Monday Buzz: Inexperience didn’t beat the Kangaroos in the Four Nations final against the Kiwis
MONDAY BUZZ: PLAYER burnout is the reason the Kangaroos lost the Four Nations final against the Kiwis - not inexperience. Blog with Buzz from 9AM.
Opinion
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INEXPERIENCE didn’t beat the Kangaroos in the Four Nations final against the Kiwis.
It was burnout, and the play that summed it up came in the 58th minute.
The magnificent Kiwi halfback Shaun Johnson produced the most amazing in-and-away on our champion fullback Greg Inglis to score.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs superstar barely touched him
Why? Because he was spent, burnt out, fatigued and totally exhausted.
Inglis has played a lot more football than Johnson this year.
The premiership rounds, the Anzac Test, three brutal Origin games and all the way through the finals in the toughest and most demanding footy of the year.
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Johnson went into the Four Nations on six weeks rest. The little master was at his peak and proved unstoppable. He was the best player on the park by the length of the field.
Inglis, for all his skill and power, just couldn’t find one more big game.
Last month GI’s manager Alan Gainey told this newspaper his man was “mentally stuffed.”
And he played like that. Even future Immortals can’t produce when they’ve got nothing else to give.
Inglis had 11 runs for 85 metres in the Four Nations final.
His average metres during the season for Souths was almost double that — 166.8 to be exact.
And that is the story in a nutshell.
At times he didn’t have the energy to even return the football from kicks, instead looking to pass to his wingers Josh Mansour and Sione Mata’utia.
That rarely happened during Origin or the competition rounds.
I wrote earlier this year that if players were animals, you would report the NRL to the RSPCA or at least the officials responsible for scheduling games.
It is bordering on cruelty.
The Kangaroos went into this series without Billy Slater, Jarryd Hayne, Johnathan Thurston, Josh Morris, Brett Morris, Darius Boyd, Matt Scott, Paul Gallen, Justin Hodges, James Tamau and Matt Gillett.
Take nothing away from the Kiwis but this series was not decided on a level playing field.
None of the Kiwis played in Origin.
Only 11 of their 17-man squad played finals football. The rest, like Johnson, were resting and preparing for this tournament.
Fortunately next season there is only one Anzac Test and the stars will get a well-deserved break at the end of the season. It is long overdue.
Sadly these players are represented by their association that is renowned for allowing the governing body to walk all over them.
Their office is at NRL headquarters and they are funded by the NRL.
They need to become independent. And they need to take better care of the players.
HIGHLIGHT
Jamie Whincup became the best ever V8 driver on Sunday with his sixth tour championship victory at Phillip Island. This guy is not just a super driver but a quality ambassador for the sport.
LOWLIGHT I
The disgusting images of a female UFC fighter and her shocking injuries in Mexico on Sunday. And they have the hide to call this thuggery a sport. The sooner it is banned in this country the better. It should also be an R-rated program on television.
LOWLIGHT II
The New Zealand TV network’s coverage of the Four Nations final was dreadful. They didn’t even show us a replay of that ‘alleged’ forward pass when Sione Mata’utia was called back for what would have been a match-winning try in the 79th minute.
LOWLIGHT III
James Brayshaw on Nine’s cricket coverage. Zzzzzzzzzzz. I’d rather listen to Gus do the footy.
CRUEL GAME
Rugby league can be a tough game. Centre Jonathan Wright asked the Cronulla Sharks for a mid-year release to join the Bulldogs. It was denied. He’s now been told his services are not required. He is married with two young children, can’t find a club, and is unemployed.
ROOS COOKED
Australia’s attack struggled in the Four Nations final because skipper Cameron Smith burnt himself out, making an incredible 54 tackles. The Kiwis aimed their big men at him all night.
As a result the Kangaroos captain had only two runs for 16 metres.
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