Monday Buzz: State of Origin stars should be released to club sides in Round 18

THE NRL should allow State of Origin stars to play for their club sides in round 18 considering it is now a dead rubber, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

James Tamou, James Maloney, Jack Bird, Bryce Cartwright and Josh Mansour are all set to miss Round 18.

THE NRL should allow State of Origin stars to play for their club sides in round 18 considering the final game of the series is a dead rubber.

There is no reason the club competition should suffer any more considering the Origin series is over and only NSW pride is on the line.

Last week we revealed the proof in this column via Fox Sports’ TV ratings that crowds and viewers slump when the best 34 players in the competition, and $20 million worth of talent, are unavailable.

In round 18, the Panthers play the Sharks in what should be one of the best games of the year.

Yet Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour and probably Bryce Cartwright will be unavailable for the home side. Cronulla will be without Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita, Jack Bird and James Maloney.

One game will be missing the seven best players.

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James Tamou, James Maloney, Jack Bird, Bryce Cartwright and Josh Mansour are all set to miss Round 18.

On the same weekend the Canberra Raiders host the premiers North Queensland.

The home side will be without Josh Papalii and possibly blockbusting centre Joey Leilua. The visitors will lose Johnathan Thurston, Michael Morgan, Matt Scott, James Tamou and Justin O’Neill.

Another game will be missing the seven best players.

Fans buy their season memberships to watch not only their own team but also the world’s best players. It’s a huge thrill to have the future Immortal Thurston in your own backyard.

You only get to see him live once a season and you take home lifetime memories from watching the master apply his skills.

State of Origin is the showpiece series of the NRL season. There is nothing quite like it in any other sporting code in this country.

Johnathan Thurston will be missing for the Cowboys in Round 18. Picture: Mark Evans

Yet there is little or nothing to play for on July 13 at ANZ Stadium. That’s why tickets are being virtually given away for $30 with a free wig and T-shirt.

For Panthers fans, the result against Cronulla could mean the difference between the team making the finals or missing out.

For Sharks fans, it could mean the difference between hosting a home final or playing away.

The same goes for the Raiders and Cowboys. There is so much hanging on the outcome of almost every game at the back end of the season.

Josh Papalii will be unavailable for the Raiders in Round 18.

State of Origin players are employed by the 16 clubs, which pay a combined $140 million in wages every year.

Yet they are forced to give up their best players at the most critical time of the year for a game with nothing hanging on the result.

By game three, the Origin players have been together for weeks and know all the plays.

They don’t need 10-day camps. For dead rubbers they need to be back with their clubs because the results of premiership games are far more important once an Origin series has been decided.