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Phil Gould is the man to lead NSW out of Origin oblivion
Phil Rothfield Sports Editor-at-large From: The Daily Telegraph June 18, 2010 12:00AM
I DON'T have a lot of time for Phil Gould as a media commentator because he's too bitter and too negative.
But in NSW's most desperate hour, there is no one better qualified to step in to save the Blues from further embarrassment. If NSW v Queensland was a boxing contest, the fight would have been stopped two years ago.
Our state, which was once so proudly superior to Queensland, is now at its lowest point in 100 years - beaten, bruised and battered by arguably the greatest rugby league team ever assembled.
So here's how we fix it.
**Phil Gould**
There is a theory that Gus keeps downplaying an Origin comeback because he's too clever to do it against such a brilliant Queensland side.
He has outstanding winning percentages, so why would he risk his record and reputation when it's clear the Maroons will have an edge for at least another couple of years while the Blues rebuild?
Gould has always ruled out a comeback because he has no confidence in the current NSWRL administration, headed by Geoff Carr and Colin Love.
But I put it to Carr yesterday about creating a full-time position - a NSW State of Origin director of coaching - to oversee our entire campaign.
Put Gould in charge of the whole operation, pay him a decent salary, and let him appoint the coach, the selectors, the managers and the entire staff.
"We'll do a full review at the end of the series," Carr said. "We'll open it up to suggestions and I wouldn't rule anything out. Gus is the most successful coach in NSW history but he has said categorically that he won't get involved again.
"But if we do the review, and there's an outcome that he should be approached, I wouldn't have a problem doing that. Everyone's looking for a kneejerk reaction but that won't be happening.
"When the series is over we'll sit down and calmly work through all the issues and come up with a game plan for our future."
Gould's boss at Channel Nine, David Gyngell, told The Daily Telegraph last night that he would support any moves for his high-profile commentator to again coach the Blues.
"I wouldn't stand in his way," Gyngell said. "He's the only one who could do it. They have better players than us for at least the next few years. We need the best game plan to beat them and that can only come from Gus, not to mention his ability to lift them."
**The coach**
Craig Bellamy offered to quit after the game on Wednesday night. I've said all along he only had the job because he won premierships on the back of salary cap rorting at Melbourne Storm.
He's been unable to get the team up for three years and his tactics on Wednesday night were not only baffling but lacked creativity.
The Maroons kept a very simple and disciplined straight line of defence that was never seriously threatened.
Des Hasler and John Cartwright are out of the running because the Maroons have shown us that having a non-club coach like Mal Meninga is the only way to go.
**The players**
Queensland have a team of seasoned champions in Billy Slater, Israel Folau, Greg Inglis, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith.
Even if they are injured, the Maroons have Dally M leader Darius Boyd to move to full-back, Scott Prince to play five-eighth, Cooper Cronk at halfback and Matt Ballin to go to hooker.
In comparison, NSW have a team of good club players who continually crack under the pressure of Origin football.
The Dragons players are an example. Brett Morris, Matt Cooper, Beau Scott, Ben Creagh and Michael Weyman are always outstanding in the NRL, but put them up another level and they struggle. Probably only one NSW player would make the Queensland team - Paul Gallen at lock for Ashley Harrison.
A number of NSW players have probably played their last games for the state.
Why pick old stagers Nathan Hindmarsh, Trent Barrett or Matt Cooper for the final game? Surely Creagh and Trent Waterhouse have had enough chances.
**The selectors**
There is huge pressure on the selectors to be sacked. Over the past five years, the Blues have used 62 players because of injuries and poor form.
That includes 12 different players in the halves since 2006\. Mitchell Pearce and Barrett were the seventh different combination in the past seven games.
Next time, under a new coach, they have to get the combination right and stick with it.
**Team camp**
The Blues' preparation for Wednesday night was probably the worst ever.
That's saying something when you consider the horse-riding falls under Wayne Pearce and the atrocities at team bonding sessions over the years, one of which led to Gould quitting in 2004.
Team managers Craig Young and Chris Johns are under pressure to stand down at the end of the series after the Andrew Johns-Timana Tahu racism row and the sloppiness on game day when Jarryd Hayne and Michael Ennis missed the team bus and had to get a taxi to the game.
**The future**
There is no point throwing our arms up in the air and saying that Queensland are too good.
We need to form a long-term plan under Gould that involves the brightest young football talent in the state.
Players like Josh Dugan, Michael Jennings, the Morris twins, Chris Lawrence, Trent Hodkinson and Pearce must be nurtured. NSW needs to develop a culture that embraces the Blues' FOGs.
We need to develop an attitude and brand of footy that defines our state. Then maybe we'll boast a dynasty of our own.
Phil Rothfield Sports Editor-at-large From: The Daily Telegraph June 18, 2010 12:00AM
I DON'T have a lot of time for Phil Gould as a media commentator because he's too bitter and too negative.
But in NSW's most desperate hour, there is no one better qualified to step in to save the Blues from further embarrassment. If NSW v Queensland was a boxing contest, the fight would have been stopped two years ago.
Our state, which was once so proudly superior to Queensland, is now at its lowest point in 100 years - beaten, bruised and battered by arguably the greatest rugby league team ever assembled.
So here's how we fix it.
**Phil Gould**
There is a theory that Gus keeps downplaying an Origin comeback because he's too clever to do it against such a brilliant Queensland side.
He has outstanding winning percentages, so why would he risk his record and reputation when it's clear the Maroons will have an edge for at least another couple of years while the Blues rebuild?
Gould has always ruled out a comeback because he has no confidence in the current NSWRL administration, headed by Geoff Carr and Colin Love.
But I put it to Carr yesterday about creating a full-time position - a NSW State of Origin director of coaching - to oversee our entire campaign.
Put Gould in charge of the whole operation, pay him a decent salary, and let him appoint the coach, the selectors, the managers and the entire staff.
"We'll do a full review at the end of the series," Carr said. "We'll open it up to suggestions and I wouldn't rule anything out. Gus is the most successful coach in NSW history but he has said categorically that he won't get involved again.
"But if we do the review, and there's an outcome that he should be approached, I wouldn't have a problem doing that. Everyone's looking for a kneejerk reaction but that won't be happening.
"When the series is over we'll sit down and calmly work through all the issues and come up with a game plan for our future."
Gould's boss at Channel Nine, David Gyngell, told The Daily Telegraph last night that he would support any moves for his high-profile commentator to again coach the Blues.
"I wouldn't stand in his way," Gyngell said. "He's the only one who could do it. They have better players than us for at least the next few years. We need the best game plan to beat them and that can only come from Gus, not to mention his ability to lift them."
**The coach**
Craig Bellamy offered to quit after the game on Wednesday night. I've said all along he only had the job because he won premierships on the back of salary cap rorting at Melbourne Storm.
He's been unable to get the team up for three years and his tactics on Wednesday night were not only baffling but lacked creativity.
The Maroons kept a very simple and disciplined straight line of defence that was never seriously threatened.
Des Hasler and John Cartwright are out of the running because the Maroons have shown us that having a non-club coach like Mal Meninga is the only way to go.
**The players**
Queensland have a team of seasoned champions in Billy Slater, Israel Folau, Greg Inglis, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith.
Even if they are injured, the Maroons have Dally M leader Darius Boyd to move to full-back, Scott Prince to play five-eighth, Cooper Cronk at halfback and Matt Ballin to go to hooker.
In comparison, NSW have a team of good club players who continually crack under the pressure of Origin football.
The Dragons players are an example. Brett Morris, Matt Cooper, Beau Scott, Ben Creagh and Michael Weyman are always outstanding in the NRL, but put them up another level and they struggle. Probably only one NSW player would make the Queensland team - Paul Gallen at lock for Ashley Harrison.
A number of NSW players have probably played their last games for the state.
Why pick old stagers Nathan Hindmarsh, Trent Barrett or Matt Cooper for the final game? Surely Creagh and Trent Waterhouse have had enough chances.
**The selectors**
There is huge pressure on the selectors to be sacked. Over the past five years, the Blues have used 62 players because of injuries and poor form.
That includes 12 different players in the halves since 2006\. Mitchell Pearce and Barrett were the seventh different combination in the past seven games.
Next time, under a new coach, they have to get the combination right and stick with it.
**Team camp**
The Blues' preparation for Wednesday night was probably the worst ever.
That's saying something when you consider the horse-riding falls under Wayne Pearce and the atrocities at team bonding sessions over the years, one of which led to Gould quitting in 2004.
Team managers Craig Young and Chris Johns are under pressure to stand down at the end of the series after the Andrew Johns-Timana Tahu racism row and the sloppiness on game day when Jarryd Hayne and Michael Ennis missed the team bus and had to get a taxi to the game.
**The future**
There is no point throwing our arms up in the air and saying that Queensland are too good.
We need to form a long-term plan under Gould that involves the brightest young football talent in the state.
Players like Josh Dugan, Michael Jennings, the Morris twins, Chris Lawrence, Trent Hodkinson and Pearce must be nurtured. NSW needs to develop a culture that embraces the Blues' FOGs.
We need to develop an attitude and brand of footy that defines our state. Then maybe we'll boast a dynasty of our own.
