State of Origin 2023: Phil Rothfield and Robert Craddock debate series opener

Phil “Buzz’’ Rothfield and Robert “Crash’’ Craddock don’t see eye to eye on much when it comes to State of Origin — and there’s plenty to disagree about as they go head to head.

Tevita Pangai Jnr may never play again, according to Crash Craddock. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Phil “Buzz’’ Rothfield and Robert “Crash’’ Craddock have worked on different sides of the border for more than 40 years.

When it comes to State of Origin, they don’t agree on much.

Here’s their take on the interstate opener.

Crash: Buzz, I know there’s a war in Russia and the Royals are in crisis but let’s start with the biggest story of all – have the Blues settled on what shade of blue jersey they are wearing?

Buzz: Ha ha Crash. One of your best. I actually can’t defend NSW here. Seriously, I put a poll up on Twitter on Sunday night about the navy blue jersey. Had 1500 respondents. Only six percent liked it (probably Queenslanders).

If that’s the case poor old Peter Wynn and Rebel will have plenty leftover. We should never have changed from sky blue. It would be like your mob wearing pink. Or the Australian cricket team wearing baggy lime green caps. It just wouldn’t happen.

Crash: What about the depressed reaction from south of the border when Latrell Mitchell was ruled out. It was like The Bachelor producers when they were knocked back by our colleague Dean Ritchie? Is Latrell really that good?

Buzz: You had to bring Bulldog into this didn’t you … at least you don’t call him Bullfrog like Kalyn Ponga’s old man. Latrell is a massive blow. He’s been playing so strong at Souths but I’m a massive Stephen Crichton fan. Great athlete, strong, tough and fast. Big game specialist at the Panthers.

Crash: It’s quite clear Tevita Pangai has been brought in as a knuckle man to rough up Queensland even though he used to support them two years ago – even you would have to concede that’s borderline weird?

Buzz: Not as weird as you guys accepting Greg Inglis, born, bred, raised and played footy as a little fella in beautiful Macksville on the NSW mid-north coast.

Crash: One reader suggested we should do a story on “Snappy Tom’’ Flegler visiting a school in Adelaide to soften his image then on match night he could storm from the wilderness and be Queensland’s Pangai without the pre-match warning sirens.

Pangai is the most decisive figure in the match. If he ruffles Queensland the distraction could be severe. If he goes too far he could be a disaster and will never play again.

Tevita Pangai Junior is NSW’s X-factor. Picture: Getty

Buzz: I rate Pangai massively, Crash. We won’t be copping any nonsense this year like the two-on-one attack on poor Matty Burton last year. It was outrageous that our guys just accepted it.

Crash: The Queensland boys reckon walking down Caxton Street with Reece Walsh was like having Justin Beiber with them. Is he the game’s new pin-up boy?

Buzz: He’s not as good-looking as Andrew Ettingshausen 30 years ago. Don’t think he can play as good as ET either at this stage of his career. This is another level up from NRL football. The Blues will be testing him out.

Crash: Walsh projects an aura of mega-confidence. There is an old saying “show me a guy with a swagger and I will show you someone hiding something’’ but he’s got wonderful flair. I just hope Queensland can find a way to compete. It’s so hard coming from a state with such a small talent pool.

Buzz: Blablabla. Can I get a question in please? What about poor Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai. Didn’t you guys invent loyalty? I can’t believe Bomber Badel hasn’t gone harder at Billy Slater and his selectors.

Crash: A confession for you. Gagai – gnarled, gritty, warrior that he is – would have been among the first picked in my team. But here’s the thing – the loyalty line was often trotted out as an excuse for limited depth and no options. Now they have options.

What about Adelaide Buzz? Remember the days when Lang Park State of Origin games sold out in two hours – it will pain my heart to see 5000 spare seats in Adelaide. Surely that’s a fail.

Buzz: Bulldog wrote last week there was going to be 12,000 empty seats. So the NRL did a two-for-one ticket offer. That’s a joke. They’re robbing the poor fans who paid full price originally.

Crash: Do you sense Origin is missing something? There seems more tension in the Johns family than the wider community. The days of Phil Gould, Paul Gallen or Ricky Stuart stirring the pot in the lead-up seem gone sadly …

Buzz: How good was Johns brothers’ ‘disagreement’. Matty loves winding him up. And poor Joey falls for it every time. Look, Billy and Freddy are just different characters to Gus, Gal and Sticky. I love Sticky. His post-match press conferences and sideline madness. I just love it.

Buzz: What do you think of Channel 9’s coverage without the great Rabs. I reckon Mat Thompson did a nice job last year but it’s not the same. Are you a Gus fan by the way? And don’t say “no, no, no, no, no”.

Crash: I disagree with Gus all the time but in our ever more sanitised world I enjoy loose cannons and feel league will miss the likes of Wayne Bennett and Gus more than any current player when they leave the game.

Buzz: How do you find covering the game these days Crash? The media access is nothing like it used to be. When Gavin Miller captained NSW in the 80s he’d invite journos to his hotel room for a game of cards the night before a game. DCE and Teddy are lovely fellas and always helpful but it’s not like the good old days.

Crash: Speaking generally, it’s a long way from the era when you’d ring Shane Warne in his room without asking permission from anyone and say “anything cookin’ Warnie … it’s a bit quiet?’’

Buzz: Where’s it going to be won and lost Crash? I reckon we’ve got an advantage with all the Penrith boys – Cleary, Luai, Crichton, Yeo, To’o and Martin. The Panthers are one of the best premiership sides I’ve seen.

Crash: Random tip. Pat Carrigan’s ball skills have improved in the way Corey Parker’s did at the midpoint of his career and he will slip the decisive ball of the game. Who do you fear?

Buzz: David Fifita … such a beast. I know he’s not a workaholic but he only needs one or two little opportunities and could single-handedly destroy. I’m really worried about his potential impact.

Crash: So it’s Queensland by six for me Buzz even though it makes me tremble when I look down the Blues list and see the firepower of Tedesco, To’o and Trbojevic – and that’s just the ones starting with T.

Buzz: I’ve tipped the Blues by the same margin Crash. Should be a sensational game. Lots of open space at a cricket/AFL ground. Lots of tries, lots of points. And I’m tipping Tommy Turbo to win man-of-the-match.

Originally published as State of Origin 2023: Phil Rothfield and Robert Craddock debate series opener