State of origin 2025

[martielang]

I thought Cleary was really good. Goal kicking aside, his kicking game was strong (particularly in the first half, second half became a bit less precise).

Defence was very strong and he was very connected to Martin and Critta (for me showed how much easier it is to defend on an edge when the middles are winning/the ref is allowing a lot of leeway in the ruck).

I really liked his attack. In a game dominated by not much space outside of the work of Haas (and to a lesser extent Yeo, Chrichton (A) and Barnett), the soace NSW did find was on the inside and outside of Cleary. He played so direct; he played like an old Isiah Katoa. And when the game was there to be won in the 15 minutes before the break he was clinical.

Sione Katoa*

 

[betcats]

I thought Nath had a pretty solid all round game, but those misses were always going to get people talking shit.

The game itself was pretty terrible. How good is latrell he was the only spark out there.

 

[betcats]

I thought Nath had a pretty solid all round game, but those misses were always going to get people talking shit.

The game itself was pretty terrible. How good is latrell he was the only spark out there.

 

[age.s]

Thought Cleary and Edwards were both solid. Some of the scores Cleary has been given are ridiculous, cops it from the tall poppy brigade.

The FG attempt typified this. It looked a bit wobbly but the reaction in commentary was derisive. I think it was Johns that said it had nearly hit the corner flag. Then they show the replay and it had missed by a foot at best. No one piped up with a correction, least of all Johns.

 

[Pomoz]

The FG attempt typified this. It looked a bit wobbly but the reaction in commentary was derisive. I think it was Johns that said it had nearly hit the corner flag. Then they show the replay and it had missed by a foot at best. No one piped up with a correction, least of all Johns.

On the Levels podcast, Willie Mason pointed out that Lomax missed one nearly in front. Then he listed Grant, DCE, Holmes, Cleary, Munster, Moses as the best and most elite tactical/penalty kickers in the NRL and they all kicked shockers at times. He said the game ball was not a standard Steeden, but one made especially for SOO and the teams weren't allowed to practice with them.

Nathan is a 91% kicker this season. Lomax is 88% and they were both shanking kicks like a drunken English soccer player taking a penalty against Germany.

A poor decision from the NRL that definitely effected both teams.

 

[maple_69]

Critta was phenomenal and for sure a top 5 player right now. I do think him playing in the Penrith system which values patience over all would never have put him up in lights like being in he big dog at another team.

I thought Cleary was good. Kicked well, looks far more decisive and aggressive in defence the last few games and was the key playmaker in basically all of NSWs points.

Edwards looked pretty confident connecting with the team, made some great defensive plays but was shit under the high ball. To’o was ok but still looks 80%. Martin also ok but nothing special. Yeo was his normal 8.5. He’s the best forward of the generation and one hell of a leader.

 

[Pomoz]

I think Martin is very misunderstood. He plays at such an intense level. He is not a soft tackler like Yeo, he smashes people. He kick chases like a maniac. Munster found himself under intense pressure the whole time.

My mate works for Qantas and he reckons when Munster was flying back to Melbourne, he refused to get in his seat unless the stewardess checked Martin wasn't hiding in the overhead locker....

 

[Oldpanther86]

It'd be interesting to know why our guys are so bad catching kicks.

 

[Girds89]

It'd be interesting to know why our guys are so bad catching kicks.

Ridiculous. Edwards is very safe under the high ball.. as is too.

The only ones edwards put down were when he had a flying nanai over the top of him trying to bat the ball back..

99% of fbs arent catching a bomb flat footed or off a shortened run up when they have a 110kg flying bloke at top speed who is solely just trying to get a hand on it backwards to disrupt you.

Its an extremely difficult take.. teams do it on purpose now to fbs.. just get down there jump into them and make a half arsed play at the ball..

How many uncontested bombs do you see too or edwards ever drop? Maybe 1 or 2 a whole season

 

[Oldpanther86]

Ridiculous. Edwards is very safe under the high ball.. as is too.

The only ones edwards put down were when he had a flying nanai over the top of him trying to bat the ball back..

99% of fbs arent catching a bomb flat footed or off a shortened run up when they have a 110kg flying bloke at top speed who is solely just trying to get a hand on it backwards to disrupt you.

Its an extremely difficult take.. teams do it on purpose now to fbs.. just get down there jump into them and make a half arsed play at the ball..

How many uncontested bombs do you see too or edwards ever drop? Maybe 1 or 2 a whole season

Edwards has been bad for it this year including errors when playing the ball but that one is besides the point and don't try to tell me we aren't terrible at contesting kicks/short drop outs. It's a huge weakness for us specifically as a team.

 

[Chins]

Edwards has been bad for it this year including errors when playing the ball but that one is besides the point and don't try to tell me we aren't terrible at contesting kicks/short drop outs. It's a huge weakness for us specifically as a team.

Its hard to tell if some people even watch our games

 

[Phantom V]

The FG attempt typified this. It looked a bit wobbly but the reaction in commentary was derisive. I think it was Johns that said it had nearly hit the corner flag. Then they show the replay and it had missed by a foot at best. No one piped up with a correction, least of all Johns.

The biggest blight on State of Origin is having to listen to 9 commentary. It’s just awful and cringe worthy

 

[Oldpanther86]

Its hard to tell if some people even watch our games

Don't trust your lying eyes!

 

[martielang]

Edwards has been bad for it this year including errors when playing the ball but that one is besides the point and don't try to tell me we aren't terrible at contesting kicks/short drop outs. It's a huge weakness for us specifically as a team.

We were poor a couple of seasons ago. I'd bet we'd be close to top of the percentages for defending short drop outs / kick offs. We've mastered tapping the ball back.

 

[chrisD]

To'o has always been short and needed protecting. Edwards on a bad run at fielding high balls at present but so is most of the league. Coates and Nanai are probably 2 out of the 4 best in the game at contesting them. QLD got those kicks very right (was all they had).

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

The biggest blight on State of Origin is having to listen to 9 commentary. It’s just awful and cringe worthy

I wish there was a way using say a fox remote that you could press a button and just hear the crowd noise.

They did that in the cricket some years ago. It was great.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

I think Martin is very misunderstood. He plays at such an intense level. He is not a soft tackler like Yeo, he smashes people. He kick chases like a maniac. Munster found himself under intense pressure the whole time.

My mate works for Qantas and he reckons when Munster was flying back to Melbourne, he refused to get in his seat unless the stewardess checked Martin wasn't hiding in the overhead locker....

I call him the Barmedman Bruiser. (the village near where he was raised......it basically has a pub and not much else) https://www.blandshire.nsw.gov.au/Visitor-Information/Towns-and-Villages/Barmedman

 

[Girds89]

Edwards has been bad for it this year including errors when playing the ball but that one is besides the point and don't try to tell me we aren't terrible at contesting kicks/short drop outs. It's a huge weakness for us specifically as a team.

You were talking about guys catching kicks now youve changed the narrative haha..

Anyway stats say your wrong. Hes sitting about 4th among the regular fbs for avg errors per game. Tracey, hammer and teddy have very slightly less errors on avg per game.. hes way better than a lot of the rest... turbo ponga walsh etc all more than 2 a game hes at 1 a game. Teddy 0.9. Tracey hammer are about 0.65..

Hes form.has been slightly down but to suggest like you did that our backs cant catch is plain wrong..edwards has been safe as houses for years 5 years. Renowned as the most reliable fb in the game for 5 years.

Ill say again its extremely difficult to catch a bomb when you have a 110kg 6'4" second rower charging at you with really the soul purpose of disrupting you.. nanai and co arent trying yo catch it. They are just tryinh to knock it back or put the fb off.

It is soo soo difficult in those situations..your on a hiding to nothing.

Theres a real tactic this year since the nrl has come down hard on blockers..

I actually think we are one of the best clubs at defending drop outs. We lose very little and knock the ball backwards alot to someone waiting there..

Weve done a lot of avg stuff this year and we have a lot of issues but this ismt one of them haha..

Defence and lack of quality depth is the issue atm.

 

[Oldpanther86]

You were talking about guys catching kicks now youve changed the narrative haha..

Anyway stats say your wrong. Hes sitting about 4th among the regular fbs for avg errors per game. Tracey, hammer and teddy have very slightly less errors on avg per game.. hes way better than a lot of the rest... turbo ponga walsh etc all more than 2 a game hes at 1 a game. Teddy 0.9. Tracey hammer are about 0.65..

Hes form.has been slightly down but to suggest like you did that our backs cant catch is plain wrong..edwards has been safe as houses for years 5 years. Renowned as the most reliable fb in the game for 5 years.

Ill say again its extremely difficult to catch a bomb when you have a 110kg 6'4" second rower charging at you with really the soul purpose of disrupting you.. nanai and co arent trying yo catch it. They are just tryinh to knock it back or put the fb off.

It is soo soo difficult in those situations..your on a hiding to nothing.

Theres a real tactic this year since the nrl has come down hard on blockers..

I actually think we are one of the best clubs at defending drop outs. We lose very little and knock the ball backwards alot to someone waiting there..

Weve done a lot of avg stuff this year and we have a lot of issues but this ismt one of them haha..

Defence and lack of quality depth is the issue atm.

I didn't change anything I said he's been bad for it this year but there is no confidence in this team contesting kicks. Your Edwards love is clouding your judgement.

 

[Chins]

You were talking about guys catching kicks now youve changed the narrative haha..

Anyway stats say your wrong. Hes sitting about 4th among the regular fbs for avg errors per game. Tracey, hammer and teddy have very slightly less errors on avg per game.. hes way better than a lot of the rest... turbo ponga walsh etc all more than 2 a game hes at 1 a game. Teddy 0.9. Tracey hammer are about 0.65..

Hes form.has been slightly down but to suggest like you did that our backs cant catch is plain wrong..edwards has been safe as houses for years 5 years. Renowned as the most reliable fb in the game for 5 years.

Ill say again its extremely difficult to catch a bomb when you have a 110kg 6'4" second rower charging at you with really the soul purpose of disrupting you.. nanai and co arent trying yo catch it. They are just tryinh to knock it back or put the fb off.

It is soo soo difficult in those situations..your on a hiding to nothing.

Theres a real tactic this year since the nrl has come down hard on blockers..

I actually think we are one of the best clubs at defending drop outs. We lose very little and knock the ball backwards alot to someone waiting there..

Weve done a lot of avg stuff this year and we have a lot of issues but this ismt one of them haha..

Defence and lack of quality depth is the issue atm.

Pissweak middles are the real issue. A bunch of blokes watching their captain kill himself and thinking "nah I can't be f**ked"