Didn't we have standalone origin weekends at one point? I remember people complaining that there wasn't enough football on over the weekend.
But yes, they should be played on standalone weekends. The game is not run by Nine from next year at least, but I'd imagine TV deals for Origin are already done and we have to wait until that contract is finished.
It's a little annoying it's on a Sunday, though. Unless it's at 3pm on Sunday, we should be making an Origin night an Aussie institution. We can do that by not playing it on a school night for starters.
By the way fellas, Foxtel Now is pretty awesome. If you've got a Chromecast, or an Android TV with Chromecast built-in, Foxtel Now goes great. It streams in HD and costs $39/mth. I saw some news article say it's even possible to share with a mate (would like to try this).
Winning that series is up there with the best. That Storm spine... wow that was just ominous for the NRL comp. Just sensational. Morgan was fantastic at centre, Munster incredible and Gagai was a thoroughly deserved winner for man of the series. Super proud. Cam Smith had a big hand in making Munster look good too.
Thats what happens when Pearce doesnt leave the field.
Game 1. Nsw up by 8. He gets injured and we put on 3 quick tries to win.
Game 2. Nsw up by 10. Pearce playing behind a dominant forward pack. But he cant close a game out and we lose. QLD gained momentum around the time Pearce was injured Game 1.
Game 3. NSW never get into it with Pearce having no idea how to kick out of trouble and help his team out in the next set.
210 minutes of Origin and he didnt get 1 try assist or linebreak assist. It is impossible to win with a halfback who is a passenger.
He might be the best club half, but that doesn't make him the best available.
Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds beat a better Queensland side then the one that Mitchell Pearce couldn't. Mitchell Pearce is a fucking terrible rep player... whereas a solid looking NRL half could go into Origin (like Hokko did) and if they perform at the same level they do in NRL or better yet lift a gear they are automatically better.
Cameron Munster last night was the best player on the ground, better than Thurston in Game 2 even. Yet he is in no way a better club player. He just took his opportunity and ran with it.
But no. We stick with a guy who is guaranteed to fail. It's not the safe option. It's the 100% guaranteed to fail option. 7 lost series is not bad luck. Winning 1 of the 2 series he missed in the last 8 years is not a fluke either.
With him. 0%.
Without him. 50%.
He has defied all odds to lead NSW to that many losses in a competition with only 2 competitiors. With how many chances he has had he sould have atleast gotten lucky by now. But he just isn't good enough at that level and he brings his teammates down with him.
Playing with 12 would be better than having him on the field. Throw in Cordner too... he had 1 win from 6 games and was made captain. That has now blown out to 2 wins from 9 games. Some captain.