Buzz: The talented Mr Gidley

THERE are three things certain about the month of June: we get our tax returns ready, Queensland win Origin - and we all bag Kurt Gidley. LIVE BLOG

THERE are three things certain about the month of June every year: we get our tax returns ready, Queensland win State of Origin - and we all bag Kurt Gidley.

For seven painful years punters have criticised the selection of the Knights skipper from the moment the NSW Blues are announced. Last night it was no different as Twitter and internet chat rooms lit up with the same old theme - what the hell is Gidley doing in the team.

The fact is coach Laurie Daley has had the Knights star earmarked for the bench from the moment he was appointed coach.

Just like he always wanted Mitch Pearce at halfback, the coach wanted Gidley on his bench. It's all about balancing the team.

The fact Gidley has played 87 games at fullback, 55 at five-eighth, 40 at halfback, six in the centres, six at hooker and seven from the bench makes him the most versatile player in the game. Certainly the most adaptable since former Roosters and Maroons utility Chris Flannery, who played every position in the NRL but prop and hooker.

There was an argument for NSW to go with four forwards on the bench because Luke Lewis can cover a number of positions, as can Greg Bird.

It would have allowed an extra forward and more oomph from the bench.

John Sutton

The advantage of having Gidley is that if anyone goes down, there's no need to change the entire mechanism of the side.

Players can stay in their selected and specialist positions which they have trained in for 10 days.

Gidley can cover just about every option. Understandably, there is huge reaction whenever he is chosen. It's because he's solid, safe and secure rather than the sort of player who can blow a game open with one moment of brilliance.

Others like Canterbury's Josh Reynolds, John Sutton or even Todd Carney, who has played five-eighth, halfback and fullback, had claims for the bench. They'd all be more likely to turn a football game that goes down to the wire.

But at the same time they can't cover as many positions as Gidley.

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Many of the top coaches in rugby league rate and respect Gidley a lot more than the fans. Craig Bellamy used to say he was the first player chosen in the NSW side because he was such a great athlete and outstanding leader.

One year under Bellamy he became the first player in history to captain the Blues from the bench.

Laurie Daley

Tim Sheens is the same and had no hesitation using him as part of his 17-man squad against the Kiwis this year. Not for his brilliance, but for his reliability. Wayne Bennett rates him highly alongside all the champions he has coached. He found out last year how hard it was for the Knights with Gidley sidelined for most of the year.

Try this golden idea  

MOST of us agree golden point is nothing but a boring five hit-ups and a field-goal shootout.

Instead of just ditching extra time, there are other ways to get a result that actually encourage attacking football. And I'm not just talking about golden try.

I'd love to see a full 10 minutes of extra time and a gradual reduction of players on the field. If the scores are level at full-time, both sides have to take two players off. So for five minutes it's 11 against 11.

At the five-minute turnaround, both teams drop another player.

Could you imagine the excitement of 10 against 10 for the final five gripping minutes.

Surely the emphasis would be on using the football and the wide open spaces across the park.

Better still, the NRL could change the competition points awarded to the AFL's system of four for a win.

If a match is drawn and goes into extra time, the winners get three and the losers one.

Surely it's a fairer method for a team that is level after 80 minutes to at least walk away with something for their efforts.
 

HIGHLIGHT

Penrith’s startling form of recent weeks, including Saturday night’s thumping of St George Illawarra.
Who needs a five-year plan?

LOWLIGHT

Another 100-point flogging for the poor old GWS Giants in front of 6000 fans. I’m starting to feel sorry for them.

SOWARD’S SHOCKER

"Marquee signing’’ Jamie Soward looked like he’d joined Penrith six months early at Kogarah on Saturday night. He made more errors than any other player on the field and deserved to be booed off the park.

A TOP PROP

Brenton Lawrence’s sensational cover defence that stopped Blake Ferguson short of the line at Brookvale on Saturday night should almost have been banned from the front-rower’s club.

REFS NO BETTER

The standard of refereeing in the NRL is no better than last year. Every week, every game we’re seeing game-changing blunders. Unlike players who get dropped for repeated poor performances, the referees just keep reappearing week after week.

TAKE THE TIP, RAY

Surely questions need to be asked about Racing NSW’s handling of the More Joyous inquiry. If chief steward Ray Murrihy is so naïve to think punters don’t get tips from stables, he has been asleep at the wheel.

TURNAROUND

Maybe the NRL needs its own stewards judging by the massive form reversal in Auckland yesterday. Last week the Knights won by 36 and the Warriors lost by 56 yet the New Zealand team beat Newcastle by 16. Work than one out.