DISCORD 2012: Edition 22

by NRL

IT'S easy to dismiss the advantage Australian Rules have over us as just money.

But the other day I came across a story about NSW beating Victoria in their State Of Origin series. Have a think about that. Name the year you think Victoria will first beat NSW in a league origin match.

Now that last sentence is a throwaway line. But let's dig down into what it means. You might say 'oh, 2073' but right now, you'd be pretty much guaranteed to be wrong.

That's because players from Victoria currently play for NSW. Young Tonumeipea, likely to be the first Victorian produced Storm first grader, represented the Blues in the Under 20s Origin a few weeks ago - because Melbourne play in the SG Ball which is a NSW competition.

Even before the first Victorian plays first grade, we are limiting ourselves - deliberately stepping on the tiny chute of a new flower as soon as it pokes itself out of the dirt.

I would love to have seen Frank Stokes and Steve Larder play for Northern Territory, Darren Waters and Jon Green for Western Australia, Joel Reddy for South Australia.

In this column for the last two weeks we've discussed funnelling some of Origin's coming windfall to international football. But why not spend some of it on building up the second tier of interstate football.

Surely and 'Affiliated States' team with fulltime pros in it would be a great promotional tool for the game and would allow NRL stars to pass on their experience to the amateurs in those states.

If Victoria ever does beat NSW in Origin, the process has to start some time. It might as well be now.

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OF COURSE Penrith should not be given salary cap concessions, allowing them to 'move on' players, just because there's an AFL team on their doorstep.

The entire request is breathtakingly audacious and really should be laughed out of League Central. Any measures used to help clubs with special needs should come from a specific strategy, not from a list of a club's immediate on-field needs.

Maybe Penrith need a new weights room. That'll help the fight with AFL by making their players big and strong! Maybe they need a new canteen! Fans will come if the steak sangers are better than at GWS!

Sorry, I don't think getting rid of Michael Jennings will help win the battle for the hearts and minds of Sydney's west.

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FEEDBACK time and Sea Eagle, Origin players are paid out of NRL funds now. If the NRL made a decision to promote international football and stop players choosing Origin for financial reasons, they could easily pay players the same fees to represent other countries. OK, England and New Zealand can afford to pay the going rates so they would be excluded. But it's no more 'false' or artificial than the salary cap. As for the stadia, Richo is driving the system that will be in place next season where the NRL directs Sydney clubs where to play. For a full explanation, see this yarn: http://stevemascord.com/2012/05/22/the-big-issue-12/

Scott says Michael Jennings was unfairly singled out in being sent to the sin bin Origin I but from where I was sitting, it was glaring how far he ran. Maybe it didn't show up on television but I tweeted straight away that he had run a long distance. He had to go. Knightly Vision says players shouldn't be punished for misbehaving! The entire idea of sport is about rules. That's how we come up with games, by making up rules. That is all sport is really - a set of rules. So I disagree with you vehemently. If Origin has different rules, someone write them down and let us see them! Tell us how many steps you are allowed to run before throwing a punch! Until then, it's rugby league. I don't mind the Pacific Allstars idea, it's MUCH more attractive than Kiwi Origin but would hurt New Zealand's recruitment - which is why they'd never agree to it.

Marty wants the Kiwis to play the All Blacks at Origin time. I think we are going to see a big hybrid game in the UK soon - personally I don't think we should be giving rugby union the time of day.

Your thoughts?