Buzz vs Crash: Origin on trial if ‘looney-lacking’ Maroons lose and risk a dead rubber in Sydney

Robert “Crash” Craddock and Phil “Buzz” Rothfield spar ahead of State of Origin II, with the blowtorch firmly on Billy Slater as NSW seeks a series-winning triumph in the west.

Origin – and its impact on the NRL – will officially be on trial if NSW and Queensland serve up a dud in the pilgrimage to Perth.

Robert “Crash” Craddock and Phil “Buzz” Rothfield spar ahead of State of Origin II, with the blowtorch firmly on Billy Slater as NSW seeks a series-winning triumph in the west.

Buzz: Any truth in the rumour QRL CEO Ben Ikin is going to hire the new Broncos crisis manager/spin doctor if you get beaten in Perth?

Crash: Hang on, you are the one from Spin City ... as Kev Walters says we don’t have smoke and mirrors up here. It’s a challenging time but Buzz can I tell you the real terror up here is the prospect of who is coming in a few years’ time.

Buzz: Who’s that?

Crash: Lachlan Galvin. Even though he’s from Sydney I won’t be surprised if Galvin is asked to light the flame at the Brisbane Olympics. I’m just going on all the reports out of Sydney that he is going to take over from Don Bradman as Australia’s greatest sportsman (even though Isaiya Katoa is a better player). Seriously, you blokes ...

Buzz: Hahaha. Mate, two series in a row if you lose … the pressure will be on Billy. You got rid of the captain so might as well sack the coach too. You’re a loyal lot.

Crash: Billy’s record would be identical to Kev Walters, who won his first two, then lost the next two. They won’t sack him but Queensland have not lost four games in a row since 1997 so it’s a concern. Doing the form you would swear the Maroons are no chance but you know what it’s like Buzz ... just when you are totally convinced Queensland are no chance they become a chance.

Former Maroons Origin coach Kevin Walters won two series before losing the next two. Current Queensland coach Billy Slater is staring down the barrel of the same record.

Buzz: If Billy was to step down – or get punted – what would your mob do? Cameron Smith? Kevvy Walters? You know what I’d do … bring back Wayne Bennett.

Crash: Didn’t you once ask Wayne if he’d ever coach NSW?

Buzz: I did and he said it was the dumbest question he’d ever been asked. So here’s a bloke happy to coach England against his own country, New Zealand against his own country, but won’t coach against his own state. I guess that’s Origin. Who do you think Queensland would go for?

Crash: They will offer it to Smith but they feel he is a bit like Peter Sterling – a brilliant mind who, after so many years of heavy duty playing, prefers a more stress free life of the commentary box, which is his choice. You simply have to be fully invested otherwise it’s a waste of time.

Buzz: No Wayne?

Crash: He is their SOS option. Don’t write it off. Wayne just gets Origin. He knows it’s about coaching the heart and not the head.

Could the Maroons send another SOS to Wayne Bennett if they lose this series? Picture: Getty Images

Buzz: Now is there any chance you might kick off towards Spencer Leniu?

Crash: I think they will and that will be a victory of sorts for the Blues because it means Queensland admitting they got it wrong in game one. I was talking to Trevor Gillmeister the other day and he said all those whacky old warriors like Gavin Allen, Gordie Tallis and company would have loved the challenge of muscling up to Leniu if they had kicked it to him in the first game.

Buzz: As a NSW fan, I like your team. I’m so happy Reece Walsh isn’t playing. He was unreal in his comeback game against the Titans. I love having Pat Carrigan on the bench and not starting. He can be a beast in those early exchanges. And I like ‘The Hammer’ being flicked to the wing. The further he is away from the football the better for the Blues.

Crash: I know Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow does not love playing wing. Apparently, the Blues reckon that if they kick well Queensland won’t have the firepower to bring the ball back and hurt them. I was really hoping they would pick Corey Horsburgh, who is as mad as a hatter. Spud Carroll was right. The Queensland pack lacks a Looney Factor. They need something to fire them up. Aaron Woods has done his best by calling Billy Slater a grub. What did you make of that?

Corey Horsburgh could have solved the Maroons pack’s lack of a “Looney Factor”. Picture: Getty Images

Buzz: Woodsy started a new breakfast radio gig at Triple M this year with Beau Ryan. He’s looking for as much publicity as he can get to drive ratings and, you know what, he’s achieved his goal. I did laugh at Gordie Tallis having a whack back with his line: “Didn’t this bloke play reserve grade for six clubs?” The build-up has been flat because players are so well trained these days to say nothing even remotely provocative. It’s a shame it’s blown up at Billy Slater’s press conference like it did on Tuesday.

Crash: Buzz, Origin is on trial here. If it’s another dud game then for the first time I will agree with you that the disruption it has to the NRL has not been worth it.

Liam Martin and Hudson Young all smiles after winning Origin I. Picture: Adam Head

Buzz: You’ve got me started now. I thought last weekend’s club round was really poor quality. Lucky the cricket was on at Lord’s. That’s what I watched. I don’t mind mid-year Origin but they’ve got to start listening to people like Wayne Bennett, Blake Solly and co and stop the comp for a few weeks.

Game one was flat Crash, although the TV ratings were sensational. I actually think the series needs a Queensland win in Perth to spark it up.

Nothing worse than a dead rubber in game three.

Crash: Buzz it will be interesting to see what presence the game has in the Kerry Stokes-owned, rugby league-loathing West Australian newspaper. I hear it will be placed on the same page as the Pinjarra trot results …

Buzz: Or even further back with the death notices … No, on a serious note, the editor Chris Dore, who we’ve both worked for, loves his big events. A full house at Optus Stadium demands maximum exposure. You know 80 per cent of the crowd will be locals according to ticket sales data. Same with the Perth Bears mate. The paper didn’t even run a brief when big Mal was appointed Perth Bears coach. That will have to change. They’ll lose readers otherwise.

Crash: So who are you tipping?

Buzz: NSW by 12, Nathan Cleary man of the match. Could even be a bigger winning margin. I think we’ve clearly got the better side.

I’m trying to think how many Queenslanders would make an Australian side if it was picked from this series. I’d say not many. I guess you’re tipping the Maroons old mate.

Crash: Yes, by two but it worries me that half the side – and I mean this – are out of form.