State of Origin

[Panchitta Marra]

Listening to Tim Sheens on BBC Web site he realy values the importance of The State of Origin games and its ability to get the national team prepared for international games.
Sheens commented that its two Australian sides really going at each other, and used to being able to hang in when the pressure is on.
He said that England pressed hard but nobody paniced, they held together and when the opportunities came their way the top players stood up and took their chances.
He went on to say that the national side really gains from this form of competition as a preparation to the big games.

Anybody any thoughts on whether we should be looking to re invent a valuable pre-international competition where players national selection is based on this format.

[medlocke]

yes, first off bring back GB then cut the amount of weekly games by 3 and bring in a State of Origin, but instead of it being Lancs v Yorks, it should be West v East, using the Pennines as the border between the 2, also we should set up a selection panel made up of the current GB coach and 3 or 4 legends of the game (ex players/Coaches)who then pick the initial sides and final GB training squad, with the coach deciding the final line up for games.

[ancientnloyal]

yes, first off bring back GB then cut the amount of weekly games by 3 and bring in a State of Origin, but instead of it being Lancs v Yorks, it should be West v East, using the Pennines as the border between the 2, also we should set up a selection panel made up of the current GB coach and 3 or 4 legends of the game (ex players/Coaches)who then pick the initial sides and final GB training squad, with the coach deciding the final line up for games.

so lancs v yorks it is then :p

[platt-warrior]

I agree somewhat with Medlocke,East & West would also encompass Cumbria/Wales,whilst East could be Northumberland
and poss London etc.

[ancientnloyal]

I agree somewhat with Medlocke,East & West would also encompass Cumbria/Wales,whilst East could be Northumberland
and poss London etc.

apart from Ade Gardner and Louis M-S who could possibly feature?

[cpwigan]

Lancashire v Yorkshire 3 match series. Cumbria v Rest of GB either on the undercard or the same dates.

England v Rest of the SL World

[medlocke]

I agree somewhat with Medlocke,East & West would also encompass Cumbria/Wales,whilst East could be Northumberland
and poss London etc.

apart from Ade Gardner and Louis M-S who could possibly feature?

James Graham? int he a scouser

[ancientnloyal]

he'd fall into lancashire. If we go strict we'd have players from Blackpool reserves representing Lancashire.

[josie andrews]

yes, first off bring back GB then cut the amount of weekly games by 3 and bring in a State of Origin

Our lads play far too many games & come the end of the season are knackered & are carrying injuries. We don't seem to be able to play full on for more than sixty mins especially against Oz.

I know that teams played more games in years gone by and did tours as well but why is it we can't do it now?

We must have some players good enough surely!

also we should set up a selection panel made up of the current GB coach and 3 or 4 legends of the game (ex players/Coaches)who then pick the initial sides and final GB training squad, with the coach deciding the final line up for games.

I have thought this for quite a while Medlocke, and really do think there should be an international selection panel then there isn't any preference to certain players or clubs for representatives

[Fevwarrior]

Trouble is RFL are too short sighted, when we started with our own origin they were supposed to build it up year on year. They didnt get the crowds like they did in Aus so we ll just play a one off game. then stop it all together. When the state of origin began in aus they struggled to get people and players behind it, but they haven't looked back since. Lets get it back on and have a pathway into international RL. Get away from the circus that is magic wkd, and have home and away fixtures with 3 rep wkds.