Because a knee jerk reaction from the NRL has seen an issue (fighting) that was under control blow up to dominate discussion in the game, it has allowed crazies to come out of the woodwork and put forward ideas that do not pass the ten second test. What is the ten second test? Well if…
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…
The Queensland Rugby League have named their lineup for the third and deciding game of the 2013 State Of Origin series. As expected there have been no changes to the team that completely annihilated New South Wales in game two. The Maroons have brought Jacob Lillyman and Will Chambers into the squad though. The official…
At present a lot has been said about Origin ruining Club Football weekends as we have only 4 lacklustre games played per Origin weekend and only to keep broadcasters happy though most of these games are shells of themselves. For example Roosters vs. Bulldogs was Sonny Bill’s return to the Kennel at ANZ Stadium the…
Note: Jarryd Hayne, Paul Gallen and Josh Renynolds were replaced by James McManus, Aaron Woods and Boyd Cordner respectively. The New South Wales Rugby League has named a 20 man squad heading into State Of Origin game three. After getting smashed in the second game there have been a coupl of slight changes to the…
Paul Gallen has been a fantastic leader for the Cronulla Sharks. At times he has taken opposition teams on single handedly up front, hitting the ball up without fear, making a million tackles, he has simply never let the Sharks down. At State Of Origin level it has been more of the same. Even as…
Game two of the 2013 State Of Origin series was a disaster for New South Wales. Not too many of the Blues players could hold their head high after the 26-6 thrashing Queensland handed them. Two players stood out though… Aaron Woods and Nathan Merritt made their State Of Origin debuts after a groundswell of…
Game two of the 2013 State Of Origin series was an ambush. Queensland came out breathing fire and New South Wales simply could not stand up to the pressure. In the aftermath of such a complete and utter beat down, its always fun to rate the performances of players from both teams. I tend to…
Normally the Bulldogs hosting the Roosters would be a big game. Especially when you consider where both teams are on the competition ladder and that Sonny Bill Williams was making his return after walking out on the Bulldogs all those years ago. Instead, the Friday night clash between these two clubs felt like an afterthought….
When Mal Meninga woke up on Monday morning and saw that Blake Ferguson was in trouble with the police and Josh Dugan has been out with his good buddy on the drink before they went into NSW State Of Origin camp, he must have thought all his Christmas’ come at once. Granted, as a Queenslander…
The Queensland Rugby League team have made a few changes to the team that lost the first game of the 2013 State Of Origin series. Ashley Harrison and David Shillington have been dropped in a strong statement by Mal Meninga while Daly Cherry-Evans and Josh Papalii make their State Of Origin debuts. Here is a look…
This day had been coming for a long time… For what ever reason, Rugby League loves to forgive its own when they make a mistake. Some would suggest that is a strength of the game, that Rugby League always looks after its own. There comes a point though when the game need to choose between…
It took a matter of hours for Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan to get into trouble after being reunited as State Of Origin team mates. The allegations against Ferguson, with Dugan mostly said to be a passive third party, are still sketchy. Something is alleged to have happened at a nightclub, a woman was involved,…
Note: Blake Ferguson was replaced by Nathan Merritt after Ferguson was charged with indecent assault. The New South Wales Rugby League has announced the team that will take on Queensland in the second game of the 2013 State Of origin series to be held at Suncorp Stadium is Brisbane. After winning game one at ANZ…
It didn’t take long for the perfect world that the New South Wales camp had created to be shattered by injuries and suspensions. With Jarryd Hayne struggling to overcome a hamstring injury and James Tamou getting taxi’s everywhere from now on, the Blues have a couple of big holes in their lineup they may have…
I think most people would agree that the SOO concept needs a bit of a revamp. Both to keep interest from a growing ‘non-Australian’ contingent of players and supporters (predominantly New Zealanders and Pacific Islanders) and to minimise the impact on NRL clubs, in a tight competition. Once again after only 1 origin game, we’ve…
Best Of Twitter Origin 1 is done and dusted with the Blues taking the series opener 14-6. In a heated battle witnessed by over 80,000 live fans and millions more at home, there were some seriously heated battles. Gallen vs. Myles dominated the headlines but Hayne vs. Slater was a battle of two of the…
In the wrap up to last nights match people are talking about the performances of the respective sides. The big talking point remains the fight between Paul Gallen and Nate Myles. Gallen has been charged by the judiciary but will be available for State Of Origin two, something you could have bet your house on…
New South Wales has jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 2013 State Of Origin series after beating Queensland by a scoreline of 14-6. It was a brilliant start to the game that saw New South Wales set the platform for their victory. The Blues go forward was outstanding and really put Queensland on…
Well, here we go again… New South Wales is going into another State Of Origin series hopeful it can break Queenslands winning streak. We have a coach who is untested at this level and a few new additions to the side. We hope its enough to finally get over the top of Queensland, but we…
Cooper Cronk is usually a padlocked clam when it comes to media exposure, but this week he gave us an insight in to how his finely-programmed computer brain operates when it comes to kicking critical field goals in the popular games of footy and life. Now in a League Freak exclusive, his cut-price firewall has…
It is the eve of Game 1 in the 2013 Rugby League State of Origin series. Dubbed as the most anticipated series ever – which is what it is labeled as every year. New South Wales have the double home ground advantage at ANZ Stadium this year as the Queensland juggernaut look to make it…
The first game of the 2013 Origin Series is almost upon us. Betting agencies have the odds at an almost 50/50 split and the experts are just as equally divided in trying to pick a winner. Queensland are trying to win an unprecedented 8th straight Origin series whilst NSW are trying to regain that winning…
It is that time of year again. The time where every Rugby League fan declares themselves blue or maroon(apparently pronounced maroan… don’t get me started…) The time of year where friends turn to bitter enemies. Where you are suddenly the biggest fan of players you would normally detest simply because of the colour jersey they…
The 2013 State Of Origin series will reach the largest potential global audience in series history, with overseas networks covering the series as well as games being streamed over the internet. In Australia the match will be covered live by Channel 9, WIN and NBN networks. In New Zealand the game will be shown live…
I am a NSW Blues fan in the State of Origin. Correction, I am a frustrated NSW Blues fan in the State of Origin. You see, as we haven’t won a series since 2005, my frustrations have slowly but surely built to the surface. What was once a babbling underground brook is now a raging…
Queensland has named its team for the opening game of the 2013 State Of Origin series with a few interestings selections in their side. Mal Meninga was never going to move away from a backline that has won the bulk of the last seven series, but the Maroons forward rotation looks a little different with…
Update: Kurt Gidley will miss the entire State Of Origin series. He has been replayed by Josh Reynolds for game one. New South Wales has named its team for Game 1 of the 2013 State Of Origin series. This is the first team named by new NSW coach Laurie Daley as the Blues stare down…
The New South Wales State of Origin side is set to be named on Sunday night and it seems everybody is talking about who should be selected. Some players are automatic selections (i.e. Gallen, Jennings) whilst other spots are extremely up for grabs (i.e. five-eighth, bench). In something that is sure to spark much feedback…
