Titanium_BD1103
26-05-06, 01:02 PM
From: www.theaustralian.news.com.au
Memo selectors: when on a good thing, stick to it
COMMENT
Willie Mason
May 26, 2006
I HOPE selectors stick by the NSW team that did the job for them when we face Queensland at Suncorp Stadium for State of Origin II next month - including my good mate and late call-up Brett Finch.
Brett cops a fair bit of criticism from everyone but he's a talented player. I rate him as a halfback. He gets criticised if a couple of things don't go off for him at the Sydney Roosters but he always tries his heart out.
Obviously Brett's selection depends on whether our first-choice halfback Craig Gower can get some football in between now and then.
But I've heard it's going to be two or three weeks before Craig can play after injuring his knee in the NSW camp, so you can probably stick with the same side.
Brett did a great job for us on Wednesday night. The Maroons were running at him defensively, Steve Price kept attacking him, and he handled him fine. He controlled the team. He had the worst preparation - like none - for Origin and he still pulled that one out.
He only came into camp on Tuesday night and woke me up at about 10.30pm. I was sharing a room with Mark O'Meley and he came in and just jumped on us both.
Our coach Graham Murray gave him the same play sheets as us. They are the same sort of plays that every club has.
Every team has them, they just have different names. It was pretty basic. We walked through a couple of things in the morning and did a few drills at Parramatta Stadium and that was about it.
You give him a full week, give him a week with the boys because everyone loves him, he's a character. You'd have to give him another crack. Especially after what he did.
We knew Queensland has a history of coming back. In all its games it always comes back and our defence in the second half was unbelievable. But the alarm bells started to sound when the Maroons levelled things up at the end.
It shocked us that it was 16-all because we thought we were well in control of the game but they ended up coming back.
Johnathan Thurston landed that kick from the sideline and it was starting to look like it was going to be one of those fairytale endings for them.
I'm glad Brett dropped that field goal. It was unreal. I think he would have landed that kick even if he was 50metres out. I haven't stopped hearing about it either.
As for my first Origin try, I saw Mark Gasnier and Braith Anasta but things happen so quickly, especially in Origin.
I was like, 'oh God, I don't want to push a pass and drop it, I'll just back myself and try and find the line'. I didn't know where their fullback Matt Bowen was coming from, but I thought he was going to take my legs from underneath me. I'm glad it worked out.
I know people are bagging how the Queenslanders played but they were not that bad. Their execution wasn't as good as it usually is, there were a couple of dropped balls, but if a couple of those passes stick the game changes. They are still the same, they're very aggressive, they're strong. Don't underestimate them. They are still a strong side.
But while they say they can improve for game two, so can we. We are happy we got away with a win, the series is not over, and we know we have a lot of improvement left in us. Game II is always one of the best and I know I can expect a few boos up there. I can't wait.
I know the ARL would love a decider in Melbourne but ask anyone who plays for NSW - or anyone who is 1-0 up - we want to wrap it up. You go into that second game and you want to finish it there.
As for tomorrow night's game against Brisbane, all the Bulldogs players who played last night are sweet. I jarred my knuckles in the game but I should be right. I don't remember how I did it.
It will be a tough game. It's always hard playing Brisbane in Brisbane. The fans turn out and the Broncos are in good form. It will be hard backing up but once you get through the first 15 minutes it will be like a normal game.
On a final note, I'm happy to see my NSW team-mate Gasnier is staying in the NRL at St George Illawarra.
He sent me a message this morning. He's a great player and we can't be losing great players to rugby union.
We develop them and nurture them and then they just throw money and try to buy our best players. It's not on.
I'm glad "Gaz" showed loyalty to rugby league and stayed where his heart is.
Memo selectors: when on a good thing, stick to it
COMMENT
Willie Mason
May 26, 2006
I HOPE selectors stick by the NSW team that did the job for them when we face Queensland at Suncorp Stadium for State of Origin II next month - including my good mate and late call-up Brett Finch.
Brett cops a fair bit of criticism from everyone but he's a talented player. I rate him as a halfback. He gets criticised if a couple of things don't go off for him at the Sydney Roosters but he always tries his heart out.
Obviously Brett's selection depends on whether our first-choice halfback Craig Gower can get some football in between now and then.
But I've heard it's going to be two or three weeks before Craig can play after injuring his knee in the NSW camp, so you can probably stick with the same side.
Brett did a great job for us on Wednesday night. The Maroons were running at him defensively, Steve Price kept attacking him, and he handled him fine. He controlled the team. He had the worst preparation - like none - for Origin and he still pulled that one out.
He only came into camp on Tuesday night and woke me up at about 10.30pm. I was sharing a room with Mark O'Meley and he came in and just jumped on us both.
Our coach Graham Murray gave him the same play sheets as us. They are the same sort of plays that every club has.
Every team has them, they just have different names. It was pretty basic. We walked through a couple of things in the morning and did a few drills at Parramatta Stadium and that was about it.
You give him a full week, give him a week with the boys because everyone loves him, he's a character. You'd have to give him another crack. Especially after what he did.
We knew Queensland has a history of coming back. In all its games it always comes back and our defence in the second half was unbelievable. But the alarm bells started to sound when the Maroons levelled things up at the end.
It shocked us that it was 16-all because we thought we were well in control of the game but they ended up coming back.
Johnathan Thurston landed that kick from the sideline and it was starting to look like it was going to be one of those fairytale endings for them.
I'm glad Brett dropped that field goal. It was unreal. I think he would have landed that kick even if he was 50metres out. I haven't stopped hearing about it either.
As for my first Origin try, I saw Mark Gasnier and Braith Anasta but things happen so quickly, especially in Origin.
I was like, 'oh God, I don't want to push a pass and drop it, I'll just back myself and try and find the line'. I didn't know where their fullback Matt Bowen was coming from, but I thought he was going to take my legs from underneath me. I'm glad it worked out.
I know people are bagging how the Queenslanders played but they were not that bad. Their execution wasn't as good as it usually is, there were a couple of dropped balls, but if a couple of those passes stick the game changes. They are still the same, they're very aggressive, they're strong. Don't underestimate them. They are still a strong side.
But while they say they can improve for game two, so can we. We are happy we got away with a win, the series is not over, and we know we have a lot of improvement left in us. Game II is always one of the best and I know I can expect a few boos up there. I can't wait.
I know the ARL would love a decider in Melbourne but ask anyone who plays for NSW - or anyone who is 1-0 up - we want to wrap it up. You go into that second game and you want to finish it there.
As for tomorrow night's game against Brisbane, all the Bulldogs players who played last night are sweet. I jarred my knuckles in the game but I should be right. I don't remember how I did it.
It will be a tough game. It's always hard playing Brisbane in Brisbane. The fans turn out and the Broncos are in good form. It will be hard backing up but once you get through the first 15 minutes it will be like a normal game.
On a final note, I'm happy to see my NSW team-mate Gasnier is staying in the NRL at St George Illawarra.
He sent me a message this morning. He's a great player and we can't be losing great players to rugby union.
We develop them and nurture them and then they just throw money and try to buy our best players. It's not on.
I'm glad "Gaz" showed loyalty to rugby league and stayed where his heart is.