State of Confusion

Here at Kiwi Sports Blog recently there have been a few things I just don't get about my favourite sport in the whole wide world.  Not to say I just don't agree with them - my opinion on league is wrong more often than not - just that I have no idea what on earth people are talking about with these things.  By the way, by 'people' I mean mates, randoms on the Lone Scout facebook page, and randoms on twitter.

Bitching about Origin Selections

Sure I can understand people being unhappy about Josh Dugan over Jarryd Hayne, Michael Ennis over Robbie Farah, or Jacob Lillyman over Dave Taylor (for the record I prefer Dugan, Farah, and obviously Lillyman).  But there are two gripes I don't understand at all.

Senior Shark becomes Captain Cockroach

Paul Gallen was named captain of NSW, which seemed like an absolute no-brainer to me.  But it seems Blues fans weren't too happy with that choice, with some even suggesting he shouldn't be in the team.  Now, it was suggested here last year that he should be dropped for the third game, but that was only because KSB thinks NSW needs to build around a young core, and Gallen is 29.  I still think youth is the best way for NSW to survive the nuclear fallout of five straight losses, but you can't deny form.

Depicted: The New South Wales Blues team, 2006-2010

And based on form this year, both for the Sharks and in the ANZAC Test, Gallen has been the best second rower in the world.  His workrate has been incredible, and even though on paper the Sharks team is as ugly as Joakim Noah's jump shot, between Gallen and Jeremy Smith they are somehow still competitive.  They are hugely exceeding pre-season expectations and without knowing more, I'd put it mostly down to Gallen's play and leadership.  He should be the first name on the Cockroaches' team list, at least for one more year.

Just for shits and gigs, here's the team I would have liked selected (players in brackets only just missed out):

1. Josh Dugan
2. Brett Morris
3. Michael Jennings
4. Mark Gasnier (Josh Morris)
5. Jarryd Hayne (Will Hopoate - despite how good Akuila Uate is, apparently there might be some scandal over his eligibility since he played for Fiji less than two years ago, plus I'd rather have Hayne in there somewhere instead)
6. Jamie Soward
7. Mitchell Pearce
8. Kade Snowden (Michael Weyman)
9. Robbie Farah
10. Aiden Tolman
11. Glenn Stewart (Tom Learoyd-Lahrs)
12. Greg Bird (Anthony Watmough)
13. Paul Gallen
14. Ryan Hinchcliffe (Luke Lewis)
15. Beau Scott (Ben Creagh)
16. Jason King
17. Tim Mannah

The debate over this team is ridiculous, in my mind the whole forward pack except Gallen is up for debate, as is the entire interchange bench and standoff.  It will probably be blown up for game two if (when) the team loses at Suncorp, and there is the problem for NSW.  Without the consistency of selection and form that Queensland enjoys, I can't see the Blues team challenging any time soon.  They need to focus on a young core like Queensland did many years ago, and that core could be: Dugan/Hayne, Morris, Morris, Soward/Carney, Pearce, Mannah, Tolman, Snowden/Weyman/Mannah, TLL, Hinchcliffe and Scott/Creagh.

By the way, KSB is a Queensland supporter for no real reason whatsoever, but here's two reasons why that will continue.  First, Jacob Lillyman was selected for Queensland.  Second, Ricky Stuart named a FIFTY-ONE man squad containing his 'Blues of the future'.  FIFTY-ONE!  And that squad doesn't include a single Warrior - James Maloney anyone?  Ricky Stuart, you cock-a-roach.

From One Storm Centre to Another

The other issue is the selection of Dane Nielsen at centre for Queensland.  Sure, he isn't the first or second choice, but unfortunately those guys are both injured (even though Inglis thinks he is fit enough to play).  Nielsen is nothing close to the player that Inglis or Hodges, but he has put in a great year for Melbourne so far, meaning their loss of Inglis to the salary cap rules hasn't hit them too hard.  He is a more than adequate backup, and the reason I don't understand the Nielsen hate is because who else is there?

All I can think of is some sort of out-of-position reshuffle putting Darius Boyd at centre and Ben Barba on the wing, or reaching out to young promising Raider Daniel Vidot.  Wouldn't they rather have an experienced player there who actually plays centre every week?

Besides, Inglis and possibly even Hodges may be healthy for game two, meaning it will no longer be an issue.  Also, Nielsen will most likely be facing up against Michael Jennings, who is not known for his defence and has gone 65 games without a try (possible exaggeration).  I'd be worried if it was Matt Cooper but apparently he has retired from Origin.

All told, KSB is largely happy with the Queensland squad named, even if I'm not exactly sure why Jharal Yow Yeh is on the ultra-fast track, and for various biased reasons I'd prefer Luck at the lock spot, despite Ashley Harrison being amazing.

Miscellaneous other things that confuse me/grind my gears 

Wayne Bennett has a well publicised policy of not allowing a prop to be paid more than $300k per year.  His reasons are that frontrowers aren't an integral part of the team in the way that a marquee backrower or half would be, and to ensure an even spread of talent over the team.  Now I know he is probably the greatest coach of the game ever, but it seems like this would only apply to 'old-style' frontrowers who simply pound the ball up every time, guys like Mose Masoe or George Rose.

George Rose spotted at the beach on a day off

But when it comes to the faster paced game, having a prop that has the ball skills of a centre, plus an intense workrate on defence is a huge advantage over teams that are slower in the ruck.  Guys like Luke Bailey, Aiden Tolman, and our own Russell Packer are great examples.  Bailey in particular, with his combination of size, leadership and skills would have been worth at least $300k to Gold Coast.  And is it so unreasonable for outstanding players like Tolman, Matt Scott or Kade Snowden to be paid as well as one of the many overpaid second rowers in the league whose 'dynamic play' can easily result in a loss (John Sutton is one that springs to mind).  Call me crazy but I would have been very happy if the Warriors threw $300k at Snowden instead of Matai, Mateo, or Inu, despite how well the latter two have worked out.

The other thing that seems odd is the huge amount of player movement we have had already this year.  Only 10 weeks in and numerous blockbusters have already gone down.  Not being a top level league athlete I wouldn't know, but it has to affect the team when one of their best players has already decided to make like a tree this early in the season.  Thankfully for the Warriors it was only Lance Hohaia that left and that just gave us an excuse to bench him, but the Rabbitohs lost one of their main strike weapons (Chris Sandow), while the Roosters and Sharks lost key forwards (Nate Myles and Kade Snowden).  If (when) I become an NRL team owner, I'd hate this.  The NBA system seems a lot better, where opposing teams aren't allowed to play with someone's nipples until they take their shirt off (aka the offseason).  Here at Kiwi Sports Blog we hate premature foreplay when it comes to NRL players.  They're horny enough already.

Right, Joel?

Finally, what is with commenters on Youtube asking the same question on every single video that has music on it: what is the name of this song?  Is this some inside joke that I don't get?  Are the commenters trolling to get a reaction out of ..... someone?  Whether the music is a simple two tone annoying jingle, or one of the most well known songs in history, The Question will always be there.  Just happened to notice it on this video (which has awful music) today, and realised that every video, after it attracts a certain threshold of views, also attracts The Question.  Yet another thing not meant to be understood by me.