HE has gone from exile to NSW X-factor. Over the past six days, Jarryd Hayne has shown he is the player who can do the impossible — beat all-conquering Queensland single-handedly. And he even has the Maroons worried. “He is a great player, he is an outstanding player, and he is playing some really good
JUMP on the Bulldogs bandwagon or prepare for another year of Origin misery. That’s the stark reality for Laurie Daley with one more sleepless night for Blues fans before the team is announced for Game One. Or he may like to ponder this time honoured adage – ‘if you always do what you’ve always done,… Read More
YOU’VE GOT next to no chance of getting Queenslanders and New South Welshmen to agree on anything at this time of year. If a New South Welshman says the sky is blue, a Queenslander will likely argue it’s maroon. But men from both sides of the border do agree on one thing: big Dave Taylor… Read More
Thaiday, Tallis, Myles and Gillmeister all nominees for Queensland’s best second-rower SAM Thaiday and Nate Myles have been pillars in the greatest State of Origin era, but can both be accommodated in the ultimate Queensland Origin team? Both made the first appearances in 2006, the year that started the eight-series run of dominance by the
A quick chat with Queensland coach Mal Meninga appears to have ended weeks of speculation over injured Brisbane backrower Sam Thaiday’s State of Origin game one hopes. Sydney Roosters forward Aidan Guerra is in line to make his Origin debut after it emerged a recovering Thaiday (calf) asked Meninga on Sunday not to be considered
BLUES fans were angry. And not just because they had been listening to 2GB. The players weren’t helping either. What was Greg Bird thinking using South Sydney’s Bryson Goodwin as a jackhammer? Did Bird think the only dangerous throws were performed by Muttiah Muralitharan on a turning track in Colombo? Why wasn’t Mitchell Pearce home
COWBOYS enforcer Tariq Sims is set to be the cure for a sick and sorry Blues team with New South Wales coach Laurie Daley phoning him late last week offering a selection carrot. The Blues will be without their two best backrowers for State of Origin Game One with Greg Bird suspended and Boyd Cordner
ANDREW Ettingshausen — one NSW’s finest-ever outside backs — believes it is time to end Jamal Idris’ Origin exile. Ettingshausen, who played 27 Origins between 1987-98, says the Blues should find room for Idris and speedsters Josh Morris and Michael Jennings. “Speed is a factor that Josh Morris and Michael Jennings both possess in abundance,… Read More
We’re counting down the final days until the NSW and Queensland State of Origin teams for 2014 are revealed – and if the status quo remains, none of these guys will make the cut. As good as they are, all of these NRL stars have been constantly overlooked for higher honours. This is our No-rigin
Ashley Dionysius, Origin Online There is a lot of hullabaloo around the eligibility issues in Rugby League and we all have different takes on what should determine eligibility. Given the emotional attachment fans have to the State of Origin concept, perhaps the best way to approach the issue is to look at things from a
