Phil Rothfield vs. Robert Craddock on how Origin III will be won
What role will Josh Papalii play, what NSW needs from Spencer Leniu and a shock pick for man of the match – all that and more as PHIL ROTHFIELD and ROBERT CRADDOCK go head-to-head in the lead up to the decider.
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Crash: Hey Buzz, was it true there was a bit of late night hijinks after Queensland’s game two win?
Buzz: Yes, there was, Crash. I hear Cam Munster and Harry Grant may have been texting Craig Bellamy until all hours after the game as they celebrated victory. Bellyache was in bed at the Blues’ team hotel and had to turn his phone off for the night. Cam and Harry love a gee-up and were just giving it to him. Bellamy has been helping out Laurie all series and has been a huge asset. So he’s coaching against four of his Storm boys – Munster, Grant, Xavier Coates and Trent Loiero. I have heard you don’t like Bellyache in this role.
Crash: No I don’t, because I just cannot see how he can coach the Storm and the Blues properly. They are mutually exclusive in my book because the Blues Plan A must involve negating his two best club players Munster and Grant. Does he spill the beans on their weaknesses? Surely not. Either way he is letting a side down.
Buzz: Seriously? I remember when Wayne Bennett, while at the Broncos, coached England. And, I’ve looked this up … you know who was in the Australian side against him back then – three of his Broncos players, Darius Boyd, Matt Gillett and big Sammy Thaiday. As Queensland coach in Origin he also had to coach against Michael de Vere, who was a centre at the Broncos. It’s just a fact of life. Look at international football now. Half the Penrith side plays for the Pacific Island nations. They’d be tipping to their coach about Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin in the Kangaroos team.
Crash: What do you make of the teams, Buzz?
Buzz: I was shocked that your mob didn’t pick Reece Walsh at fullback. He’s had two runs back from a spell with the Broncos and has lifted them back into contention. Billy Slater was a bit worried about his knee but the Maroons would be a much more dangerous team with Walsh at fullback and the Hammer in the centre. That gives you a double X-factor.
Crash: I like the Hammer at fullback because he has the second-safest set of hands we’ve seen in Queensland, outside Ian Healy. Walsh is gifted but State of Origin is often lost by errors as much as won by brilliance.
Buzz: Bloody Ian Healy. He’s on Brisbane’s version of SEN breakfast with Corey Parker, right? I obviously don’t listen from the Harbour City but apparently, they give it to me now. Good luck to them. On a more serious not, Do you like Queensland’s shock selections Gehamat Shibasaki and Ricky’s man Big Papa, Josh Papalii.
Crash: I do because sometimes when you are really under the pump the Hollywood storyline can inspire a team. It’s not often you get to write about the distant descendant of a Japanese pearl diver. Shibasaki is living the dream after basically giving up a few years back. He’s loving it so much. Even if he fails he has succeeded if you know what I mean. It’s not a bad mindset.
Buzz: As I said, I’d have played Hammer in the centres but I can appreciate why Billy has picked them on recent form. Still, two key changes on the back of a win is a gamble.
Crash: Buzz I wonder how Cam Munster’s mindset will be after the death of his dad Steve?
Buzz: Such a sad story, this one Crash. I’m so glad his father, Steven, got to see him captain his beloved Maroons in Perth. Such a proud family moment. I have no doubt Cameron will be saying to himself something like, ‘dad would want me to play and I’ll go out and win for him’. It must be so hard but that’s the sort of person Munster is.
There was a similar tragic story in the NRL last year, Crash. Tyrone Munro is the young Indigenous boy at the Rabbitohs. He’s a really good winger. Well, he played two days after his mum died and scored a couple of tries too. The kid just wanted to do his mum and his family proud.
Crash: There is a chance it could really inspire him. Four years ago an Indian fast bowler Mohammad Siraj lost his dad while on tour here during Covid. He hadn’t even played a Test but instead of going home he stepped up and won India the series in the stunning performance then went straight from the airport to his dad’s grave in Hyderabad when he went home.
Buzz: Wow, amazing stuff Crash. Good on him.
Crash: Buzz, what are you expecting of Spencer Leniu this game? I mean I get all the huffing and puffing but he didn’t actually blow the house down in the last game, did he?
Buzz: He’s going okay mate but I agree he’s overdue to do a bit more. We’ll need more from him in a decider. It’s going to be on for young and old. Might just be his type of game.
Crash: Buzz I love the story about Big Papa when he first came into Origin camp and sent a text to coach Wayne Bennett saying “I’m a bit nervous about meeting you’’ and Bennett wrote “so you should be”. How will they use him?
Buzz: What a good yarn. How will they use him? I’d say he’ll be a 20-minute impact player. Run straight, run hard, exhaust the Blues defence. It’s that simple. I reckon he’ll start, although the Raiders often use him from the bench.
Buzz: On a lighter note, I want to ask you something else Crash. I note your colleagues Peter Badel and Travis Meyn ran the Gold Coast marathon on Sunday as prep for the big game. Now, while they were both out there running personal bests, I had a call from an informant suggesting that on Sunday morning you were spotted in a Surfers Paradise café demolishing a ham and cheese croissant while sipping on a cappuccino. They’ve put you to shame old mate.
Crash: That’s a complete beat-up. It was actually an oat Mocha. I saw Pete Badel motor past and I had to reach for my Ventolin. He was going so fast he gave me asthma!
Buzz: Haha. We better do our tips Crash. I’m, as always, going for NSW. We were that undisciplined and really poor in Perth. We won’t be that bad again. I’m tipping a Nathan Cleary blinder. On Thursday morning we’ll be talking about him alongside Joey and JT. Your thoughts?
Crash: Queensland by 6 with a surprise man of the match ... Robert Toia.
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