If the debate on Wednesday morning was why the helpless throngs of desperate League fans in Perth and Adelaide couldn’t watch Origin live, yet the troops in Kabul or Baghdad could, then frankly, by Thursday, I wish I hadn’t been able to watch it either.
The match might have been beamed into squillions of league hot spots around the globe (ah hem), but let’s hope not too many watched – because it was stinker.
An advertisement for Rugby League it was not.
If the crème de la crème of the code cannot catch, pass, tackle nor kick, it doesn’t bode well for the argument of Origin being the greatest show on earth.
I know, I know – this rant isn’t in the spirit of Origin.
What of Queensland’s Origin spirit? What of the way they “Out-Origined” (thanks Gus) New South Wales? What about the guts Queensland’s injured players showed? What about the 4-0 history breaking feat? Aren’t I just being a cockroach with soar grapes!?
What about Queensland, huh! The best ever. Tenacious. Blood spilling, gut wrenching, body on the line, herculean. The Cane toad’s were the proverbial hospital ward and still found enough ticker to win.
Forget injury and illness, what about the referee and field position. Those Queenslanders are hard to topple. They just want Origin.
And that’s great. Origin folklore. Stuff of legends.
Give me a break.
If I saw that in reserve grade, I would’ve considered asking for a refund.
And that’s what makes me feel short changed.
Beyond all the brouhaha about selectors, the coaches and the mistakes, the game was just missing something.
Then as each pedestrian set rolled by, I realised - the match was showing up the flaws in this sport.
While everyone jumped up and down about how well the referees did not to blow the pea out of the whistle, the players had a field day, getting to know each other, groping around the play the ball.
Suddenly, the modern game’s biggest weapon was gone. Kaput. Dummy half was getting the Blues nowhere.
Then – no one in the Blues line up was adept at kicking the side out of trouble (see Wallace finding himself stuck down short sides, cornered at awkward angles on the last); centres were drifting out wide at the same angles as the sliding defence; wingers didn’t know when to come inside; forwards couldn’t help that temptation to haul the ball out the back at the wrong time.
This was State of Origin. The best we can offer. That’s what they came up with at the crunch?
It proves how critical penalties are in the context of modern rugby league. They decide who dominates field position, and who doesn’t need to find a way to come up with that decisive clutch play.
On Wednesday, our state’s best players were hopelessly exposed. Did the other side show they were much better? Not really. They were exceptionally brave, desperate, and passionate about the concept of State of Origin. But they just accepted the gift-wrapped presents as if their Christmases came at once. Or three times – in the space of 20 minutes.
As a die hard chooks supporter I have pretty much seen some of the most horrendous mistakes this year. On a regular basis I have seen guys who are paid to play at an elite level do things that would be considered “shit” (for a lack of a better word) at an U/6’s rep trial day!!!
BUT – as poor as the Roosters are… I have not seen the kinds of errors that the supposed “best of the best” players dished up on Wednesday night.
a.) a lock and prop failing to react to an inside ball that in all honesty would’ve been a front on tackle if just the slightest hint of anticipation had been applied – SIMPLE TRY
b.) a prop and hooker not being able to tackle a winger who to be fair was merely taking a settler after a NSW mistake – SIMPLE TRY
c.) a hooker not being able to find 1 of the 5 targets who were available to his left, it was easier to find a man than the ground in that situation AND a second rower to dumb to just dive on the loose ball. Every single coach at every single level will tell you “IF THE BALL IS ON THE GROUND JUST DIVE ON IT!”
As I said, I thought I had seen it all this year… but the reality is, NSW has shown me that my beloved Roosters are light years away from the potential garbage that the “creme de la creme” dished up on Wednesday night
By: stevo on June 26, 2009
at 6:00 am