2025 Origin 3 - Wed 9 Jul - NSW 12-24 QLD @ Accor

[Stinkfinger]

If the NSWRL elect to keep Daley on for 2026 I might make other plans on those 3 Wednesday nights. You could probably find something else to do, just check the score occasionally and be able to guess (with near accuracy) how the game actually plays out.

They should've sacked him at the end of the 2016 series and didn't. They paid for that with the 2017 debacle and I am convinced under Freddy NSW would've won that series.

The NSWRL made the right call in sacking Freddy after 2023 when it became obvious he'd lost the dressing room. In comes Madge and instantly (like under Freddy in 2018) we see notable results.

How I feel about last night really depends on what follows from this. I understand they needed somebody to take over when Madge got the Broncos job, but the NSWRL need to show they've learned from past mistakes and cut ties with everybody responsible for last night. We already know that playing group are capable of much better under different leadership, so clearly the fault lies with the leadership. It absolutely reeked of sub-standard preparation.

NSW didn't sack Fittler, they offered him one more year and he told them to shove it.

 

[Reflector]

NSW didn't sack Fittler, they offered him one more year and he told them to shove it.

That's right, I remember that now. I probably remembered it as such because it felt like a diplomatic way of pushing him out of the door.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Yeah i dont think Bellamy is suited to origin either

What his record 3/12 when he has been involved for 4 series losses.

Plus i don't think he is willing to give up the weaknesses of his storm players.

Ill tell you what its reinforced again why Wayne Bennett shits all over Bellamy as the greatest modern day coach of alltime.

Bennett has won comps at 2 x clubs, International stuff with Australia & NZ, Origin series in multiple eras including the 2020 series with a backline of Corey Allan, Edrick & Brenko Lee, Phil Sami.

Compare that to Bellamy who has never left his comfort zone at Melbourne and won nothing without Cam Smith.

Bennett over Bellamy every day of the week when it comes to greatness.

Bennett also got England to a WC Final where they only lost by 6 to Australia

 

[Saxon]

To be fair Lomax is the best aerial target in the game, I mean are you suggesting they should have been trying to get To’o to try out jump Holmes?

1. No he's not. The guy who he was jumping against just might be.
2. A large part of the role of a coach is to come up with tactics which take advantage of your strengths and the opposition's weaknesses. Kicking to X isn't either. When it was obvious that kicking to Coates wasn't working maybe it would have made sense to swap Lomax to the other side and let him outjump Val?

 

[aqua_duck]

1. No he's not. The guy who he was jumping against just might be.
2. A large part of the role of a coach is to come up with tactics which take advantage of your strengths and the opposition's weaknesses. Kicking to X isn't either. When it was obvious that kicking to Coates wasn't working maybe it would have made sense to swap Lomax to the other side and let him outjump Val?

Coates and Lomax are equally good in the air, Qld swapped Coates to that wing just to negate Lomax even though Coates had a distinct advantage over To’o. I don’t think kicking for Lomax was necessarily a tactical mistake given the attacker has the benefit of being able to run and jump, the issue was none of the kicks were either high enough or close enough to the try line and it became too predictable where qld were able to protect Coates in any case

 

[Captain Apollo]

Hasler would be my pick, similar personality as Madge and won’t need an ‘advisor’.
Daley has shown time and time again he doesn’t have a feel for the momentum and how to use his players properly. He made a big song and dance about Max King and how King was this guy who did all the 1% but how do you expect someone like that to put their best foot forward if you’re only going to give them a 25 minute stint at the start of the game? Yeo has looked great at origin as a running middle forward playing 55-60 minutes but for some idiotic reason Daley decided to turn him back into a 80 minute ball playing forward. Martin has shown to be someone who you throw out there to rip and tear and go hard but when you leave him out there for 67 minutes straight he has to pace himself and won’t offer that same energy

Daley would have been better off spelling Yeo and putting Watson on at lock instead of at dummy half in p[lace of Robson. That way you could have exploited his strengths, which is his speed and footwork, without sacrificing decent service from dummy half. Also you can give Yeo a rest to so he has more juice for later in the game. You could then swing Watson to dummy half when Robson needed a spell.

That is all on the coach.

 

[Captain Apollo]

I caught part of the replay yesterday and noticed an incident in the second half which even the commentators ignored, and so did the match officials. In the tackles leading up to (iirc) Qld's last try, Mitchell tackled the Hammer who had made a half break in a strong tackle, which resulted in Latrell at the end dumping Hammer on his back - it was close (but not) a dangerous tackle (as in potential spear). Hammer resented it, and looking up from the ground right at Latrell kicked him in the groin with the studs of his boot.

Unsurprisingly Latrell stayed down on the ground for ages. How the hell did the match officials and buner miss what, to me, looked like out and out foul play from Hammer?!

 

[icewind]

I caught part of the replay yesterday and noticed an incident in the second half which even the commentators ignored, and so did the match officials. In the tackles leading up to (iirc) Qld's last try, Mitchell tackled the Hammer who had made a half break in a strong tackle, which resulted in Latrell at the end dumping Hammer on his back - it was close (but not) a dangerous tackle (as in potential spear). Hammer resented it, and looking up from the ground right at Latrell kicked him in the groin with the studs of his boot.

Unsurprisingly Latrell stayed down on the ground for ages. How the hell did the match officials and buner miss what, to me, looked like out and out foul play from Hammer?!

To be honest, Latrell was playing like his balls were ascended anyway.

 

[Desert Qlder]

I caught part of the replay yesterday and noticed an incident in the second half which even the commentators ignored, and so did the match officials. In the tackles leading up to (iirc) Qld's last try, Mitchell tackled the Hammer who had made a half break in a strong tackle, which resulted in Latrell at the end dumping Hammer on his back - it was close (but not) a dangerous tackle (as in potential spear). Hammer resented it, and looking up from the ground right at Latrell kicked him in the groin with the studs of his boot.

Unsurprisingly Latrell stayed down on the ground for ages. How the hell did the match officials and buner miss what, to me, looked like out and out foul play from Hammer?!

Suck shit Latrell. Cokhead all night that's the least he deserved.

 

[Belza1]

Mike and Zara Tindall were there cheering on Qld and Billy. ( Princess Anne's daughter)

 

[Reflector]

I actually prefer a bit of spice myself...

And I said pretty much the same thing in the match day thread after last years' decider:

Slater shows signs of being a good coach: meticulous, focuses on getting the basics right- but he's got a glass jaw. Got rattled last year by the mildest push-back from Madge. Then this year, used the tragic death of his predecessor to deflect because somebody not even associated with the NSW team labelled him a grub in an off-handed comment.

If Billy was speaking off the cuff you could cut him some slack. Everybody says stuff in the heat of the moment they regret. But he had time to think about his response, and respond. Considering his own father died at the start of this year, maybe he could've considered the Green children at the very least before saying what he did? Sure he apologised, but I'd willingly bet he only did it because of the backlash rather than any sense of conscience.

 

[Chins]

I actually prefer a bit of spice myself...

And I said pretty much the same thing in the match day thread after last years' decider:

Slater shows signs of being a good coach: meticulous, focuses on getting the basics right- but he's got a glass jaw. Got rattled last year by the mildest push-back from Madge. Then this year, used the tragic death of his predecessor to deflect because somebody not even associated with the NSW team labelled him a grub in an off-handed comment.

If Billy was speaking off the cuff you could cut him some slack. Everybody says stuff in the heat of the moment they regret. But he had time to think about his response, and respond. Considering his own father died at the start of this year, maybe he could've considered the Green children at the very least before saying what he did? Sure he apologised, but I'd willingly bet he only did it because of the backlash rather than any sense of conscience.

Slater was one of the dirtiest players of the modern era, a shit bloke really.

 

[Reflector]

Slater was one of the dirtiest players of the modern era, a shit bloke really.

I despised Cam Smith more than probably any other player over the past decade, but he seems kind of reasonable these days by comparison. If he ever took over as Maroons coach I imagine he'd at least he diplomatic and professional.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Slater was one of the dirtiest players of the modern era, a shit bloke really.

Yep. Very much a "look at me" type of personality.

 

[Chins]

Yep. Very much a "look at me" type of personality.

Blokes like Liam Martin are merkins on the field but fantastic guys off it but I don't get that feeling from Billy......

 

[Reflector]

Yep. Very much a "look at me" type of personality.

He reeks of narcissism. One of those people who can't believe they are ever in the wrong about anything and that if you ever call them out then they're the bad person or a hater.

Years ago Fletch and Hindy did that sketch where (after a NSW series win and Tallis had bagged the Blues) they set up a cut-out of Tallis in Pitt St in Sydney and encouraged the general public to vent. Unbeknownst to them, Gordie was hiding behind it and would appear in person while the person was delivering a spray at him. To his credit, Gordie took it well and comes out of it looking a lot better than some of the keyboard warriors who turn to stone when they see him literally in front of them.

I could imagine Cam Smith doing something like this, but not Billy. He'd take it too personally. How dare you- a member of the general public- not think Billy Slater is anything but a good guy. Hating people is what caused 9/11 so maybe you should think about that next time, mate?

 

[6 more kfc buckets]

I've heard from many reliable sources that Billy is a kind, sweet gentleman who possesses the qualities of a champion.

 

[aqua_duck]

Daley would have been better off spelling Yeo and putting Watson on at lock instead of at dummy half in p[lace of Robson. That way you could have exploited his strengths, which is his speed and footwork, without sacrificing decent service from dummy half. Also you can give Yeo a rest to so he has more juice for later in the game. You could then swing Watson to dummy half when Robson needed a spell.

That is all on the coach.

100%, Yeo has been a 55-60 minute running middle the last 4-5 games and it’s the most effective role for him but for some reason Daley decided no

 

[Belza1]

Slater was one of the dirtiest players of the modern era, a shit bloke really.

You couldn't meet a nicer person than Billy. He always makes time for kids,fans and does plenty of behind scenes charity stuff. I am sure most players are pretty decent off the field.

 

[Chins]

100%, Yeo has been a 55-60 minute running middle the last 4-5 games and it’s the most effective role for him but for some reason Daley decided no

I'm glad Yeo is getting a fair deal from most fans.
Nathan Cleary deserves 90% of the shit hes getting though.