Opinion
Queensland’s amnesia about grubby tactics is breathtaking
Andrew Webster
Chief Sports WriterGiven all the concern about rugby league players and the devastating effects of repeated concussion, it was reassuring in the aftermath of the Origin opener to learn that several former NSW players had long memories about Nate Myles.
About many Queenslanders, for that matter.
After their 38-10 win in Sydney, footage emerged of the Maroons assistant coach giving a mouthful of abuse to NSW centre Joseph Suaalii, who had been sent off after just seven minutes for his mistimed tackle on fullback Reece Walsh.
“Enjoy your f---ing debut,” Myles barked.
All good theatre, of course. Origin theatre. Then Queensland did what they often do when it comes to Origin and started taking themselves too seriously, ascending to the moral high ground with claims Walsh had been deliberately targeted.
It has angered NSW players past and present. As soon as Myles’ sledge received some media air-time, a zombie apocalypse of former Blues players to whom I hadn’t spoken in years rose from the dead and fired in text messages of outrage.
Queensland assistant coach Nate Myles sledges Joseph Suaalii after he was sent off.Credit: Channel Nine
Myles and the rest of Queensland might not recall some of their tactics over the years – but they do.
In the lead-up to the 2013 series, the Blues complained about Myles weaponising his enormous forehead, claiming he would headbutt them in tackles.
The year before, hooker Robbie Farah had been concussed after feeling the wrath of Myles’ massive noggin in the decider after Myles had hit halfback Mitchell Pearce late and high in game one.
It all came to a head – boom-boom! – when NSW captain Paul Gallen punched Myles into the next suburb in the opening match of the 2013 series, an act that prompted NRL chief executive Dave Smith to rush through a punching ban thereby destroying rugby league forever.
Nate Myles caused plenty of damage in the Origin arena, not least when leading into tackles with his large head.Credit: Nine
Gallen has maintained that Myles twisted his knee in an early tackle during that match, prompting him to go whacketty-whack later in the half. Simply, the captain and his players had had enough.
All of which has left many True Blues bemused about the grandstanding coming out of Queensland about Walsh being targeted.
His Broncos coach, Kevin Walters, figured Joseph Suaalii’s four-match ban wasn’t enough, when most agreed it was a rare moment the match review committee had got it right.
On Monday morning, having named his side for Origin II, NSW coach Michael Maguire had had enough, too.
Robbie Farah was left concussed after colliding with Myles’ head in a tackle in 2012.Credit: Nine
“You’ve got to make sure you don’t live in glasshouses, that’s all I’ll say,” he said when asked about the Walsh claims. “Things happen on the field, and that was one there that Joey – he’s a special human being, to have to deal with that … He’ll be in and around the camp at some stage, but things happen on the field. Glasshouses. Interesting.”
I’m not entirely sure what Madge is saying here either, but we’re all smart enough to know he’s tired of the Maroons’ hypocrisy on this issue. Glasshouses. Interesting.
Queensland’s anger is mostly in support of Walsh, but the Blues camp suspects it’s also designed to put pressure on the match officials heading into Origin II.
Game-one referee Ashley Klein is expected to be appointed for the Melbourne match in coming days.
Maguire’s remarks are the first shots fired this Origin series and we’re all better for it, although he has more important items on his agenda than a cryptic war of words.
He has made five changes to his squad, most of them pretty straightforward: Dylan Edwards for James Tedesco at fullback; Latrell Mitchell for Suaalii at left centre; Mitchell Moses for Nicho Hynes at halfback; and Cameron Murray for Cameron McInnes at lock.
On the bench, Roosters utility Connor Watson replaces Canberra’s Hudson Young, which also isn’t surprising because Maguire was leaning towards Watson for game one until he was injured.
Perhaps the biggest query is how Moses and five-eighth Jarome Luai work together in a must-win game at an unfamiliar stadium on a slippery surface.
Was any thought given to picking a big-bodied five-eighth like Matt Burton to play alongside Moses?
Queensland coach Billy Slater has been noticeably measured with his comments about the Suaalii send-off and the targeting of Walsh, who has been cleared to play in game two.
“I’ll keep my feelings about that to myself,” is all he’s really said, although the look of thunder on his face made it obvious what those feelings were.
Like all the great fullbacks, Slater was targeted during his career – including in Origin – but he gave as good as he received.
In game two of that series, Slater lashed out with an elbow that caught Pearce on the cheek. He was reported on the field, but the match review committee decided it was accidental.
On Sports Ears that night, you could hear Slater’s comment to the battered Blues halfback as the series was sent to a decider. It captures everything that is magnificent about State of Origin.
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