Set of Six: Is it time for Queensland to Bring Back Billy?
Queensland seemingly angered the rugby league gods by leaving Billy Slater out of Origin 1 – do they have any other option than to bring him back for the must-win Origin 2?
Can any team outside the eight make a finals push?
It’s not quite high noon for those teams currently outside the eight but the spectre of their season clinging onto ‘mathematical probability’ looms pretty large. Already the fans of a host of teams including the Knights, Tigers, Bulldogs and Warriors will have their calculators at the ready, desperately banging away trying to figure out if there is still life in their seasons.
The @Storm remain the ladder leaders following #NRL Round 13, with the @Cronulla_Sharks, @NRL_Dragons & @SydneyRoosters in the Top 4. pic.twitter.com/x6enoG1Jmd
— NRL (@NRL) June 5, 2017
In terms of teams currently in the eight only Parramatta seem vulnerable to be overtaken by those teams below them on the ladder – if the Eels can’t figure out how to integrate new acquisition Mitchell Moses into their line-up then they might find themselves on the outside of the finals picture. For the teams outside the eight only the Panthers and the Raiders look likely to challenge for a finals spot. If they are to make a run then they’ll need to make the most of the rest of the Origin period to put some pressure on the teams above them.
Who will put their hand up for Queensland selection?
Perhaps the team with the most on the line this round is Queensland. Coach Kevin Walters is under the pump after their first up loss and the Canetoads face the unenviable task of scoring a series-levelling victory on the road. The Queensland pack was desperately in need of some added fire and aggression but there aren’t any overwhelmingly obvious choices for reinforcements.
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Jarrod Wallace and Coen Hess have been popular suggestions, but it’s a big call to ask a couple of rookies to come in and have a big impact in a crucial match. Hess definitely looks like a future Origin star but its massive ask for someone with fewer than 25 NRL games to play a pivotal role in a must-win Origin match. A less splashy move might be to opt for Cowboys veterans Ethan Lowe and Gavin Cooper, a couple of players who at least have a Premiership title under their belts.
Will Queensland recall Origin legend Billy Slater?
The other big question facing Queensland this round is whether they recall Origin stalwart Billy Slater and what impact this might have on other spots in their backline. The decision to overlook Slater for Origin 1 was contentious when it happened and heavily criticised after Queensland’s loss – it was almost as if the decision to leave out the totemic Storm custodian had cruelled Queensland’s karma.
"Mum found this photo taken after my NRL debut in 2003. #nicenecklacebill"
? @RyanHoffman12 #NRL pic.twitter.com/qWCC79zDcJ
— NRL (@NRL) June 6, 2017
If Slater is included it seems likely that Justin O’Neill will drop out and Dane Gagai will slide into his centre position, a move that should shore up the defensive woes that plague Queensland’s three-quarter line in Game 1. The other option for Queensland is to continue to exclude Slater in favour of bringing in Kangaroo Valentine Holmes on the wing allowing Gagai to shift into centre – a move that might pay similar dividends to recalling Slater but would risk angering the Origin gods by ignoring Slater’s storied career.
Is Paul McGregor the rugby league Lazarus?
St George Illawarra Dragons coach Paul McGregor has pulled off one of the great Lazarus acts, signing a two-year contract extension only a few months after being short odds to be the first coach fired this season. Many had picked the Dragons to be off the pace for a finals spot but they find themselves firmly in the top four behind only both of last year’s grand finalists.
Paul McGregor has re-signed as coach of the @NRL_Dragons until the end of the 2019 #NRL season.https://t.co/PN7iJpJaAn#NRL pic.twitter.com/ftyuaGXuzx
— NRL (@NRL) June 8, 2017
The key issue that saw McGregor’s detractors call for his head was the Red V’s turgid offense. In a spectacular turnaround this year they have the most potent attack in the comp. In many ways McGregor’s success and subsequent contract extension is a testimony to the power of persisting with a coach even when the results aren’t coming – it’s often easier to throw the coach overboard than give someone the chance to fully implement their vision. In league, as in life, sometimes patience pays dividends.
Does James Maloney deserve a new contract?
Watching younger (and less accomplished) halves such as Ben Hunt, Mitchell Moses, Shaun Johnson and Luke Brooks sign outsized deals under the newly-inflated salary cap it’s understandable to see why Kangaroo and multiple premiership winner James Maloney wants a new deal. At age 30 it seems likely that Maloney won’t hit the open market in a position to take advantage of new market value for halves so his only way to receive his fair due is to agitate for an upgrade. This sort of thing tends to aggravate old heads who like to spout things like “you were happy enough when you signed it” which overlooks the fact that clubs rip up deals or offload players whenever it suits.
The career of a rugby league player is painfully short and they have to make the most of it while they can – Maloney came up the hard way, toiling at multiple clubs before getting his first consistent crack at first grade with the Warriors. He later won a comp with the Roosters only to be moved on to the Sharks in favour of other shinier free agency prizes only to help lead the Sharks to their maiden Premiership last season. While money certainly plays a part in his dissatisfaction surely there is part of Maloney that just wants to be wanted – despite his whole-hearted effort and on field success Maloney has never been a club’s first choice. Maybe the Sharks will see sense and show Maloney a little love.
Match of the Round: Panthers vs Raiders
While the grand final re-match might be the more tantalising match-up on paper, the showdown in Bathurst features two underachieving teams desperate to snag the two competition points in the run to the finals. Both teams had aspirations of making deep finals runs but currently sit outside the eight – if they are to live up to pre-season expectations then they will both need to start racking up some wins soon.
Plenty of ? as the Panthers trained at Carrington Park this morning ? School visits this afternoon! #pantherpride ? pic.twitter.com/6En5rtGIHH
— Penrith Panthers ??? (@PenrithPanthers) June 8, 2017
The Raiders face a tough slate of upcoming games but might get lucky if their top four opponents are riddled with Origin defections. The Panthers might have turned their season around with their thumping win over the Bulldogs, with the positional shift of Matt Moylan into stand-off proving to be the sort of season-altering move that could push the Panthers into the top eight. Penrith will be keen to prove that last week’s strong showing wasn’t a fluke – look for Moylan to have another massive performance while the Raiders will try to dominate up front with their big forward pack.
Comments on RugbyPass
Farcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
61 Go to comments