best_fullback
Academy Player
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2006
- Messages
- 375
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- Club or Nation
After two rounds of the competition I was just wondering what everyone's views on the results have been?
I have to say I have been rooting for NSW in both games so far due to their 'underdog' status, and Queensland's dominance since 2006. Both games, in my opinion, have been great spectacles, but by no means 'classics'. The semi-comeback from NSW in the first game, only to be denied by Slater late on was great. Then the tactics employed in game II by NSW of having the far more mobile forwards paid dividends in the end.
Also, on a slightly different tangent, my friend showed me this article by Stuart Barnes (http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/state-of-origin/origin-ii-pace-and-skill-but-still-an-air-of-boredom-20110617-1g7t8.html) that discusses the view of an ex-union player who has stated his profound respect for League on several occasions, but still believes top level League to be inferior to Union for reasons he discusses.
Now, I don't want this to descend into a League vs Union 'which-is-better' slang-fest, but I sincerely agree with the views that Barnes states in this article. I have a high respect for League, and I even switched codes when I was playing at uni, but if this series or the tri-nations/world cup is the pinnacle of League rugby (from a playing quality perspective) then I don't think it trumps the best matches that can be offered in Union at the highest end.
What are your views on this? Do you think League lacks the dynamism that top quality Union can offer (as so beautifully shown in the Heineken Cup final this year) or do you think Barnes is totally wrong?
I have to say I have been rooting for NSW in both games so far due to their 'underdog' status, and Queensland's dominance since 2006. Both games, in my opinion, have been great spectacles, but by no means 'classics'. The semi-comeback from NSW in the first game, only to be denied by Slater late on was great. Then the tactics employed in game II by NSW of having the far more mobile forwards paid dividends in the end.
Also, on a slightly different tangent, my friend showed me this article by Stuart Barnes (http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/state-of-origin/origin-ii-pace-and-skill-but-still-an-air-of-boredom-20110617-1g7t8.html) that discusses the view of an ex-union player who has stated his profound respect for League on several occasions, but still believes top level League to be inferior to Union for reasons he discusses.
Now, I don't want this to descend into a League vs Union 'which-is-better' slang-fest, but I sincerely agree with the views that Barnes states in this article. I have a high respect for League, and I even switched codes when I was playing at uni, but if this series or the tri-nations/world cup is the pinnacle of League rugby (from a playing quality perspective) then I don't think it trumps the best matches that can be offered in Union at the highest end.
What are your views on this? Do you think League lacks the dynamism that top quality Union can offer (as so beautifully shown in the Heineken Cup final this year) or do you think Barnes is totally wrong?