As we approach State of Origin Three, which in terms of the series doesn’t really matter, players seem to be putting their club futures at risk. Josh Morris has taken extraordinary measures to be fit for Origin Three after suffering a potentially season altering injury in the first game of the series. Luke Lewis will…
New South Wales have made only a couple of changes heading into game three of the State Of Origin series. The Blues are looking to clean sweep Queensland at Suncorp Stadium. So, is this the team to get the job done? Official New South Wales State Of Origin Team For Game Three 1. Jarryd Hayne…
Queensland has announced its team for the third game of the 2014 State Of Origin series. There have been a few changes due to injuries but surprisingly the side isn’t all that different from the team that last game two and the series. Queensland Official State Of Origin Team For Game Three 1. Billy Slater…
League Freakosaurus. That is what David Smith and the new NRL regime would have you call me. I’m a dinosaur from a bygone era that wants to watch a tough game of football that occasional see’s two dudes start throwing punches. It is no good for the game. It makes it hard to market the…
Somewhat surprisingly, after just one series loss after eight straight wins, there is talk of Mal Meninga turning to the next generation of superstars in Origin three. Although I severely doubt there will be sweeping changes, surely a dead rubber Origin game is the perfect place to blood the stars of the future. One enforced…
He is the highest paid player in the NRL, and at 31 years of age he isn’t getting any younger. As the North Queensland Cowboys fell to the lowly Newcastle Knights 36-28 at Hunter Stadium last night, I couldn’t help but wonder if it is time for the Cowboys highest paid player to concentrate on…
Queensland were gracious in defeat, New South Wales were respectful in victory. That was one of the main talking points coming out of State Of Origin two. Don’t tell that to former Queensland player Greg Dowling though.. Dowling has launched a full on attack aimed squarely at anything any everything New South Wales, admitting he…
We all remember the famous “Thats In Queensland” song that took the piss out of all of the players the Queensland Rugby League team selected from different parts of the world. Now the bloke that put that tune together has come up with a new one. An apology to Queensland! Check it out:
Game two of the 2014 State Of Origin series is officially the highest rated State Of Origin game of all time. The game was watched by 2.682 million across across capital cities according to OzTAM ratings. This beat the 2.626 million that watched the third game of the 2012 State Of Origin series. OzTAM ratings…
New South Wales have won the 2014 State Of Origin series, and now it is time to look at the always controversial player ratings. Other places hand out player ratings so freely, they don’t make players earn them. Lets face it, last nights match wasn’t the best game of State Of Origin we have ever…
New South Wales has secured their first State Of Origin series win since 2005 with a 6-4 win over Queensland at ANZ Stadium. This was one of the weirdest State Of Origin games I have ever seen. Both teams looked gun shy for 70 minutes. There wasn’t much attacking football to speak of, neither side…
We were in this position last year. New South Wales had won game one of the 2013 State Of Origin series in emphatic fashion and heading into game two of the series Blues supporters were full of confidence. In game two Queensland destroyed New South Wales. The 26-6 scoreline doesn’t begin to explain how the…
So you’re overseas and you want to watch the 2014 State Of Origin series? No wonder! The second game of the 2014 State Of Origin series is shaping up to be a cracker! There are a number of ways you can watch State Of Origin two online. I’m going to give you all of the…
As we head into State Of Origin 101 Queensland is looking to square the series and head back to Brisbane looking to retain the Origin shield. What better occasion to select my ultimate Queensland Maroons State Of Origin lineup! Anybody that has played State Of Origin football for Queensland is eligible. All players are selected…
After being under an injury cloud for the last ten days and rarely training with the team, Daly Cherry-Evans looks almost certain to play in tonight’s second State Of Origin game. Cherry-Evans looked no hope earlier this week as Brisbane Broncos halfback trained with the Maroons. Mal Meninga has given Cherry-Evans all the time he…
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…
Underdogs. They have won 8 straight series in a row and yet here we are and the bloody Queenslanders are once again underdogs to win a State Of Origin game. Yes they are carrying a few injuries. Sure they are playing in New South Wales. Still, I feel like we have been here before. It…
New South Wales forward Greg Bird has called Queensland centre Brent Tate a hypocrite over comments the Maroons star made after State Of Origin one. Bird referred to a famous incident a few years ago in which Bird, as he was being held down by another player, was then punched in the face by Tate….
It seems that each and every year, an NRL side is decimated during the Origin period, and loses the momentum they had built over the opening ten or so rounds. Usually it is the Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos or Sydney Roosters, however this year, the boys from Belmore are the ones most affected. The table…
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…
The hopes of Queensland supporters took a blow today when halfback Daly Cherry-Evans failed to train with his Queensland team mates today. Cherry-Evans had targeted today as his deadline to be fit, and with Ben Hunt training in his place, things aren’t looking good for the Maroons halfback. Of course Laurie Daley has been telling…
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…
This is very clearly an unpopular opinion that I am about to put forward, but I love the idea of having a State of Origin game in Melbourne every three years. I am originally from New South Wales, but have grown up in AFL-mad Melbourne. I will not deny that above all else, Melburnians love…
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…
Today the struggling Canberra Raiders have announced a massive player signing. That of the in demand and exciting James Tedesco. After a horror start to the 2014 competition, the Raiders have targeted new blood to give them the shot in the arm needed for a successful 2015 and beyond. They were also thought to have…
This weekend we saw half a round, played out between half sides, in front of half a crowd, so why shouldn’t games played during Origin be worth half the competition points? Of course this is something that will never happen however if you want a snapshot of just how mixed up Origin affected NRL games…
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…
