Craig Bellamy admits he underestimated NSW's inspirational skipper Paul Gallen

[Special K]

BEFORE Craig Bellamy handed Paul Gallen his sky blue jumper, he told him where he'd got it wrong. How he hadn't believed in him, but now he did. Bellamy, who coached the Blues from 2008 to 2010 without winning a series, admitted to the hushed room on Monday night that he was guilty of undervaluing what Gallen brought to the team.
It was a humble, almost apologetic, concession in front of the NSW players at the traditional jumper presentation on Monday night.
Some of them were still talking about it yesterday as they wound up preparations ahead of tonight's opening match of the series against the Queenslanders at Etihad Stadium.
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While this stuff might sound naff to those who view their Origin footy through the prism of Roy And HG commentary - Three Knees Hancock, Adolf Fittler, Brick With Eyes etc - these are moments when culture and trust are established.
Bellamy is a superb and masterful coach. In his first game, he played Mal Meninga off a break; winning the wrestle on a greasy ANZ Stadium surface, with a dour performance from Greg Bird at five-eighth sealing the victory. Yet for the next three years, despite hours of preparation, Bellamy failed to unlock the best in his players in Origin.
In his last year at the helm, he had argued against selecting Gallen for game one for reasons known only to him, although you suspect the captain's lack of discipline had something to do with the decision. After the Blues won the first match in Sydney, Gallen played in the last two matches of the series.
For team info, stats, Matt Johns and Paul Kent's video preview and more, visit our match centre.
With the last game a dead-rubber, Bellamy allowed this journalist to sit on the sidelines, behind the Blues bench. Aside from the gruesome collision of bone and muscle and cartilage, what stood out at close range was Gallen. How much he hated losing. How much he hated being replaced in the second half. How much it meant.
Bellamy was replaced as NSW coach by his old Canberra teammate Ricky Stuart, who more so than their other Raiders teammate in Meninga, has to instil belief in his players.
Hooker Robbie Farah, who yesterday fronted the media, said he felt better prepared this time than he had when he last played Origin in 2009.
After that performance, Stuart had slammed Farah in his column in The Sunday Telegraph and said he "should never be picked for NSW again". What Farah has to prove tonight applies to much of the NSW side.
Unlike Queensland, Stuart doesn't have perfect players at his disposal. His come with baggage.
Brett Stewart said at the start of this campaign that he could've ended up in jail in 2010.
Michael Jennings learnt yesterday that when this NSW ride was over, he was heading back to Windsor Wolves.
Todd Carney didn't have a club seven months ago.
Some think James Tamou shouldn't be playing for Australia, let alone NSW.
Tony Williams hasn't played in 10 weeks.
Jamie Buhrer's big-game experience extends to 41 minutes of finals footy last year.
Ben Creagh is still trying to live down the moment in game three of 2010 when he walked away from a fight.
For weeks, Stuart has been refusing to say which of his potential players are Origin players. He has said it is up to them to show us if they deserve the title. Even if they happen to prove him wrong.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...pper-paul-gallen/story-e6frexv9-1226363936261


I remember being filthy that Gallen was left out in 2010. He has really shown guys like Bellamy, Gould and co that he can actually play in rep teams. Remember when Gould would say he just gets in the way at rep level?

 

[Snoop Shark]

Slightly off topic but would anyone be able to tell me who has had the most SOO players out of souths and cronulla?

Having a bet with a dirty souths supporter

We have $500 on this bet.

Both had no idea but I'm quietly confident.

 

[bull shark]

Slightly off topic but would anyone be able to tell me who has had the most SOO players out of souths and cronulla?

Having a bet with a dirty souths supporter

We have $500 on this bet.

Both had no idea but I'm quietly confident.

Wow - pretty big bet.
Anyway I did a bit of a search. Difficult to get team lists by year, but below are 2 lists (NSW & QLD) of every player who has ever played SOO
(before tonight). I got the lists from stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html which is a wonderful place to take a walk down memory lane.
Did you know that Newcastle had a team in the 1908 competition? And who remembers Ziggy [FONT=&quot]Niszczot?
Anyway, I digress. Here are the 2 lists. Hope it helps - and hope you win

NSW
[/FONT] Aaron Raper, Adam MacDougall, Adam Muir, Akuila Uate, Alan Thompson, Alan Wilson CS, Andrew Ettingshausen, Andrew Farrar, Andrew Johns, Andrew Ryan, Anthony Laffranchi, Anthony Minichiello, Anthony Mundine, Anthony Quinn, Anthony Tupou, Anthony Watmough, Barry Jensen, Beau Scott, Ben Creagh, Ben Cross, Ben Hornby, Ben Kennedy, Benny Elias, Bob Cooper, Brad Fittler, Brad Izzard, Brad Mackay, Bradley Clyde, Braith Anasta, Brent Kite, Brett Finch, Brett Hodgson, Brett Kenny, Brett Kimmorley, Brett Morris, Brett Mullins, Brett Rodwell, Brett Stewart, Brett White, Brian Hetherington, Brian Johnston, Bruce McGuire, Bryan Fletcher, Chris Anderson, Chris Johns, Chris Mortimer, Chris Walsh, Cliff Lyons, Craig Fitzgibbon, Craig Gower, Craig Hancock, Craig Salvatori, Craig Wing, Craig Young, Danny Buderus, Darren Albert, David Barnhill, David Boyle SS, David Brooks, David Fairleigh, David Furner, David Gillespie, David Hall NS, David Peachey, David Trewhella, David Williams, Dean Pay, Dean Young, Des Hasler, Don McKinnon, Eric Grothe P0, Eric Grothe P1, Garry Dowling, Garry Jack, Gary Hambly, Gavin Miller, Geoff Bugden, Geoff Gerard, Geoff Toovey, Glenn Lazarus, Glenn Stewart, Graeme O'Grady, Graeme Wynn, Graham Eadie, Graham Lyons, Graham Mackay, Greg Alexander, Greg Bird, Greg Brentnall, Greg Florimo, Hazem El Masri, Ian Roberts, Jamal Idris, James McManus, Jamie Ainscough, Jamie Lyon, Jamie Soward, Jarrod Mullen, Jarryd Hayne, Jason Croker CN, Jason King, Jason Moodie, Jason Ryles, Jason Stevens, Jason Taylor, Jim Dymock, Jim Leis, Jim Serdaris, Joel Monaghan, John Cartwright, John Coveney, John Ferguson, John Hopoate, John Muggleton, John Simon, Jonathan Docking, Josh Dugan, Josh Morris, Josh Perry, Justin Poore, Kade Snowden, Keith Galloway, Ken McGuinness, Ken Nagas, Kevin Hastings, Kurt Gidley, Laurie Daley, Les Boyd, Les Davidson, Lindsay Johnston, Luke Bailey, Luke Lewis, Luke O'Donnell, Luke Priddis, Luke Ricketson, Luke Rooney, Mario Fenech, Mark Carroll, Mark Gasnier, Mark Geyer, Mark Hughes NC, Mark McGaw, Mark O'Meley, Mark Sargent, Marty Gurr, Matt Adamson, Matt Cooper, Matt Geyer, Matt King, Matt Seers, Matthew Gidley, Matthew Johns, Max Krilich, Michael Buettner, Michael De Vere, Michael Ennis, Michael Gordon, Michael Jennings, Michael O'Connor, Michael Vella, Michael Weyman, Mick Cronin, Mick Potter, Mitchell Pearce, Nathan Hindmarsh, Neil Hunt, Nik Kosef, Noel Cleal, Pat Jarvis, Paul Dunn, Paul Field, Paul Gallen, Paul Harragon, Paul Langmack, Paul McGregor, Paul Merlo, Paul Sironen, Peter Kelly NT, Peter Sterling, Peter Tunks, Peter Wallace, Peter Wynn, Phil Bailey, Phil Blake, Phil Daley, Phil Sigsworth, Phillip Duke, Ray Brown, Ray Price, Rex Wright, Ricky Stuart, Ricky Walford, Robbie Farah, Robbie Kearns, Robbie McCormack, Robbie Ross, Robert Stone, Rod Wishart, Rodney Howe, Ron Hilditch, Ross Conlon, Royce Ayliffe, Royce Simmons, Ryan Girdler, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan O'Hara, Scott Gourley, Scott Hill, Shaun Timmins, Stan Jurd, Steve Bowden, Steve Carter, Steve Edge, Steve Ella, Steve Folkes, Steve Hanson, Steve Martin MW, Steve Menzies, Steve Morris, Steve Mortimer, Steve Roach, Steve Rogers, Steve Simpson, Steve Turner, Terry Campese, Terry Fahey, Terry Hill SS, Terry Lamb, Terry Matterson, Tim Brasher, Tim Mannah, Timana Tahu, Tom Learoyd Lahrs, Tom Raudonikis, Tony Butterfield, Tony Melrose, Tony Rampling, Trent Barrett, Trent Merrin, Trent Waterhouse, Wayne Pearce, William Hopoate, Willie Mason, Ziggy Niszczot

QLD
Adam Mogg, Adrian Brunker, Adrian Lam, Adrian Vowles, Alan Cann, Alan McIndoe, Alan Smith, Allan Langer, Andrew Gee, Antonio Kaufusi, Arthur Beetson, Ashley Harrison, Ben Hannant, Ben Ikin, Ben Ross, Billy Moore, Billy Slater, Bob Kellaway, Bob Lindner, Brad Backer, Brad Meyers, Brad Tessmann, Brad Thorn, Brent Tate, Brett Dallas, Brett French, Bruce Astill, Bryan Niebling, Cam Smith, Carl Webb, Casey McGuire, Cavill Heugh, Chris Beattie, Chris Close, Chris Flannery, Chris McKenna, Chris Phelan, Chris Walker, Clinton O'Brien, Clinton Schifcofske, Colin Scott, Cooper Cronk, Corey Parker, Craig Greenhill, Craig Smith SS, Craig Teevan, Dale Shearer, Dallas Johnson, Dan Stains, Dane Carlaw, Dane Nielsen, Daniel Wagon, Danny Moore, Danny Nutley, Darius Boyd, Darren Fritz, Darren Lockyer, Darren Smith, Darryl Brohman, Dave Brown E, Dave Taylor, David McLean, David Shillington, David Stagg, Gary Belcher, Gary Coyne, Gary Larson, Gary Smith, Gavin Allen, Gavin Jones, Gene Miles, Gorden Tallis, Grant Rix, Greg Conescu, Greg Dowling, Greg Holben, Greg Inglis, Greg Oliphant, Greg Quinn, Ian French, Israel Folau, Jacob Lillyman, Jamie Goddard, Jason Hetherington, Jason Smith, Jeremy Schloss, Jharal Yow Yeh, Joe Kilroy, John Buttigieg, John Dowling, John Doyle, John Ribot, Johnathan Thurston, Johnny Lang, Josh Hannay, Julian O'Neill, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Kerrod Walters, Kerry Boustead, Kevin Campion, Kevin Walters, Les Kiss, Lote Tuqiri, Mal Meninga, Mark Coyne, Mark Hohn, Mark Murray, Martin Bella, Martin Lang, Mat Rogers, Matt Ballin, Matt Sing, Matthew Bowen, Matthew Scott, Michael Crocker, Michael Hagan, Michael Hancock, Mike McLean, Mitch Brennan, Nate Myles, Nathan Fien, Neil Tierney, Neville Costigan, Norm Carr, Owen Cunningham, Paul Bowman, Paul Green, Paul Hauff, Paul Khan, Paul McCabe, Paul Vautin, Peter Jackson, Peter Ryan BR, Petero Civoniceva, PJ Marsh, Rhys Wesser, Robbie O'Davis, Rod Morris, Rod Reddy, Rohan Hancock, Ross Henrick, Russell Bawden, Sam Backo, Sam Thaiday, Scott Prince, Scott Sattler, Scott Tronc, Shane Webcke, Shannon Hegarty, Shaun Berrigan, Steve Jackson, Steve Renouf, Steve Stacey, Steve Walters CN, Steven Bell, Steven Price CB, Stuart Kelly, Terry Butler, Terry Cook, Tonie Carroll, Tony Currie, Tony Hearn, Travis Norton, Trevor Gillmeister, Ty Williams, Wally Fullerton Smith, Wally Lewis, Wayne Bartrim, Wendell Sailor, Willie Carne, Willie Tonga

 

[blacktip-reefy]

I would back Souths in but you have players like Boondy who played for both clubs. Miller played for Roosters & Sharks. Bryan Fletcher roosters rabbits. Mick Crocker 3 clubs.
Probably impossible to work out unless there is a list of who they were playing for when picked.

 

[blacktip-reefy]

I count 25 Sharks
19 rabbits

You would also have to consider super league

 

[tom of poland]

I would back Souths in but you have players like Boondy who played for both clubs. Miller played for Roosters & Sharks. Bryan Fletcher roosters rabbits. Mick Crocker 3 clubs.
Probably impossible to work out unless there is a list of who they were playing for when picked.

Agree, no one's memory could be that good. But I counted 22 who were Sharks players when they played SOO and another 12 players who played for the Sharks but were at other clubs when playing SOO, as far as I could remember (eg: Jim Leis, A Raper, M Johns).

 

[Snoop Shark]

The deal is the year they were selected the club they were at that year.

We agreed 97 won't be counted.

We have a tiger supporter doing the research and counts I've just found out.

Thanks for the lists bull shark.

 

[blacktip-reefy]

The deal is the year they were selected the club they were at that year.

We agreed 97 won't be counted.

you are going to lose then.

 

[Special K]

Id back the sharks. Wasn't Wing like the first souths player picked in like 20 years a few years back?