Set of Six: Is Queensland's reign finally coming to an end?
New South Wales delivered one of their most dominant State of Origin performances in years to win the first game 28-4 last night. Is Queensland’s time up, or were they just missing JT?
How good were NSW?
Full credit to Laurie Daley and his team for turning back the clock and putting in an old-school Origin effort.
NSW had stars all across the paddock. Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco put all the contract nonsense behind him and put in an Origin performance for the ages, tearing it up on attack and defending like Gandalf staring down a Balrog.
Prodigal son Jarryd Hayne was the lynchpin of NSW’s 2014 series victory and he was massively influential again in Game 1. Andrew Fifita played with the kind of controlled fury that made it seem like someone told he was playing against a team of junior referees.
Good to be back playing #Origin eh @JarrydHayne !? #NRL pic.twitter.com/UE4e40XKsb
— NRL (@NRL) May 31, 2017
The much-maligned Mitchell Pearce played with the sort of calm determination that told you he was very aware of the torrent of dog molestation memes that would be uncorked if he overplayed his hand and was responsible for a NSW loss. And debutant Nathan Peats performed two very important tasks in his first match in the sky blue – providing efficient service from dummy half to a dominant pack and not being Robbie Farah.
NSW’s biggest challenge now is to avoid getting ahead of themselves – if the last ten years have taught us anything its that Queensland isn’t dead until the body has been decapitated and the head drop-kicked over the black dot.
Where to now for Queensland?
The main question for Queensland entering the match was how they would cope with the injury-enforced loss of Origin stalwarts Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott and Greg Inglis.
In previous editions Queensland have relied on their ability to drag legendary performances out of their lesser lights, confident that whoever pulled on the Maroon jersey would grow another leg to match their additional head. This time it seemed like Queensland had finally run out of magic and were confronted with the unfortunate fact that a team filled with out-of-form and over-the-hill players played less like Cinderella and more like pumpkins. In Game 1 it seemed like Queensland had reached a critical mass of mediocre players, their true Origin stars too few in number and unable to draw great performances out of the lesser lights.
Cooper Cronk chats to Darren Lockyer after FT!#Origin#NRL pic.twitter.com/5epjVKpMIj
— NRL (@NRL) May 31, 2017
Justin O’Neill’s Origin career looks cooked and a host of forwards, including Nate Myles, Aiden Guerra and Jacob Lillyman, were well off the pace. It would be unlike Queensland to make wholesale changes for a must-win match in Sydney but based on last night’s performance if the Banana Benders don’t try something radical then they can kiss the series goodbye.
In Game 1 Queensland looked like an ageing side desperately in need of an injection of youth. They will be hesitant to rely on Origin rookies in such a crucial clash but the spongey performance of the forwards and the gaping holes in the centres demands some new faces and an added dash of aggression. Coen Hess and Jarrod Wallace would add some starch to the bench and Cameron Munster and Valentine Holmes must come into calculations for the centres. Surely Billy Slater will be recalled to the custodian role and Johnathan Thurston is odds on to make the biggest comeback since Alfie. Queenslanders love an overwrought comeback story almost as much as Wayne Bennett loves Darius Boyd.
Why does the NRL continue to allow the scheduling of Origin to derail the NRL Premiership?
It’s been said before but the scheduling of Origin really needs to be re-assessed to stop it derailing the NRL season. The last round perfectly illustrated the absurdity of the impact of State of Origin on the integrity of the Premiership. The Broncos had their six-game win streak snapped at the hands of the previously woeful Warriors, largely attributable to the fact that they were missing nearly half their starting line-up. The resurgent Roosters showdown with the enterprising Raiders shaped as a blockbuster clash but ended up a damp squib due to the absence of crucial players.
It seems ludicrous that teams are forced to contest matches worth competition points with squads missing key members due to the NRL’s scheduling. While injury and suspension are matters of luck inherent to any sport, the scheduling of the Origin period punishes the best-performing sides. It strips them of them of their best players and forcing them to compete against other teams not necessarily disadvantaged in the same fashion. It is a simple principle of any fairly organized competition that each match should be of equal value in determining the best team, but in the NRL this is simply not the case.
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If the NRL is hamstrung by broadcasting arrangements and can’t move all three Origin games to standalone weekends (creating the least amount of disruption to the NRL competition) then perhaps another solution would be viable – offering salary cap discounts to teams for players involved in Origin. If Cameron Smith misses three games for Melbourne and has limited involvement in another three then surely the Storm are due some sort of compensation? If they received dispensation for their players’ Origin involvement then they could use extra salary cap space to bolster their squad in other ways. Obviously this assumes that the NRL doesn’t tacitly endorse an unfair system that allows mediocre teams to make up ground on the ladder at the expense of the better teams during the Origin period, creating an artificial boost that gives more clubs a chance of playing finals football – and increasing ratings and ticket sales at the business end of the competition.
Are Penrith contenders or pretenders?
After an underwhelming start, the chic pre-season Premiership pick Penrith find their season at a crossroads. Currently sitting in tenth and lying two points adrift of the top eight the Panthers have found their season cruelled so far by a rash of injuries, form slumps and off-the-field issues. In retrospect the Panthers were primed to underwhelm – a young team packed with talent facing massive expectations but short on big game experience. Crucially, they lack a coach with a track record of coaxing a team through such growing pains – at this point it seems like Anthony Griffin might belong to that middle class of mediocre NRL coaches who look the part but seem to struggle to add much to their team’s success.
Now Bryce Cartwright is out with a long term knee injury, prompting a re-shuffle of the backline, a move that might see Matt Moylan emulate Darren Lockyer moving from fullback to assume his destiny as a ball-playing standoff. One positive aspect of the Panthers’ form slump is that their squad is largely unaffected by Origin – if they had played up to their potential then they could well be missing the likes of Matt Moylan, James Tamou, Trent Merrin and maybe even Nathan Cleary and Tyrone Peachey.
SAUCE IS BACK! ?? See the Panthers side to face the Bulldogs: https://t.co/vuxM1vWBB9#pantherpride ? pic.twitter.com/GuFPcPsK4R
— Penrith Panthers ??? (@PenrithPanthers) May 30, 2017
Crucially for the Panthers only two of their next nine opponents currently have winning records with the added bonus of facing no top four sides in that span either. If Penrith are going to save their Premiership aspirations they will need to make their move in the next two months – fortunately they have the schedule to do it.
Are we overdue for a Bunker blow-up?
It feels like a while since there has been a match-defining Bunker breakdown. Is it possible that the NRL has ironed out the kinks with the much-maligned video ref system? Or is the Bunker just biding its time, waiting for the optimal opportunity to make a truly braindead decision that turns the tide of a crucial match? It would be just like the NRL to blow most of the goodwill built up by a cracking Origin match by ending a game on a truly inscrutable Bunker decision – I’m picking the Bulldogs-Panthers game to be a likely candidate for a match to be ruined by Bunker incompetence. It’s been a good while since we’ve enjoyed a proper Des Hasler blow-up as well and the Bunker seems tailor made to make Dessy see red. Bonus points if he can work a Harry Potter reference into his meltdown.
Match of the Round: Roosters vs Broncos
A sort of minor sequel to Origin, this match will see two top five teams square off to see who can recover from their respective Origin induced stumbles last round. A whopping 11 players are scheduled to back up in this, with the Broncos the worst affected with six players lacing their boots after playing on Wednesday. It’s always difficult to predict how the Origin hangover will impact player performance but the Broncos are well practiced in dealing with the phenomenon.
The Roosters are favoured as the home team but it’s hard to see the Broncos meekly submitting after last week’s loss to the Warriors – master coach Wayne Bennett will be hell bent on ensuring that their six-match winning streak isn’t succeeded by a multi-match losing streak. This has all the hallmarks of a Saturday evening classic – two rep-studded sides with premiership aspirations looking to fight off the Origin hangover and snag two vital competition points. Look for the Roosters to continue the week of Queensland misery and narrowly jag the win.
PICKS (Last Week 1-3, Season Record 56-36): Storm over Knights / Eels over Warriors / Dragons over Tigers / Roosters over Broncos / Cowboys over Titans / Raiders over Sea Eagles / Panthers over Bulldogs
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments