The Gaz column is a good read - he might be the best writer the Telecrap has lol. Insightful, well written and even a sense of humour
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...to-being-in-form/story-e6frext9-1225889606603
OF COURSE I would like to play Origin for NSW again - I just have to learn to catch the ball again. Seriously though, I was fortunate enough to be out at Olympic Park on Wednesday night for the third game of this year's Origin series, speaking at a corporate event with Lote Tuqiri.
It brought me right back to reality about how much work I have to do if I ever want to get out of the corporate suite and out on the field again. The players these days are playing such good, consistent football. Without question, I'd like to wear the sky blue jumper again - but I've only played one game for the Dragons.
There's a long way to go.
The function I attended allowed a few curly questions to be thrown at me from the floor and one guest asked: "Sorry to put you on the spot, but should players returning from rugby union be allowed to play for their state or country?"
That's a decision to be made at management level, but I don't think that would solve any problems with people leaving the code.
The biggest endorsement the game can receive is when a player returns.
Ultimately they still have to be playing well enough to deserve representative honours. And they aren't coming back just for those jumpers anyway. They are coming back to play the game.
The biggest thing people are crying out for is for a salary cap system that rewards loyalty to long-serving players in the game.
For example, Steve Menzies should have never retired in Super League. What the fans don't want is a system that allows players to up their price to stop them allegedly changing codes.
I was also asked about this current Queensland side, because I was playing against them when they started this five-year Origin reign.
I was certainly playing the night when they won Origin III in Melbourne in 2006, when poor old Brett Hodgson threw that pass with seconds remaining that handed Darren Lockyer the try that clinched the series.
It's started from there for them and I have to admit I never envisaged they would win as many series as they have.
While this Queensland side is undoubtedly one of the greats, NSW did themselves no favours by making too many errors on Wednesday night. With Origin footy, if you put yourself under pressure for just 10 minutes early in the match - as the Blues did - you feel it by about the 72nd and 73rd minutes.
Where to from here for NSW?
A lot has been said and written about how many changes have been made to the side.
You can look at so many factors but, at the end of the day, if a coach wants to coach a certain way, they should pick the players who will match his style.
I know Ricky Stuart copped some criticism for picking players out of form during his time as coach of rep teams, but he would always get the best out of them. He'd get them up for the occasion.
Personally, I found him to be great when he coached NSW in 2005 and Australia from 2006-08.
Few can lift you for a game like Sticky can. He could be the perfect man for the job for NSW next year, if the circumstances are right.
ON another note, Darren Lockyer and Petero Civoniceva have questioned how the Dragons have signed me under the salary cap. I have enormous respect for both those guys, and it's good to see two of the most senior players in the game caring about where it's headed.
But they can only question so far.
If a player wants to go to a club for less, ultimately it is his decision.
As long as you abide by the salary cap rules, which are black and white, and Ian Schubert signs off on them, then that's fine.
