Alan Shore
First Grade
- Messages
- 9,390
As Origin time is shortly around the corner again, all the media focus on rugby league is concerning it. Three games. State vs State. Mate against mate. It is the spectacle of the Australian rugby league calendar, and some even say the standard of footy is higher and more exciting than that in Tests (if only for Australia's overwhelming domination of the world level). This is the only area of representative rugby league that is in order.
City-Country was supposed to be a selection trial for Origin. If it was, Johns would be lucky to have the halfback spot, Timmins would not be anywhere near Origin 5/8th, Peachey would be fullback and Minichiello where he belongs on the wing, and Phil Bailey wouldn't even have been considered.
This isn't a criticism of Phil Bailey. I am a Sharks supporter, and in his brief two years at the club he shows passion for the Shark which rivals that of recently departed local junior Dean Treister. Phil has had an awesome season this year and Origin is a just reward. But it really does make a mockery of the so-called 33 man squad.
Looking at both teams, you can see players who don't deserve to be anyhere near the team. The selections of the Turnstile Duo; Timana Tahu and Matt Gidley reeks of Newcastle bias. Ryan O'Hara is miles ahead of Josh Perry on form while Buderus is lucky to hold onto his starting spot with Craig Wing hot on his tails. Ricketson is average at best and everyone knows Timmins isn't a 5/8th, nor is Minichiello a fullback. Peachey was crucified for ONE bad performance. People can say that there are no other 5/8ths but Anasta's ego over-inflating doesn't count for "every other 5/8th". What about Mark McLinden and Preston Campbell? Two of the most in-form players in the competition in the two most in-form teams.
Then you have Queensland. Completely ignoring the sensational form of Penrith's Rhys Wesser and the NRL's leading pointscorer so far this season, Clinton Schifcofske. Matt Sing deserves his spot on the Wing, but again the Queenslanders too have selected players out of their position by putting Robbie O'Davis on the wing. He's hardly been in-form since returning from his drugs suspension. The Roosters' Chris Flannery is also on the bench, where Wesser or Schifcofske would make a much greater impact. Gee is past it and a dynamic forward like Nutley, Beattie or Tookey should have been selected.
You thought Origin teams were selected on form? Think again. Phil Gould still seems to have a problem with Super League clubs, hence him ignoring Canterbury, Cronulla and Canberra in particular. Wayne Bennett doesn't want to admit he is wrong by recalling Schifcofske after dropping him last year. Everything is political in the game. Preston Campbell, Rhys Wesser, Clinton Schifcofske, Mark McLinden and David Peachey are prime examples of form being irrelevant.
So the question remains: Why don't we see exciting players like Peachey, McLinden, Schifcofske, Wesser, Campbell and co in Origin jerseys? The simple sad fact is, Origin selectors refuse to take risks. They prefer having players who play it safe all the time. That means no risk-taking, no taking advantage of an opportunity when it's seen, immediately ruling out the above. No matter how well a player is playing, they won't be selected. Why? They are 'scared' of them having an off-night. To be frank, the possibility, or risk as the selectors like to call it, of these players having a 'bad night' is infinitely better than being almost dead certain that players will be turnstiles and do nothing (read Perry, Tahu, Gidley & Timmins). Selecting McLinden, Wesser etc is well worth the risk.
Thankfully, there is a faint glimmer of hope. With Graham Murray winning every match he has coached City in, he's sure to be the next NSW coach. This guy is fair dinkum and is prepared to 'take the risk' and select this type of player. It might even be soon; especially if NSW lose again this year (as we expect the to do) and Gould spits the dummy again.
State of Origin the most exciting rugby league showpiece in the world? Maybe, but it has a hell of alot more potential to realise. Our showpiece could be so much more.
City-Country was supposed to be a selection trial for Origin. If it was, Johns would be lucky to have the halfback spot, Timmins would not be anywhere near Origin 5/8th, Peachey would be fullback and Minichiello where he belongs on the wing, and Phil Bailey wouldn't even have been considered.
This isn't a criticism of Phil Bailey. I am a Sharks supporter, and in his brief two years at the club he shows passion for the Shark which rivals that of recently departed local junior Dean Treister. Phil has had an awesome season this year and Origin is a just reward. But it really does make a mockery of the so-called 33 man squad.
Looking at both teams, you can see players who don't deserve to be anyhere near the team. The selections of the Turnstile Duo; Timana Tahu and Matt Gidley reeks of Newcastle bias. Ryan O'Hara is miles ahead of Josh Perry on form while Buderus is lucky to hold onto his starting spot with Craig Wing hot on his tails. Ricketson is average at best and everyone knows Timmins isn't a 5/8th, nor is Minichiello a fullback. Peachey was crucified for ONE bad performance. People can say that there are no other 5/8ths but Anasta's ego over-inflating doesn't count for "every other 5/8th". What about Mark McLinden and Preston Campbell? Two of the most in-form players in the competition in the two most in-form teams.
Then you have Queensland. Completely ignoring the sensational form of Penrith's Rhys Wesser and the NRL's leading pointscorer so far this season, Clinton Schifcofske. Matt Sing deserves his spot on the Wing, but again the Queenslanders too have selected players out of their position by putting Robbie O'Davis on the wing. He's hardly been in-form since returning from his drugs suspension. The Roosters' Chris Flannery is also on the bench, where Wesser or Schifcofske would make a much greater impact. Gee is past it and a dynamic forward like Nutley, Beattie or Tookey should have been selected.
You thought Origin teams were selected on form? Think again. Phil Gould still seems to have a problem with Super League clubs, hence him ignoring Canterbury, Cronulla and Canberra in particular. Wayne Bennett doesn't want to admit he is wrong by recalling Schifcofske after dropping him last year. Everything is political in the game. Preston Campbell, Rhys Wesser, Clinton Schifcofske, Mark McLinden and David Peachey are prime examples of form being irrelevant.
So the question remains: Why don't we see exciting players like Peachey, McLinden, Schifcofske, Wesser, Campbell and co in Origin jerseys? The simple sad fact is, Origin selectors refuse to take risks. They prefer having players who play it safe all the time. That means no risk-taking, no taking advantage of an opportunity when it's seen, immediately ruling out the above. No matter how well a player is playing, they won't be selected. Why? They are 'scared' of them having an off-night. To be frank, the possibility, or risk as the selectors like to call it, of these players having a 'bad night' is infinitely better than being almost dead certain that players will be turnstiles and do nothing (read Perry, Tahu, Gidley & Timmins). Selecting McLinden, Wesser etc is well worth the risk.
Thankfully, there is a faint glimmer of hope. With Graham Murray winning every match he has coached City in, he's sure to be the next NSW coach. This guy is fair dinkum and is prepared to 'take the risk' and select this type of player. It might even be soon; especially if NSW lose again this year (as we expect the to do) and Gould spits the dummy again.
State of Origin the most exciting rugby league showpiece in the world? Maybe, but it has a hell of alot more potential to realise. Our showpiece could be so much more.
