Somewhat unbelievably, Laurie Daley has again been quoted as saying that he will stay loyal to the NSW that took part in last year’s unsuccessful Origin series.
Despite the fact a ball is yet to be kicked in NRL competition, Daley has vowed to stand by the majority of the side that copped a 52-6 hiding in game three of last year’s series.
This means he will stand by a halfback who has never delivered an Origin series victory despite playing in six series. The same halfback whose off-field troubles mean he will likely miss at least the first month of NRL competition.
A dummy half whose club publicly stated he was free to look elsewhere, only to have little interest shown.
A second halfback who was shown the door by his NRL club due to a lack of form.
This after turning his back on the halves combination that broke Queensland’s nine year dominance the season earlier.
As much as I admire his loyalty, there is absolutely nothing to be gained from Daley’s comments.
No one should be assured a spot in Origin, especially in February.
Of course the likes of Gallen, Morris and Woods are going to be chosen, but they don’t need to be told, let alone promised a jersey.
After copping a flogging in last year’s decider, each and every player should be put on notice. Once again, some players are going to be there, but they still have to earn it.
What does it do mentally to the likes of Blake Austin, Wade Graham, James Tedesco and James Roberts, four players who should be in the Origin conversation come game one, to hear Daley’s comments?
Daley stopped well short of guaranteeing that changes won’t be made but did state: “When we have made changes, we have made them for reasons rather than reacting.”
Perhaps like reacting to a 46 point drubbing in a game to decide an Origin series?
Maybe the fact that Mitchell Pearce hasn’t produced anything like a match-winning performance in the blue jersey for many years?
Or even the absolute dominance shown by a supposedly “again” Queensland pack over a supposedly “hungrier” blues engine room?
If those aren’t worth reacting too, or at very least looking at, then I don’t know what is.
Let’s face it though, NSW’s Origin selection has long been a joke.
NSW’s best centre in Jamie Lyon has refused to play Origin for as long as I can remember. Can you imagine the reaction north of the boarder if a player turned down a maroon jersey?
They have NSW born and bred players BEGGING to be selected for QLD. The Greg Inglis case is well documented, while Luke Keary flatly refused to pledge his allegiance to the blues, despite the NRL ruling he could not play for his preferred QLD.
Then there was the time NSW picked a young and inexperienced side with a look toward the future, despite the fact there was an Origin series to be won.
How about Laurie Daley comes out and says he will pick the best 17 at the time? This would give fringe players a chance to strut their stuff with genuine aspirations of rep football, while putting incumbents on notice, lifting their games.
There will be people reply who will claim Queensland’s glory came on the back of loyalty.
I have said it before and will say it again, it’s easy to stay loyal to the likes of Slater, Smith, Cronk, Thurston, Inglis, Parker and Thaiday.
I’m a big fan of Daley, as is every NSW fan who suffered through almost a decade of QLD dominance, but please Laurie, don’t promise jerseys before a competition fixture has been played.
Even if you plan on picking the same 17 as last season, at least make it sound like form is important.