Why the Roosters stars should be left out of State of Origin

I support the Sydney Roosters, not the NSW team. As a supporter I would expect our players are solely focused on wearing the tricolours.

James Maloney in action during game 1 of the State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland at ANZ Stadium, Sy...

The Roosters — the bookmakers’ pals for the previous four rounds after losing in four consecutive photo finishes — drew clear and put the whip away well before the finishing post against the Wests Tigers.

At long last the bookies were forced to pay.

The Roosters won’t have such an easy time of it this week. Old school Easts fans will know not to ever be confident when taking on the Bulldogs. There is something about them that makes our life a misery whenever we play them.

Many are labelling it a State of Origin rehearsal for several players on both sides. This is where I get somewhat frustrated. I don’t care about individual players’ State of Origin credentials.

Rooster James Maloney makes a break during State of Origin at ANZ Stadium.

I support the Sydney Roosters, not the NSW team. As a supporter I would expect our players are solely focused on wearing the tricolours.

Sure, representative honours are a reward for excellence in club football. However there seems to be too much focus on which players will or won’t be picked.

Call me selfish but I’m only interested in how the Roosters are faring. State of Origin is a sideshow which has the potential to severely disrupt a club’s season.

Cameron Smith palms off James Maloney at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Darren England.

This will no doubt be the case for us fans if the Roosters put in another impressive performance, and we all hope they will, on Friday night.

Up to seven Roosters players are being touted as representative candidates. This will be a massive handicap in round 14 when we play the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland. The Warriors could well have no players involved.

The NRL is the best rugby league competition in the world. Yes, it is one of only two professional rugby league competitions, however, find me another professional sport that dilutes its own competition during representative matches.

Can you imagine the uproar if Real Madrid were forced to play Barcelona without Cristiano Ronaldo? Or if Barcelona were without Lionel Messi because Argentina needed him for a world cup qualifier? It just doesn’t happen.

Imagine Barcelona's champion Lionel Messi not being available because of representative duties. AFP PHOTO/ PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU

We are told that it is a television issue. If juggernauts such as the NBA, NFL, EPL or La Liga can have breaks during rep periods, then surely the little NRL can do the same.

I don’t think it is fair for the fans. Why should people pay good money to attend matches, only to be served up a reserve grade standard match?

First and foremost, the Roosters need to win to maintain a good position if and when we will be handicapped over the next couple of months.

Easts to win.