One way to make sure Origin is not ruined again – stop hitting people in the head

In the week since the opening State of Origin game, I’ve found it difficult to watch replays of the Joseph Suaalii-Reece Walsh incident. It was confronting seeing Walsh on the ground in the state he was.

In the days since we’ve heard all sorts of theories about what should happen to a player who commits foul play so as not to ruin a spectacle like Origin: just put them in the sin-bin, 20-minute red cards, and have a player able to replace them.

They’re all wrong.

Suaalii deserved to be sent off and there has to be ramifications for serious acts of foul play. It wasn’t a deliberate act, but he got it wrong, so the consequences must be severe.

And if you want one way to prevent it happening in the future: stop hitting people in the head and you won’t be sent off. It’s simple.

Forget about what it means for the millions of people watching on television or those at the ground wanting to watch a close game, we need to commit to a safer sport. It doesn’t matter if NSW had no chance once Suaalii went from the field.

Reece Walsh was concussed in the State of Origin series opener.Credit: Getty

In the modern era, we know the dangers of concussion better than ever before. There has to be a deterrent for tackles like the one we saw last Wednesday night.

I hope Walsh takes the time to recover and we see him back on the field for Origin II in Melbourne.

Crichton surpasses expectations

When Stephen Crichton was named captain of the Bulldogs at the start of the year, I reckon I wasn’t the only one who raised an eyebrow. Was he really captaincy material?

Stephen Crichton (right) has been a revelation since joining the Bulldogs.Credit: Getty

Halfway through the season, I think it’s fair to say Crichton has been the buy of the year in the NRL and a large part of the reason why Canterbury fans can start believing again.

He’s proven he was more than ready to captain a side and everything he does on the field oozes class. As soon as Michael Maguire shifted him in the Origin series opener, the Blues plugged that hole and looked a much better team. He’s having that effect on the Bulldogs, too.

Phil Gould and Cameron Ciraldo deserve a lot of credit for the way they’ve rebuilt that club. It was a masterstroke in the players they brought to Belmore – Kurt Mann, Jaeman Salmon, Josh Curran and Drew Hutchison – because they’re tough and able to play so many positions. More importantly, they’re all winners.

Now the question needs to be asked: can they make the top eight? If they have some luck with injuries, I don’t see why not.

Throw in a confident halfback in Toby Sexton – who is now believing in his talents – and that’s a football team who can sneak their way into the big games in September.

A Rabbitohs run is coming

The Rabbitohs will go on a run some time between now and the end of the season. There’s just too much talent in that team for them not to string wins together.

It’s too much of an ask for them to make the finals after an awful start to the year, which triggered the sacking of coach Jason Demetriou, but they will be a dangerous proposition for many sides chasing a finals spot.

I suspect they’ll put on a show against the Broncos on Friday night.

Cameron Murray’s return is a huge boost for South Sydney and NSW, while Latrell Mitchell is always at his most dangerous when he has a point to prove. He has one as he tries to lock down a Blues spot for Origin II.

While the Broncos are still missing Walsh and Adam Reynolds, I reckon they’re ripe for the picking, and South Sydney can make it three straight.

Will Hynes return slow Trindall?

It’s guaranteed most of the focus on Thursday night will be on Nicho Hynes as he tries to cling to his Origin jumper, but I want to talk about another player who has been key to Cronulla’s fortunes in the past month: Braydon Trindall.

I’m interested to see how he plays now his dominant halves partner (Hynes) is back in the fray. I thought Trindall had struck up an excellent combination with Daniel Atkinson while Hynes battled his calf issue, and if Trindall can keep that form up, Cronulla can go deep into this competition.

His combination with Will Kennedy, arguably the NRL’s most under-rated player, has been crucial to Cronulla’s success this year.

Looking at the Sharks’ draw after Thursday night’s match against the Dolphins, they’ve got the Bulldogs, Titans and Tigers. They’re winnable games. They can launch at a top-four spot.

Wayne Bennett’s teams rarely beat themselves. They will play risk-free football, have a high completion rate and when they get field position, will lift the momentum. I love the look of halfback Isaiya Katoa, who plays so direct and so straight. If ever there’s a 300-game halfback, then he’s the one.

The Sharks will want to repay their fans after that awful showing against the Panthers at home last time out. I suspect they’ll be able to get it done.

Joey’s tip: Sharks by 8
First try-scorer: Ronaldo Mulitalo
Man of the match: Will Kennedy

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