The Northern Territory news Fri 12 Jul 2013
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2013-07-12
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Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/246750
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/581298
www.ntnews.com.au Friday, July 12, 2013. NT NEWS. 29 P U B : NTNE-WS-DA-TE:12-JGE:29 CO-LO-R: C-M Y-K Stand-alone 10-day Origin game plan strikes out By NICK SMART THE NRL has shot down Melbourne coach Craig Bellamys call for a major State of Origin scheduling overhaul. Bellamy yesterday proposed suspending the NRL competition during the State of Origin period for the sake of the code. The Storm mentor floated the radical idea of playing all three Origin games over a 10-day period, rather than the current set-up of three weeks between each game. Each competition (NRL and Origin) is affecting the other in a detrimental way, and I think we should be looking down the track of trying to perhaps pinch that idea off rugby union and suspend our competition for a few weeks and getting the Origin games over in the one go, he said. Maybe they could play the three games with 10 days break in between them, two Wednesday night games and a Sunday night game in between. Then that wouldnt affect the NRL and the NRL wouldnt affect Origin. But the NRL wont budge. We all accept that Origin creates a scheduling issue for the season but it is also the greatest annual series in Australian sport and has been overwhelmingly successful for the game as a whole, NRL spokesman David Taylor said. The scheduling process was examined closely in the television rights negotiations and the current system was retained subject to some changes within the draw to lessen the impact on teams, including reducing the number of games played during that period, and that structure is part of the games broadcast contract for the next five seasons. It is worth noting that in 2001 we tried stand-alone Or igins with little success and the complaints at the time from fans about a lack of club football and the opportunities it offered for other codes were significant. The NRLs response means the Storm will continue to be hurt come Origin time for years to come. They are arguably the club hardest hit. Just one blue could pave the way for a NSW dynasty THE fear of NSW building their own State of Origin dynasty will spur Queensland on to clinch an eighth straight series win in Sydney next week, Maroons veteran Brent Tate says. One of only five surviving members of the victorious 2006 Game 3 side, Tate said Queensland may be enjoying an unprecedented run but knew it could have been all so different if not for a fateful Brett Hodgson pass eight years ago. And after experiencing Origins highs and lows over the past 11 years, Tate knew momentum could so easily swing toward the Blues again if their streak ended next Wednesday night. We were staring down the barrel of losing four straight series (in Game 3, 2006), Tate said. That was unspeakable and unthinkable at the time. The run we have had is amazing but I have been part of the last three in which we were beaten so I have experienced both, the highs and lows. And thats why I think it is so important to keep this run going once it is broken it is so hard to wrestle back. Queensland fought back from 14-4 down with nine minutes left on the clock to break NSWs three-series run in 2006 and Hodgsons heart after his wayward pass was snapped up by Darren Lockyer for the unlikely matchwinner. Tate said Queenslands legendary never-say-die attitude got them over the line that night. But he says something even more special had evolved under Mal Meninga. Thats what I have enjoyed about it (Meninga coaching). When Mal came to the team he gave it some values . . . Mal has really taught us what it means to pull on this jumper. Boyd the key: talk about an enigma NO WONDER NSW cant crack the Greg Inglis-Darius Boyd left-edge dominance in State of Origin. The key to their uncanny understanding is as unlikely as a Blues right-side winger playing consecutive Origin games. Boyd once infamously held a 30-word press conference and makes media-shy supercoach Wayne Bennett appear chatty, yet Inglis believes that Boyds communication skills have helped lay the platform for Origins most devastating tryscoring combination. Inglis who already tops Origins tryscoring list with 15 in 20 games poses a huge problem for NSW ahead of Wednesdays State of Origin decider. However, Boyd appears to be the real enigma in the Queensland side after Inglis provided a rare insight into what makes the notoriously shy winger tick. Asked what he liked best about Boyds game, Inglis said: There are a lot of things that people dont see. Even though he doesnt talk to the media a lot he is a good talker on the field. Boyd may be misunderstood but he does not plan on changing that perception any time soon. Boyd has again been shielded from the media in the lead-up to Origin III. There would be plenty of positives to talk about his Game Two double took him to equal second on the Origin tryscoring charts with 12 in just 16 games. I dont think he wants people to know the Darius that I know, Inglis said. In saying that I know the reasons why he doesnt want to speak to the media. On a personal level he is a terrific guy. On the footy field he is a very different person that you see away from it. The carnage caused by Inglis is seen as the reason the fifth different NSW winger will line up against Boyd in as many games next week. Territorian James McManuss injection marks the 17th centre-wing combination the Blues will use in a bid to stop him. Maroons coach Mal Meninga made no secret that they exploited NSWs fixation with Inglis, who was often used as a decoy. Daly Cherry-Evanss workhorse effort in Origin II was one of the standouts for Queensland and hes hoping for a repeat effort Picture: ADAM HEAD Daly tackles his task STATEOFORIGIN By CHRIS GARRY This is definitely bigger than a grand final as far as build-up IN AN amazing effort, regular halfback Daly CherryEvans made more than a tackle a minute in his State of Origin and back-row debut. Cherry-Evans said years of studying each role in a rugby league team made his inaugural first-grade game at lock smoother than expected as Queensland squared the series. His impressive performance could see him receive even more time for Queensland on in Wednesday nights Origin decider at ANZ Stadium. Replacing Corey Parker after 20 minutes of Origin II, the Manly playmaker took hit-ups like a prop and hunted down forwards like a lock, racking up 26 tackles in 23 minutes. In your first game you dont want it to slide past because next thing you know you havent done anything, he said. Statistically, I was pretty busy and it definitely felt that way because my lungs were burning, but thats the role I have been given in this side and hopefully I can get close to those minutes in the next game. As a halfback you need to know everyones role in the team. Part of your job is controlling what is going on so when I went on as a middle back-rower I knew my role and what I had to do to help the team. It was an easier transition than I thought. I have only been pigeon holed as a halfback and I thank Mal (Meninga) for giving me the opportunity for backing me and my ability to play elsewhere. Cherry-Evans confirmed just how enormous this decider will be, stating that there was more at stake than his 2011 grand final with the Sea Eagles. This is definitely bigger than a grand final as far as build-up, he said. This is such a long reign by the Queensland side there is more at stake. Queensland will again target misfiring Blues rookie James Maloney whose defence last game was so poor his coach Laurie Daley held a special meeting with him to address the issue. Maroons five-eighth Johnathan Thurston said he enjoyed repaying the favour after he was targeted by the Blues in Game 1. It was good to get one back on them, Thurston said.