independant Commission set to come into action within the next year, I think this is an idea that could be looked at for the future.
Stand alone State Of Origin was trialled in 2001 on a Sunday night and it was quickly axed due to ratings and other circumstances. Wednesday night Origin works and I dont think that the fans should be robbed of a whole weekend of club football.
People will argue that the quality of Rugby League suffers when rep stars are missing. This might be true but it gives clubs a chance to blood young players and give them some experience which can only be a benefit in the long run. Had the Dragons had all their rep stars available, would Alex Mckinnon have had a chance to score a double on debut.
There is many ways of looking at this issue and I'm sure that changes will be made in the coming years to the representative schedule.
The question on everyone's lips is whether or not representative players should stand down for 2 club games instead of one to better prepare for the decider in State Of Origin?.
In a perfect world the answer is yes. But is club success more important that NSW winning a State Of Origin Series?. Ricky Stuart would say yes. This was highlighted when he asked the St George-Illawarra and Manly players to consider standing down from the round 16 Monday night game which will see at least half his team in action and risking injury.
Had the Sharks lost today, Paul Gallen said he would have given a lot of thought to standing down from his club duties with Cronulla.
With half the NSW team expected to play on a Monday night 9 days before the game with the other half of the team already in camp. This will mean that Ricky Stuart wont have half his team to train until the Thursday or Friday before the game. If game two of the series was the most important game in a couple of seasons, then the decider could arguably the biggest clash in the history of Origin such is the importance of the game.
Its very easy to see where Ricky Stuart is coming from but its almost certain the clubs will not let their rep players stand down. The NRL clubs are responsible for paying the players bills and making them the players that they are today. Not to mention their team mates who rep players owe a lot of their personal success to.
A solution possibly, could this be the way of the future?
Like Cricket, the NRL could adopt a top 25 or 30 player central contract system that is linked with their club and respective state. With the Independant Commission set to come into action within the next year, I think this is an idea that could be looked at for the future.
Stand alone State Of Origin was trialled in 2001 on a Sunday night and it was quickly axed due to ratings and other circumstances. Wednesday night Origin works and I dont think that the fans should be robbed of a whole weekend of club football.
People will argue that the quality of Rugby League suffers when rep stars are missing. This might be true but it gives clubs a chance to blood young players and give them some experience which can only be a benefit in the long run. Had the Dragons had all their rep stars available, would Alex Mckinnon have had a chance to score a double on debut.
There is many ways of looking at this issue and I'm sure that changes will be made in the coming years to the representative schedule.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Who Said Origin Was Dead
I hate to say it with so much Origin football still to play but I Told You So!!!
It was "The Night To Fight" and the Blues did New South Wales Proud. 82, 000 fans showed up to see a contest in the truest sense of the word and they werent dissapointed. Two teams fought for what they believed in and on the night the better team won. NSW for the first time in 2 years defeated the Maroons.
I said before the concept of Origin might have been questioned if Queensland won in Sydney, But once again we have a decider.
Remember: There is no finish line in Origin.
Gallen said all week he would lead from the front and look every bit a prop. He did that and more. His performance was nothing short of phenominal. He ran the ball more than 20 times for a whopping 234 metres. It will be up there with one of the most damaging performances in New South Wales history alongside the likes of Andrew Johns in 2005 and Anthony Watmough in 2009.
I predicted that the Blues would play to the strengths of their back row. They did and it worked so a big pat on the back goes out to the coach Ricky Stuart. It was the variety on the edges and in the middle that got them home.
Lewis was outstanding once he came onto the field. Scored a try and looked dangerous with every touch of the ball. His biggest moment in the game came when the Maroons were looking like breaking the heart of the blues and scoring another come from the dead try. Lewis saves the game as he comes from nowhere and hammers Cooper Cronk on the last tackle to give possession back to his team. As Gus would say, "it was an Origin play".
Watmough did what he does best. He ran very well on the edges and looked to promote the football with every touch. He tackled very well and most importantly kept his discipline in line.
Beau Scott played a majority of the game with a perforated ear drum and was solid as a rock. There wasn't a moment where he looked like a liability. His commitment in doing the hard work for his team is second to none.
Greg Bird again just keeps proving why he should be playing Origin football. Although not his best game by his standards, it was a work-man like performance. Continually showed up to get the Blues out of their half.
Ben Creagh looks strong again. He played most of the game up front when Tim Mannah was off the field and did a great job with Gal. You know what you get every time Ben Creagh turns up to play.
Enough about the back row.
Pearce's defence was simply awesome. He proved once again he belongs in the Origin arena.
Minichiello on return with a try to top it all off was the 'Mini' of old. Safe as a house and never too far from the ball.
Hopoate is to be congratulated for an outstanding debut. Uate continues to Flourish.
Finally. For anyone who believes Kurt Gidley should not be in this team, think again. He comes onto the field and starts at hooker. In the last half hour of the game he was playing at left centre and packing in at lock in the scrum. He might not be the best player in any one position but guys like him are invaluable to a teams success.
Cattledog!!!
Bring on Game 3.
It was "The Night To Fight" and the Blues did New South Wales Proud. 82, 000 fans showed up to see a contest in the truest sense of the word and they werent dissapointed. Two teams fought for what they believed in and on the night the better team won. NSW for the first time in 2 years defeated the Maroons.
I said before the concept of Origin might have been questioned if Queensland won in Sydney, But once again we have a decider.
Remember: There is no finish line in Origin.
Gallen said all week he would lead from the front and look every bit a prop. He did that and more. His performance was nothing short of phenominal. He ran the ball more than 20 times for a whopping 234 metres. It will be up there with one of the most damaging performances in New South Wales history alongside the likes of Andrew Johns in 2005 and Anthony Watmough in 2009.
I predicted that the Blues would play to the strengths of their back row. They did and it worked so a big pat on the back goes out to the coach Ricky Stuart. It was the variety on the edges and in the middle that got them home.
Lewis was outstanding once he came onto the field. Scored a try and looked dangerous with every touch of the ball. His biggest moment in the game came when the Maroons were looking like breaking the heart of the blues and scoring another come from the dead try. Lewis saves the game as he comes from nowhere and hammers Cooper Cronk on the last tackle to give possession back to his team. As Gus would say, "it was an Origin play".
Watmough did what he does best. He ran very well on the edges and looked to promote the football with every touch. He tackled very well and most importantly kept his discipline in line.
Beau Scott played a majority of the game with a perforated ear drum and was solid as a rock. There wasn't a moment where he looked like a liability. His commitment in doing the hard work for his team is second to none.
Greg Bird again just keeps proving why he should be playing Origin football. Although not his best game by his standards, it was a work-man like performance. Continually showed up to get the Blues out of their half.
Ben Creagh looks strong again. He played most of the game up front when Tim Mannah was off the field and did a great job with Gal. You know what you get every time Ben Creagh turns up to play.
Enough about the back row.
Pearce's defence was simply awesome. He proved once again he belongs in the Origin arena.
Minichiello on return with a try to top it all off was the 'Mini' of old. Safe as a house and never too far from the ball.
Hopoate is to be congratulated for an outstanding debut. Uate continues to Flourish.
Finally. For anyone who believes Kurt Gidley should not be in this team, think again. He comes onto the field and starts at hooker. In the last half hour of the game he was playing at left centre and packing in at lock in the scrum. He might not be the best player in any one position but guys like him are invaluable to a teams success.
Cattledog!!!
Bring on Game 3.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sport in the eye of an expert (or so he thinks): Origin II "The Night To Fight"
Sport in the eye of an expert (or so he thinks): Origin II "The Night To Fight": "We are now just 48 hours away from not only one of the biggest games of the year, but potentially the biggest game in the last 20 years. It ..."
Origin II "The Night To Fight"
We are now just 48 hours away from not only one of the biggest games of the year, but potentially the biggest game in the last 20 years. It might sound crazy but here's why.
1995, 2001 and 2006 the concept of Origin was labelled dead. Everytime it was due to NSW dominance and Queensland not having a big enough "talent pool' to dip into. History shows that Fatty's Maroon's won 3-0 in 1995 and Origin was back. 2001, Tallis and Lockyer lead 10 debutants with their old mate Alfie Langer to win back the trophy. 2006, the Blues had won the past 3 series and Queensland hadnt won a series outright in 5 years. NSW look to have the game wrapped up before Lockyer turns the tide for the Maroons and wins back the bragging rights. Its something they havent given up in the last 5 years.
If Queensland make it 6 series in a row on wednesday night, I dare say there will be calls that the concept isnt 'dead', but a forgone conclusion.
There is more than enough talent in the Blues team to win the game and force the series to a deciding match. Forget the fact that we have 2 specialists front rowers in the team with only 1 hour of origin experience between them. Tim Mannah and Trent Merrin are a look at the future of the NSW front row. Experience they lack yes, but they will be well prepared and have the rest of the team ready to do the hard yards with them.
Its no secret the Blues have an abundance of talented backrow forwards. Football games are won when teams play to their strengths. So on that diagnosis, picking all of the best backrow forwards we have to offer seems to be the logical thing to do.
Anthony Watmough might have been a contentious call but no one can deny he is ready made for Origin football and tougher than a $2 steak.
Greg Bird is in my view the difference in NSW being in a close game and being blown out of the water by the Maroons.
Paul Gallen- Runs hard, tackles hard, nothing short of inspirational.
Ben Creagh- Talented ball player and line runner on the left edge who improves with every game he plays.
Beau Scott- Tough, uncompromising and gets through a mountain of work. If that isnt 'Origin' I dont know what is.
Luke Lewis- Mr Fix-it, plays anywhere, whole hearted performer, strong ball runner.
All of the Backrowers are brilliant players and as you can see have a lot of different attributes. NSW will utilise all of these guys, along with a potentially devastating backline to get them over the line.
Desperate times call for desperate and that time is wednesday night. There comes a time when something has to give and the momentum swings. There also comes a time when NSW think that "gee, Queensland arent that good, we can beat them".
THAT TIME IS NOW
1995, 2001 and 2006 the concept of Origin was labelled dead. Everytime it was due to NSW dominance and Queensland not having a big enough "talent pool' to dip into. History shows that Fatty's Maroon's won 3-0 in 1995 and Origin was back. 2001, Tallis and Lockyer lead 10 debutants with their old mate Alfie Langer to win back the trophy. 2006, the Blues had won the past 3 series and Queensland hadnt won a series outright in 5 years. NSW look to have the game wrapped up before Lockyer turns the tide for the Maroons and wins back the bragging rights. Its something they havent given up in the last 5 years.
If Queensland make it 6 series in a row on wednesday night, I dare say there will be calls that the concept isnt 'dead', but a forgone conclusion.
There is more than enough talent in the Blues team to win the game and force the series to a deciding match. Forget the fact that we have 2 specialists front rowers in the team with only 1 hour of origin experience between them. Tim Mannah and Trent Merrin are a look at the future of the NSW front row. Experience they lack yes, but they will be well prepared and have the rest of the team ready to do the hard yards with them.
Its no secret the Blues have an abundance of talented backrow forwards. Football games are won when teams play to their strengths. So on that diagnosis, picking all of the best backrow forwards we have to offer seems to be the logical thing to do.
Anthony Watmough might have been a contentious call but no one can deny he is ready made for Origin football and tougher than a $2 steak.
Greg Bird is in my view the difference in NSW being in a close game and being blown out of the water by the Maroons.
Paul Gallen- Runs hard, tackles hard, nothing short of inspirational.
Ben Creagh- Talented ball player and line runner on the left edge who improves with every game he plays.
Beau Scott- Tough, uncompromising and gets through a mountain of work. If that isnt 'Origin' I dont know what is.
Luke Lewis- Mr Fix-it, plays anywhere, whole hearted performer, strong ball runner.
All of the Backrowers are brilliant players and as you can see have a lot of different attributes. NSW will utilise all of these guys, along with a potentially devastating backline to get them over the line.
Desperate times call for desperate and that time is wednesday night. There comes a time when something has to give and the momentum swings. There also comes a time when NSW think that "gee, Queensland arent that good, we can beat them".
THAT TIME IS NOW
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