On the even of State Of Origin 101 I have taken it upon myself to select the greatest New South Wales State Of Origin team of all time. Anybody that has played State Of Origin football for New South Wales is eligible. All players are selected in career best form. This team was selected to…
If there is one thing I love writing about, it is referees… Paul Gallen and Greg Bird have called for a return to one referee for State Of Origin football. They believe one referee, one voice, would help ease confusion over decisions and make it easier for players who have to deal with just one…
In one of those “What the hell are they thinking?” moments, the Daily Telegraph is reporting that is New South Wales win State Of Origin two, they will have to wait until game three of the State Of Origin series to receive the Origin shield. You would think it makes sense to hand the trophy…
Yesterday it was confirmed that Will Hopoate and Josh Dugan will replace the injured Morris brothers in the squad for the second State of Origin squad, with Dugan set to take up the centre position. Josh Dugan has always lifted in the Origin arena, and was amongst the state’s best in last years series, however…
The lull in the competition, due to players being out, meant last Saturday Night I turned on 7mate to watch Essendon vs Richmond. Although AFL is about a million light-years behind the NRL in terms of the game, the quality of the television presentation was far superior. Not only was the game broadcast LIVE, but…
Game one of the 2014 State Of origin series was a classic contest. Now it is time to rate each players performance. Be warned, I rate players harshly no matter which side they play for. I rate all players on a scale of 1-10 and I’m not afraid to use the entire scare to show…
First of all let me say thank you to the 34 footballers that put on one of the best sporting contests I have ever seen. The 100th game of State Of Origin football will long be remembered as a war of attrition. A game that was as physically taxing as any sporting contest I have…
After almost a year of hearing Queenslanders gloating, then whinging, then working themselves into a lather over Paul Gallen telling them they have two heads, it is now time for the New South Wales to belt Queensland on their own home soil. It doesn’t matter that Queensland have won 8 series in a row, they…
Wally Lewis has launched an extraordinary attack on Paul Gallen and New South Wales, claiming Gallen should be embarrassed for losing 8 straight series and that New South Wales will never “get” State Of Origin football. Gallen, who is hated in Queensland, made a joke last week about the two headed supporters of Queensland. That…
Forget passion, talent wins State Of Origin games. While some selections are already leaking out for NSW I’m going to ignore them and post the team I would select. A few players are injured and some are suspended. That means that no NSW team anyone selects is going to be ideal. That being said, this…
His club form hasn’t been great, his form at State Of Origin level over the course of his career has not been great, and now Mitchell Pearce is dealing with an off field issue. There is a lot of speculation that Mitchell Pearce will not be selected in game one of the 2014 State Of…
State of Origin footy is almost upon us once again, accompanied by the speculation, or lack thereof, in regards to who will be picked. With the squad selections being announced next week, I’ve decided to take this opportunity to put my twenty cents in. The Maroons’ dominance has stretched to eight straight years and, as…
This is a really strange one… The Sydney Daily Telegraph is reporting that Laurie Daley has accused Ray Hadley of trying to get NSW assistant coach Matt Parish sacked because Parish is having a relationship with Ray Hadleys estranged wife. Ray Hadley has denied he tried to pressure NSWRL types to sack Parish but it…
I would stop writing about this sort of thing if Mal Meninga would just chill out, look how many series he has won as the Queensland Maroons coach, and started enjoying life a little rather than being so angry about things. In the latest round of “Things Mal Said” Mal Meninga has claimed that New…
Money is the reason that State Of Origin eligibility rules were slowly undermined by both states since the inception of the State Of Origin concept in the early 1980’s. people can talk about passion until they are Blue or Maroon in the face. The fact is that from day one coaches and officials looked at…
With State of Origin one rapidly approaching, and every man and his dog predicting the NSW line up, I’ve decided to produce the side I would choose to take on the red hot favourite home side come Origin One. As with last year, this is not the side I expect to be chosen, or the…
With Robbie Farah set to miss at least State Of Origin one with an arm injury, attention had turned to the players who might replace him at hooker for the Blues. Michael Ennis’ name has been put forward, although I tend to think he is not the player he once was. Nathan Peats has been…
Do you know how many times New South Wales have changed their halves combination since Queensland started their record breaking run in the State Of Origin series? Yeah…I don’t care either! I am sick to death of hearing people say that the reason New South Wales loses State Of Origin series comes down to the…
Even the most one eyed Penrith Panthers supporter would tell you that Jamie Soward has played, at best, OK so far in 2014. That hasn’t stopped his name being tossed up as a possible State Of Origin bolter though! In this article written by Daily Telegraph writers Nathan Ryan and Ben Glover Soward’s name it…
Gorden Tallis has weighed into the State Of Origin eligibility debate by claiming that the current rules are a farce and designed to allow both New South Wales and Queensland to keep selecting New Zealanders. Tallis made the claims in his News Limited column and I tends to agree with what he has had to…
South Sydney youngster Luke Keary will meet with NRL Head Of Football Todd Greenberg in an effort to break the brand new State Of Origin eligibility rules and play for Queensland. Keary, who under the new rules qualifies only to play for New South Wales, is being supported by the Queensland Rugby League. There is…
A week has passed since another heartbreaking origin series defeat. The dust has settled, and everyone has come to grip with the embarrassing reality that Queensland have stretched their streak to 8. In the emotional heat immediately succeeding game 3, many were quick to blame NSW no. 7 Mitchell Pearce for the 12-10 defeat. At…
Mitchell Pearce has played more games at halfback for New South Wales than any other player in State Of Origin history. He has never been in a series winning side. Many people would suggest it’s unfair to state those two facts. Let’s face it, there are a number of players in the New South Wales…
The 2013 Rugby League State Of Origin series is now over. Game three saw Queensland win their 8th straight State Of Origin series and now we can all look back and rate the players. My State Of Origin player ratings are harsh. I don’t really care if you like them or not. I don’t want…
Queensland has won a classic State Of Origin match in Sydney, wrapping up game three 12-10 and securing a record 8th straight series in a row. Queenslands defense won them this game. Despite a lopsided penalty count and a pile of tackle after tackle defending their own try line, the Queensland scrambling defense was nothing…
I feel like we have been here before… New South Wales got the 2013 State Of Origin series off to a great start with an emphatic victory in Sydney. Then, as soon as the game finished, things started going pear shaped for the Blues. Injuries and suspensions and crushed the optimism New South Wales had…
As the New South Wales Blues line up against Queensland, looking to break their seven year stranglehold on the State Of Origin series, one player has more on the line than anyone else. After getting chance after chance to prove himself at State Of Origin level, this is Mitchell Pearce’s last chance to become “That…
Paul Gallen will miss State Of Origin three after being ruled out with a foot injury he picked up in game two. Gallen has played a number of series now carrying injuries. He has been a fantastic leader for New South Wales. Going into State Of Origin three without him on the field will be…
The teams have been selected. The referees have been told that both sides are cheating. Queensland drank some beer. New South Wales didn’t drink some beer. The stage has now been set for an epic conclusion to the 2013 State Of Origin series. So, what would I like to see happen in this game. You…
Newcastle Knights winger James McManus will play just his second State Of Origin match next Wednesday night in a move that sees the in form winger make a decision I completely understand. McManus, who was born in Scotland, has turned his back on a walk up start in the World Cup for his nation of…