Origins a drag on the Comp

[titoelcolombiano]

2017 is criminally overlooked for heroic Queensland victories. It was supposed to be the end of the dynasty, but instead a raft of great Queensland stories got to play out in all their glory.

Queensland were comprehensively thrashed in game 1 at Lang Park. So Kevin Walters swung the axe on Myles, Lillyman, and Thaiday. Big calls on some serious warhorses.

At that point, the NSW media declared the dynasty was over. It was supposed to be an ignominious end, but instead they passed the torch while going out on top.

Thurston’s Game II performance is legendary — and was his last Origin ever. Played with a busted shoulder, barely able to lift his arm to make a tackle and still kicked the matchwinner from the sideline. Dragged them to victory.

We’re never going to be beaten back on home turf. Turned into a domination. Proved everything about Queensland is built on culture, in addition to sheer talent. Munster got a nice coming out party to boot.

Amazing series win, right up there.

Yeah good call.

You got me thinking about the NSW media too. They are way too quick to crow... be it calling the end of QLDs dynasty early, calling the start of a NSW dynasty after winning one series...

Even their individual players. Cleary was the greatest player ever at age 25 apparently and yet is still searching for his Origin moment. Whilst he's searching for it Dearden steps up in his first series as a starting Origin halfback and dominates.

NSW love to talk (mainly the media to be fair), QLD just get out there and play.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Very naive POV here bud.

It's 17 elite players v 17 elite players who all play in the NRL at clubs with roughly the same level of coaching etc. Player numbers are largely irrelevant

All else being equal, playing depth especially in key positions matters.

NSW: Cleary, Moses, Hynes, Reynolds
QLD: Dearden, DCE

NSW: Edwards, Tedesco, Turbo, Latrell
QLD: Ponga, Walsh, Hammer

NSW: Robson, Corasau, Cook
QLD: Grant, Hunt


A few injuries and QLDs cupboard of Origin experienced key position players is bare, NSW can just call up the next bloke. To dispute that is just denial. Injuries are a part of the game which is why it isn't just the straight 17 best from each state.

Also, you are going to produce more 'stars' than we do too as you have a deeper pool to pick from. To deny that is also denying reality.

 

[Bazal]

All else being equal, playing depth especially in key positions matters.

NSW: Cleary, Moses, Hynes, Reynolds
QLD: Dearden, DCE

NSW: Edwards, Tedesco, Turbo, Latrell
QLD: Ponga, Walsh, Hammer

NSW: Robson, Corasau, Cook
QLD: Grant, Hunt


A few injuries and QLDs cupboard of Origin experienced key position players is bare, NSW can just call up the next bloke. To dispute that is just denial. Injuries are a part of the game which is why it isn't just the straight 17 best from each state.

Also, you are going to produce more 'stars' than we do too as you have a deeper pool to pick from. To deny that is also denying reality.

I mean, that's pretty heavy cherry picking.

If you're going to call hacks or unfit wrecks like Hynes, Cook, Turbo, Fatrell et al Origin depth you should also include equal level hacks like Bongwater, Fogarty, Coggo etc for QLD

 

[Desert Qlder]

I mean, that's pretty heavy cherry picking.

If you're going to call hacks or unfit wrecks like Hynes, Cook, Turbo, Fatrell et al Origin depth you should also include equal level hacks like Bongwater, Fogarty, Coggo etc for QLD

Not making a strong point there, Latrell is considered a NSW star, Hynes has literally played Origin and doesn't have any fitness problems currently, and Drinkwater is a roach.

Anyway thanks for keeping this Origin thread going, loving having the chat on the main board celebrating the concept. Not sure it has swayed anyone your way though.

 

[Bazal]

Not making a strong point there, Latrell is considered a NSW star, Hynes has literally played Origin and doesn't have any fitness problems currently, and Drinkwater is a roach.

Anyway thanks for keeping this Origin thread going, loving having the chat on the main board celebrating the concept. Not sure it has swayed anyone your way though.

Huh. Maybe Bongwater was wishful thinking on my part tbh because then Loz could never pick him.

Fatrell is not a star at fullback, Hynes is as spineless as an actual roach, so the point stands otherwise.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

All else being equal, playing depth especially in key positions matters.

NSW: Cleary, Moses, Hynes, Reynolds
QLD: Dearden, DCE

NSW: Edwards, Tedesco, Turbo, Latrell
QLD: Ponga, Walsh, Hammer

NSW: Robson, Corasau, Cook
QLD: Grant, Hunt


A few injuries and QLDs cupboard of Origin experienced key position players is bare, NSW can just call up the next bloke. To dispute that is just denial. Injuries are a part of the game which is why it isn't just the straight 17 best from each state.

Also, you are going to produce more 'stars' than we do too as you have a deeper pool to pick from. To deny that is also denying reality.

lol Youve left out guys like Walker and Fogerty who can easily step up

Having a deeper playing pool doesnt mean more stars, it simply doesnt work that way. Have a look at Qlds dominant period and tell me with a straight face that it does

Im not the one denying reality

 

[Vee]

The definitive solution to the NRL’s Origin scheduling headache
By Troy Dodds - July 15, 2025, 14:57

Rugby league’s State of Origin series is over, Queensland have pulled New South Wales’ pants down again and normality returns to the NRL schedule.

But while Origin may be behind us, debate over how it should be scheduled and its impact on the regular club competition will certainly not go away.

But I have the solution. And I’ll be emailing a copy of this column across to Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo with an

To that in a moment though.

Part of the issue I’ve always had with finding a solution to the Origin conundrum is that I’ve never been totally convinced there’s something to find a solution for.

While clubs do suffer during this period and lose some of their stars for big games, the best team invariably wins the Premiership at the end of the year.

But I’ll accept the standard of club football over the Origin period certainly dips, and our attention becomes too divided.

So, the solution – the schedule the NRL should adopt from 2027 when we have an even number of teams again (only to blow it all up of course when Papua New Guinea enter the comp, though I suspect this will be delayed a number of seasons).

Bear with me on the ride.

Right now we have 27 rounds, with all clubs receiving three byes.

Under my plan, to be further known as Dodds Ball, we move to a 24 round competition with no byes.

All 18 teams play each other once, taking in 17 games, with the remaining seven games in a team’s schedule reserved for marquee match-ups like club rivalries and the like.

We halt the competition for three weeks in July, allowing State of Origin to be played over three consecutive Tuesday nights.

No Origin player is forced to miss a club game because the NRL is not playing in the weekends before Origin I, II or III.

The only back-up comes with players coming out of Origin III and returning to their clubs the following weekend, but moving Origin to Tuesday means the back-up is less intensive.

Broadcasters still get their mid-week sugar hit of Origin football, with the ratings and crowds unlikely to significantly differ from a shift out of Wednesday nights.

This plan gives players not taking part in Origin the chance for a full refresh in the middle of the season, and time to address any niggling injury concerns.

It also gives each Origin game clear air in terms of media presence and build up.

But what, I hear you say, about those three weekends with no football?

Surely it’s a free kick to the AFL? Surely the broadcasters won’t cop it?

Here’s where the next element of the plan comes in.

We launch the NRLW competition on the first weekend of July, giving it stand-alone status across marquee timeslots on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

And we continue that for three consecutive weekends, giving the women’s game a huge push and dedicated rugby league eyeballs across the weekend.

On the third weekend we could even move forward the NRLW Magic Round, to add more excitement around the competition.

The NRLW has increased enormously in popularity in recent years but the launch of the competition is mixed in with the NRL regular season plus Origin.

This would give the NRLW centre stage for three consecutive weekends, the biggest possible push we could give the game.

At a stretch, we could also schedule a mid-season Pacific test in that middle weekend, but I’ll leave that for Pete and Andy to sort out.

Keep in mind the broadcasters here are still getting the same number of games they were before (in fact, one extra game a weekend given the arrival of Perth).

The removal of the byes means the number of games delivered is not impacted.

Now the Dodds Ball plan isn’t finished yet.

We take advantage of this three week period to also create a dedicated trade window.

Sort out all those player swaps that happen at random times, ensuring they can only happen during this three weeks.

Top-line Origin players are rarely involved in such swaps so the representative period won’t be impacted by that, and clubs and players alike will have time to sort out all the bits and pieces that go with transfers.

It will stop the months of speculation we often deal with around player transfers and the wayward timing of some departures.

And there you have it.

Dodds Ball.

The season still starts the same way, and ends on the same weekend.

Fans are not robbed of seeing their favourite players turn out for their teams, the competition is not fractured by odd weekends and a flurry of byes.

There’s a bit of structure around who you play twice, and both Origin and the NRLW win out of the situation in having more focus with the main club competition put on ice.

Right, I’m off to solve the war in the Middle East. See you next week.


Troy Dodds

 

[ColdWetPanther]

The definitive solution to the NRL’s Origin scheduling headache
By Troy Dodds - July 15, 2025, 14:57

Rugby league’s State of Origin series is over, Queensland have pulled New South Wales’ pants down again and normality returns to the NRL schedule.

But while Origin may be behind us, debate over how it should be scheduled and its impact on the regular club competition will certainly not go away.

But I have the solution. And I’ll be emailing a copy of this column across to Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo with an

To that in a moment though.

Part of the issue I’ve always had with finding a solution to the Origin conundrum is that I’ve never been totally convinced there’s something to find a solution for.

While clubs do suffer during this period and lose some of their stars for big games, the best team invariably wins the Premiership at the end of the year.

But I’ll accept the standard of club football over the Origin period certainly dips, and our attention becomes too divided.

So, the solution – the schedule the NRL should adopt from 2027 when we have an even number of teams again (only to blow it all up of course when Papua New Guinea enter the comp, though I suspect this will be delayed a number of seasons).

Bear with me on the ride.

Right now we have 27 rounds, with all clubs receiving three byes.

Under my plan, to be further known as Dodds Ball, we move to a 24 round competition with no byes.

All 18 teams play each other once, taking in 17 games, with the remaining seven games in a team’s schedule reserved for marquee match-ups like club rivalries and the like.

We halt the competition for three weeks in July, allowing State of Origin to be played over three consecutive Tuesday nights.

No Origin player is forced to miss a club game because the NRL is not playing in the weekends before Origin I, II or III.

The only back-up comes with players coming out of Origin III and returning to their clubs the following weekend, but moving Origin to Tuesday means the back-up is less intensive.

Broadcasters still get their mid-week sugar hit of Origin football, with the ratings and crowds unlikely to significantly differ from a shift out of Wednesday nights.

This plan gives players not taking part in Origin the chance for a full refresh in the middle of the season, and time to address any niggling injury concerns.

It also gives each Origin game clear air in terms of media presence and build up.

But what, I hear you say, about those three weekends with no football?

Surely it’s a free kick to the AFL? Surely the broadcasters won’t cop it?

Here’s where the next element of the plan comes in.

We launch the NRLW competition on the first weekend of July, giving it stand-alone status across marquee timeslots on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

And we continue that for three consecutive weekends, giving the women’s game a huge push and dedicated rugby league eyeballs across the weekend.

On the third weekend we could even move forward the NRLW Magic Round, to add more excitement around the competition.

The NRLW has increased enormously in popularity in recent years but the launch of the competition is mixed in with the NRL regular season plus Origin.

This would give the NRLW centre stage for three consecutive weekends, the biggest possible push we could give the game.

At a stretch, we could also schedule a mid-season Pacific test in that middle weekend, but I’ll leave that for Pete and Andy to sort out.

Keep in mind the broadcasters here are still getting the same number of games they were before (in fact, one extra game a weekend given the arrival of Perth).

The removal of the byes means the number of games delivered is not impacted.

Now the Dodds Ball plan isn’t finished yet.

We take advantage of this three week period to also create a dedicated trade window.

Sort out all those player swaps that happen at random times, ensuring they can only happen during this three weeks.

Top-line Origin players are rarely involved in such swaps so the representative period won’t be impacted by that, and clubs and players alike will have time to sort out all the bits and pieces that go with transfers.

It will stop the months of speculation we often deal with around player transfers and the wayward timing of some departures.

And there you have it.

Dodds Ball.

The season still starts the same way, and ends on the same weekend.

Fans are not robbed of seeing their favourite players turn out for their teams, the competition is not fractured by odd weekends and a flurry of byes.

There’s a bit of structure around who you play twice, and both Origin and the NRLW win out of the situation in having more focus with the main club competition put on ice.

Right, I’m off to solve the war in the Middle East. See you next week.


Troy Dodds

I like the plan, but I would suggest there are 25 rounds; one game against each club and then the top 9 from the previous year play each other again, and the bottom 9. This is (similar) to what the NFL does to try to help the struggling clubs improve over time.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

lol Youve left out guys like Walker and Fogerty who can easily step up

Having a deeper playing pool doesnt mean more stars, it simply doesnt work that way. Have a look at Qlds dominant period and tell me with a straight face that it does

Im not the one denying reality

I said players with origin experience. But if you want to play that game, for every Fogerty and Walker there's a Katoa, Metcalf, Fainu and Galvin and that's not even mentioning Luai who could play 7 for the Blues if needed.

So, I'll be generous, let's say QLD has had a better side on paper for 15 of the years Origin has been played (very generous), you think that NSW having a better side the other 30 years disproves the point? A deeper playing pool at the elite level we are talking about is going to produce more high quality players.

I really can't see how you can continue to deny this. Four maroons would have made the Blues team this year and one of those four would have been on the bench.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I mean, that's pretty heavy cherry picking.

If you're going to call hacks or unfit wrecks like Hynes, Cook, Turbo, Fatrell et al Origin depth you should also include equal level hacks like Bongwater, Fogarty, Coggo etc for QLD

Read the post again, I listed players with origin experience to call on

 

[The Axe of Druss]

I said players with origin experience. But if you want to play that game, for every Fogerty and Walker there's a Katoa, Metcalf, Fainu and Galvin and that's not even mentioning Luai who could play 7 for the Blues if needed.

So, I'll be generous, let's say QLD has had a better side on paper for 15 of the years Origin has been played (very generous), you think that NSW having a better side the other 30 years disproves the point? A deeper playing pool at the elite level we are talking about is going to produce more high quality players.

I really can't see how you can continue to deny this. Four maroons would have made the Blues team this year and one of those four would have been on the bench.

All complete BS because Qlders absolutely HAVE to be seen as the underdogs despite evidence to the contrary.

The chip on your shoulder blinds you to reality. We get it

 

[titoelcolombiano]

All complete BS because Qlders absolutely HAVE to be seen as the underdogs despite evidence to the contrary.

The chip on your shoulder blinds you to reality. We get it

What specifically was BS there? You've made no argument.

How many maroons make the Blues squad this year in your eyes before the series?

Also, is your argument that Queensland have the same talent level with a smaller playing pool? Or is it that we have better talent with a smaller playing pool?

We do have a chip on our shoulder, that's what makes Origin great. But no one can argue that we, more often than not don't have the same talent level on paper.

 

[Reflector]

Can't disagree about the Broncos, massive underachievers... but so are NSW.

I'd take a good look at the two squads from 2020 and 1995 and 2025 and most years outside of the 8 in a row

1995- as people have mentioned here and elsewhere before, the breakout of the SL war played a considerable part. It served as a big distraction for Gus and a lot of the NSW players. Gus later conceded he should've managed that series a lot better. @King hit can go into more detail about that series. In 1996 with both sides SL-aligned players back, a stronger Blues team whitewashed a stronger Maroons team. A series where Gus epitomised "pick and stick" for eternity by keeping the exact same 17 for all 3 games.

2020- the same guy who wouldn't go near the Qld coaching gig back in 1995 after Wally got sacked, stepped up this time. If he really believed that Maroons team were as bad as a lot of people make out, I doubt he would've risked his reputation on them. 6 months later a stronger Qld line-up got belted (with all 3 games in Qld) under Slater's predecessor.

2025- a guy who looks like he's got the makings of being a genuinely decent coach, out-coached a guy who is clearly out of his depth. Much the same NSW squad 12 months previous looked the better team for 30 minutes in Game 1 despite being down a man, racked up a record halftime score in neutral territory in Game 2 and then won the game (and the mind-games) in Game 3. If Laurie Loser stays on for 2026 I could give you pick the margins for all 3 games because I've seen this show before. Saying that, I didn't think NSW would win in 2014 so there's always room for a surprise...

It's telling how a team's fortunes (even at Origin level where apparently the coach is just a talking head) change so notably with little more than a change of the coach.

 

[Reflector]

2017 is criminally overlooked for heroic Queensland victories. It was supposed to be the end of the dynasty, but instead a raft of great Queensland stories got to play out in all their glory.

Queensland were comprehensively thrashed in game 1 at Lang Park. So Kevin Walters swung the axe on Myles, Lillyman, and Thaiday. Big calls on some serious warhorses.

At that point, the NSW media declared the dynasty was over. It was supposed to be an ignominious end, but instead they passed the torch while going out on top.

Thurston’s Game II performance is legendary — and was his last Origin ever. Played with a busted shoulder, barely able to lift his arm to make a tackle and still kicked the matchwinner from the sideline. Dragged them to victory.

We’re never going to be beaten back on home turf. Turned into a domination. Proved everything about Queensland is built on culture, in addition to sheer talent. Munster got a nice coming out party to boot.

Amazing series win, right up there.

I remember after Game 1 the NSW players repeating that "it's not over yet" and "there's still a job to do". My thinking was (with Game 2 in Sydney and Daley having let the 2013 series slip away) he wouldn't allow it to happen again. Subjectively, I wanted Daley gone after the 2016 series. It was clear by then he wasn't the guy to take NSW forward but his job was saved by a miracle try in Game 3 right on the death after NSW enjoyed the kind of one-sided officiating you only otherwise see when the Storm play in Melbourne.

Game 2 2017 NSW dominated the first half and should've been up 16-0 (if Hayne doesn't ball-hog and try taking the glory for himself and instead passes out to Morris who was unmarked to score in the corner). 10-0 lead at halftime, the talk should've been about momentum, the fact they weren't two converted tries clear, finish the job in the second half etc etc etc

Instead in the second half, from about the 50th minute mark NSW tried to defend a 10 point lead. Nobody ran at JT with his busted shoulder. It was dumb football. Dumb dumb dumb. Like Wests Tigers dumb. Qld were really just...there. They hobbled over the line and did nothing different from the first half.

Qld were clinical in Game 3 but by then Daley had clearly lost the dressing room. That series was a NSW loss over anything else. I'd go so far as to say if they sacked Daley in 2016 (which they should've done) and Freddy took over, NSW get the job done in Game 2 and at least Game 3 would've been in the balance with 10 minutes to go. Freddy only really lost the plot in 2023.

 

[Reflector]

Do they though? There might just be a large number of Sydney expats in WA. No one is choosing the Blues if they don't have to by birth - lol

80% of the tickets for Game 2 were from W.A locals.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

What specifically was BS there? You've made no argument.

Probably because you are choosing to ignore it

How many maroons make the Blues squad this year in your eyes before the series?

Irrelevant

Also, is your argument that Queensland have the same talent level with a smaller playing pool? Or is it that we have better talent with a smaller playing pool?

My argument is the size of the pool has next to no bearing on the talent of the players within it

We do have a chip on our shoulder, that's what makes Origin great. But no one can argue that we, more often than not don't have the same talent level on paper.

Again, "on paper talent" is irrelevant

 

[titoelcolombiano]

1995- as people have mentioned here and elsewhere before, the breakout of the SL war played a considerable part. It served as a big distraction for Gus and a lot of the NSW players. Gus later conceded he should've managed that series a lot better. @King hit can go into more detail about that series. In 1996 with both sides SL-aligned players back, a stronger Blues team whitewashed a stronger Maroons team. A series where Gus epitomised "pick and stick" for eternity by keeping the exact same 17 for all 3 games.

2020- the same guy who wouldn't go near the Qld coaching gig back in 1995 after Wally got sacked, stepped up this time. If he really believed that Maroons team were as bad as a lot of people make out, I doubt he would've risked his reputation on them. 6 months later a stronger Qld line-up got belted (with all 3 games in Qld) under Slater's predecessor.

2025- a guy who looks like he's got the makings of being a genuinely decent coach, out-coached a guy who is clearly out of his depth. Much the same NSW squad 12 months previous looked the better team for 30 minutes in Game 1 despite being down a man, racked up a record halftime score in neutral territory in Game 2 and then won the game (and the mind-games) in Game 3. If Laurie Loser stays on for 2026 I could give you pick the margins for all 3 games because I've seen this show before. Saying that, I didn't think NSW would win in 2014 so there's always room for a surprise...

It's telling how a team's fortunes (even at Origin level where apparently the coach is just a talking head) change so notably with little more than a change of the coach.

What's the point you're making though? QLD had the better side in 1995, 2020 and 2025?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Probably because you are choosing to ignore it

Irrelevant

My argument is the size of the pool has next to no bearing on the talent of the players within it

Again, "on paper talent" is irrelevant

So the fact that only 4 Maroons make the Blues squad is irrelevant, but playing depth has nothing to do with available talent. Classic... Don't change mate

 

[titoelcolombiano]

80% of the tickets for Game 2 were from W.A locals.

Where did the majority of the other 20% come from? How many "locals" are expats NSWelshmen? What's the evidence that the born and bred WA people prefer the Blues?

 

[Reflector]

What's the point you're making though? QLD had the better side in 1995, 2020 and 2025?

I thought it was fairly evident with the last sentence?

I'm happy at this point for anybody else following this discussion to tell me if they also struggled to understand the point or think I suggested that QLD had the superior sides in those years picked...