WITH a little over a week remaining before their Origin dynasty goes on the line in enemy territory, the Maroons are in disarray, forced to name a 22-man squad for Game Two as injuries threaten to leave them more vulnerable than any time in the last eight years. Sure, the picture may get a whole... Read More
IF BLUES coach Laurie Daley is even considering switching Jarryd Hayne from fullback to centre for Origin Two he should dump the idea immediately. Hayne was the best player on the field in the series opener, inspiring NSW to a memorable win . . . from fullback! Why on earth would you weaken your team... Read More
Good luck to Josh Reynolds on getting the green light to play in Origin Two – but last night’s judiciary hearing will go down as yet another baffling decision at NRL HQ. Take away all the fancy legal talk, all the judiciary explanations and downgradings and here is the bottom line – Reynolds could have... Read More
THE brutal nature of last night’s opening Origin game means a number of the stars will be missing from Game Two. And referee Shayne Hayne should be a non-starter as well after his sub-standard display at Suncorp Stadium. The longer the game went, the better the players got and the worse Hayne got. And don’t... Read More
OUR GREAT game has become over-sanitised and over-refereed – and if State of Origin is forced down the same path as the NRL, then it will quickly become more museum piece than showpiece. If it hasn’t already. Instead of looking forward to the current series with anticipation, all the conversation will be about how good... Read More
Rugby League Week editor-in-chief MARTIN LENEHAN says Laurie Daley’s squad needs to find some mongrel if they’re to be any hope of competing with the mighty Maroons. WHEN Paul Gallen put a couple on Nate Myles’ chin at ANZ Stadium in Origin One last year, the Blues skipper was making a very clear statement. He... Read More