Is it possible to be both happy and pissed off from the same news?
The naming of three Eels players in the NSW Origin team should be cause for celebration. Taken in isolation as validation for the individual form of those selected, and as a recognition of the success of Eels team, it probably remains an announcement that should be celebrated.
However, given that there are so many changes to the Blues team, I’m not sure how to react.
Obviously Mitch Moses, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Clint Gutherson all deserve our congratulations. For them, playing on the Origin stage, no matter the circumstance, is acknowledgement of their status as the best of the best. They should feel proud of this achievement.
Furthermore, Eels supporters will now have an extra interest in Origin 3, with such strong Blue and Gold representation.
However, the other side of the selection sword will see these players unavailable for an Eels team focussed on continuing their winning streak against the Warriors.
Already without Dylan Brown, the Eels will be lining up for one of their most critical matches of the season without three more of their key players.
It could have been worse. Junior Paulo has been omitted by Fittler for Game 3, whilst Billy Slater has J’Maine Hopgood on the fringe of selection, naming him at 19th man. Congratulations to J’Maine for that honour, and fortunately for Parra that means he will be free to play this week.
Hopgood has been recognised by Slater but he’s still available
I have previously documented the inequity of the NRL draw during the Origin Series, with Parramatta being the only team to have to stand down players for all three matches.
In contrast, the Broncos, Panthers, Storm, Roosters and Titans receive two byes in the rounds preceding Origin matches, meaning they only have to stand down players in one match. Even the Warriors, who have no Origin reps, received a bye during those stand down rounds.
There’s nothing that can be done now, but the Eels must do everything in their power to draw attention to this disadvantage (bias?) and ensure that it never happens to them or any other club in the future.
Needless to say, though I’m pleased for our Eels Origin Reps, I’m infuriated by the circumstances. We’ll be discussing the debacle of this year’s selection decisions in the News episode of The Tip Sheet podcast, so this column won’t include a deep dive into all of the selections for this game. What I will state is that the number of changes to the Origin 3 Blues team (forced or otherwise) gives it a knee jerk reaction vibe.
I don’t mean that as any form of disrespect. There are quality players in this Blues team who potentially should have been selected in the first place. My issue lies with the sheer number of changes for a dead rubber match which gives the players little time to become a cohesive unit and potentially sets them up for failure.
Looking ahead to the Eels clash with the Warriors, I’m not sure what Arthur will do with regard to Gutho’s fullback role. BA doesn’t like swapping and changing players around, as it involves weakening a position to fill the hole in another.
Gutho’s reliable defence will be missing this week
However, in this instance, I’m not sure that he has many options. I’d be stunned if he elevated the current NSW Cup fullback, Arthur Miller-Stephen, as he’s also a rookie at Cup level. Not many others in the Cup team would be a viable fullback option.
In the halves, we can assume that Matterson will play five-eighth, a role that he filled admirably against the Sea Eagles. The likely return of Shaun Lane alleviates some of the loss of RCG’s firepower, even though they fill different positions.
When all’s said and done, it will require an almighty effort for the Eels to overcome the Warriors with a spine that contains a makeshift fullback and five eighth, alongside a relatively inexperienced half and dummy half.
The next man up philosophy and positive mindset will need to be in overdrive.
Eels forever!
Sixties
For the first time in a very long time. I honestly didn’t want a single player in this NSW side. A dead rubber where the state has lost all pride already. We are sending our players out to possibly be injured/for freddy to send them to the wolves. We have club games we need to win at the moment.
Agree with this. Not much more needs to be said really.
👍
Agree with the logic from a fan’s perspective – but at the same time, I want good things for our players, and I presume this is what they all aspire towards (no matter what the circumstances), so more power to them if this is the case.
Only thing it highlights more for me, is D Brown’s stupdity and how much he let his teammates down, as having him in the side would have mitigated this in a big way.
Absolutely true
If not for wanting our players to be rightly rewarded I feel the same.
I would never want our players not picked, because they always come back as better players. There are no negatives here.
Its been an unfair ride all the way through for the eels but putting that aside ,What has fittler done to nsw and what are the long term ramifications , moral gone, confidence in coaches and selectors gone , loyalty gone , # fittler and his cohorts have over half the nrl to choose from and constantly make poor judgements and even poorer excuses for themselves , had latrell been fit once again we would have had 3 fullbacks in our starting with two crocks and a crab , crichton should have been auto pick not by default and campbell graham has been a standout and made for origin , murray on bench??? Martin on bench for young ??? Stefano , wow ??????? , the list is endless so i will stop but remember this , fittler has freely expressed a desire to coach our club , i hate to think where we would be now , BA started out with a club on concurrent wooden spoons and built it into powerhouse based on cheap buys and hard work , fittler started out with an unlimited roster and a so called elite assistant coaching staff and lost unloseable games and how many straight series , cant coach never could and never will unless theres unicorns and fairies involved , christ help any club that rolls the dice on this guy !!!!!!
There is a massive difference between coaching at representative level and the huge demand of coaching in the constant high pressure of the NRL.Even if someone is successful at Origin or international level, it doesn’t mean they could succeed at an NRL club. Though I suspect Slater may have what it takes
I’m so angry about this, this could potentially derail our season, without Moses, Gutho, RCG, J’Maine Hopgood & not to mention that Dylan Brown is still out
Next man up challenge!
It’ll do nothing of the sort. The reality is that to win a premiership, as a general rule, a team needs at least 3-4 Origin level players. The Panthers were missing more players than we are the last 3 years and it didn’t seem to affect their chances. And even if we go loose to the Warriors, that doesn’t derail our season one bit. If we don’t make the finals, then we only have ourselves to blame. Not the draw, not Origin selections, not even Dylan Brown’s indiscretion. To suggest otherwise is naive on the extreme.
If we had the bye this week like everyone else, it would have been ok!
Taking a deep breath now to hear The NRL’s decision on Dylan Brown!
Praying for a miracle for this weekend 🙏🤞💙💛
Dylan back in round 23. Unless Parra can contest the Breach Notice given this arvo.
I’m not sure that they will.
I do not understand the selection of Gutho. Where is he expected to play? Feels like he’s going to get less than 5 minutes. I hope our boys rip in but for years now I have not cared for origin and my interest has diminished with every year fittler, Johns, and Alexander have the reins.
Curly larry and moe 😇
🤣🤣🤣
Going to be interesting to see which bunch of clowns the ringmasters send out next , you always prune the tree from the top !!! Check out all the teams floundering and look at their administration , tigers ,dogs , dragons , no stability no chance, administration is our strength now , not perfect but totally professional.
Well noted
Ditto.
I think Gutho will go 19 th man and Leniu will come in…… Or he will take Bests place with Leniu taking the bench spot…….or…… Freddy has taken a leaf out of BAs handbook and is carrying the King for Teddy…… Either way….. The lunatics are running the asylum….. Freddy was only good when he had turbo and Mitch at the top of their powers…. Apart from that I cannot really rate his coaching
Yeh! I too understand the selection of Gutho.
That said, the only reason he should be in the squad is if he plays. Teddy should be out (or playing on the bench !!!) so that the Moses, Gutho combo works for NSW. Otherwise this is a waste!
NRL had given the Eels a very raw deal on the draw. I reckon we are a victim of our fans passion for the game. The NRL knows that whatever they do to to shortchanged us, re: game draws, short turnaround time, byes during SOO, players suspension, ref/ bunker calls, the Parra fans will stick and still follow the team. What we need is for the NRL to recognise that there is a limit to all of this patience.
That’s the problem. We draw crowds, we rate on TV, it all adds to taking advantage of the Eels.
I’m now very much in favour of Origin being a standalone game on a Sunday.
They can never seem to find a solution, so the Origin period stumbles along with all of its bias and imperfections.
As people have noted elsewhere, there is too much money involved to make any meaningful change.
Its simply a huge revenue source for the nrl , its not really that important to those of us that enjoy and understand the game , im actually not bothered wether i watch it or not nowadays , i just want it out of the way so we can see our teams at full strength every week , fix it vlandys , your letting the fans of every club down and its not a fair playing field .
I understand and enjoy the game and I love Origin. You Sydneysiders simply don’t get it and never will. Here in Qld it’s Origin first, club second.
Ive got a mate in Mackay who was a foundation player with the Gold Coast Chargers. He doesn’t really follow any particular club but he becomes manic for the Maroons. Once a year my phone goes manic as well,with his calls and messaging. This year he linked me in to some sort of group messaging from Suncorp.At 32-6 I was considering turning my phone off. Here’s one Sydneysider who gets it.
I was born in Wenty hospital, my family moved to Brisbane when I was three, by all rights I should be a Maroons fanatic, but it’s just never been in my blood. I’m a Qld’er in every other way, but not when it comes to sport, and especially Origin. I’m a proud Blue with the passion of a Qld’er.
I’m no coach but I’d put Bailey as fullback ,asi and matho at 6 & 7 and let Hands do the kick conversions 🙏👏hopefully J’maine can play and Lane is back fit and ready to go 💛💙 let’s prove the negative Nelly’s wrong , parra by 6
Bailey might go well there. And maybe BA would put Waqa at centre to fill his spot. But how would supporters feel about that? By the way, I hadn’t even thought about the conversions! Maybe Russell
It should be Russell with Blake on the wing – he is a winger not a centre and possibly a very good one.
As we now know, it’s Lumelume.
Asi did plenty of goal kicking in QCup.
Id put Russell at FB, Waqa on wing and keep Bailey at centre.
We got the Russell selection right but not the wing
Graham annesley today said the following when talking about people criticising the video referee on the Titans game.
“To be frank, it brings our game into disrepute – the people who do this – because they don’t take the time to examine things properly.”
I would suggest the people responsible for the NRL draw who had months to look over it and knew 3-4 years ago about the Women’s World Cup and therefore stadium availability bring the game into far more disrepute by creating a draw that is either deliberately unfair at worst or put together by people who are incredibly incompetent at best.
It is funny I have not heard Annesley criticise these people he is responsible for.
He in his position is such a problem for our game going forward.
On Fitler, the fact that he thinks Bradman Best can defend at Origin level tells you all you need to know. QLD will have a field day. Put Penisini and Best on the open market and I know who actual first grade coaches want.
Let’s just get behind our boys and cheer them in.
I’ve given up trying to understand the NRL decision makers. And as for the Origin selections this year….🤷🏻♂️
Origin is a cash cow that keeps on giving to NSWRL….. that is…. If QLD keep winning. Our selections and decisions are all around this. Sounds crazy….. But didn’t Gal let the cat out of the bag about getting paid to incite the QLDers and their two heads? Origin has exhausted it’s cycle and should be consigned to the dust bin like the knock out mid week competition was all those years ago.
Bold call 10Year. Given the money associated with it I’m not sure they’ll do that.
Yes, despite the money Origin brings in it is a concept whose time has passed. I don’t think I’d miss it all that much.
Look, Fittler was always a media decision for origin. This proves it.
His selections have always been stupid to say the least, and players who’ve played well been ignored. I pray our guys don’t get injured.
We will beat the warriors as we’re a better team. Yes it’ll be tough but if we’re good enough we can win.
Kick well and starve them of possession in our red zone. Backs to wall.
If they stick to game plans, and get high completions and kick well, we remain a chance.
We use to have a good back up in the leading ko cup half but the morons drove him out.
💯💯💯
Don’t disagree, but Asi has looked composed and competent at all the basics. Gutho missing may be more an issue, will be interesting to see if Russell can push up in support a la Gutho. We score a lot of tries that way.
Gutho will be a huge loss. The amount of work he does off the ball is vital in the context of the Eels game plan.
His work in defence also is one of the hallmarks of our team. Not just the tackles he makes but also the organising.
This will be a big test for Sean Russell and I think he is up to it. One of the biggest tests for the Eels Saturday will be the loss of Brown and Gutho in defence.
Russell to fullback, Waqa onto the wing (queue the Waqa hate, but you watch, it will happen)! Not ideal to lose Gutho for a likely bit part in origin, but keen to see how Russell goes at the back. Any idea who’ll kick goals for us?
Waqa won’t let anyone down if he comes into the team…
I like the idea of keeping Simonsson and Penisini in the centres, it’s working a treat, we can still field a strong 1-7. And having Junior gives us a counter to the in form Fonua Blake, we’ll match up OK 8-13.
BDon, you got your wish
Maybe Russell. He kicked throughout Junior reps
According to the ad on TV … Nathan Hindmarsh.
🤣🤣🤣
I love that we are shorthanded, we find out how good we really are
I think we’re good Brett. Going into this without any of our original starting spine or our prop will be an almighty test
Rather find out now than week 1 if the finals
i didn’t want moses picked in the first place
thrown into a must-win game in queensland it was a no-win scenario either he plays well and still gets sidelined when cleary comes back or he loses and is branded never to play origin again
Pete, it’s probably a no win scenario for him, literally.
Maybe you should ask Mitch how he feels. The other way to look at it is that it’s an incredible opportunity to prove himself even further.
This is never a question about how the players would feel. Any Origin jersey is something they will feel proud about and they will play with passion. That doesn’t mean that the circumstances around their selection aren’t the best for victory.
I think this year’s draw gives Parra three 5 day turnarounds. How many other clubs have received similar treatment ?
There is no shortage of disadvantages for Parra in the draw this year.
Which will mean there will be no questions regarding the legitimacy of our premiership win come the first Sunday in October