CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
There are a lot of different arguments as to why New South Wales haven’t been able to win more than one State Of Origin series in the last twelves years.
Some say it’s the transient culture within the squad, others say it’s the value placed on family dynasties. Some say it’s due to fact that their opponents have been able to field over five once-in-a-lifetime players throughout the same period.
While those factors all contribute to a culture of losing – coaching staff and rabid old drunk sports journalists say there is more to it. One oversight of judgment that is responsible for it all.
It all comes down to the fact that two of the greatest representative players in New South Wales’ recent history had a beer over lunch, five days before the 2017 Origin decider. Buzz Rothfield has described it as the most disgraceful thing to happen in Rugby League since the Les Boyd elbow.
Buzz Rothfield has described it as the most disgraceful thing to happen in Rugby League since the Les Boyd elbow. Paul Gallen says it makes him physically sick.
Weary NSW-based analysts of the game say Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson’s decision to drink alcohol during preparations for last week’s State of Origin decider proves that they aren’t real footy players and wanted to lose that match.
“It just doesn’t make sense” says one high-ranking member of the coaching staff who played hungover every single first-grade match for twenty years in the 70s and 80s.
“Why did they have to have a schooner of beer? Why didn’t they settle on a high sugar soft drink like passiona?”
“Or something with a bit of pineapple… No vodka though”
“Why did they have to drink 2.0 standard drinks each?”
“This is a real blow to the confidence of our players. We won’t win for another few years after that result. It hurts. It really does. Josh and Blake are to blame”
