A behind-the-scenes look at our superstars of Origin, the build-up, what it means to the fans, the history of the event, and maybe — maybe — some biff if it doesn’t offend too many people, would be a huge selling point to a US market.
Every Australian sport tries to get in that US market, but the gladiatorial aspect of league is our selling point.
If the NRL do take a round-one match there, an access-all-areas doco leading into it, being aired in prime-time on American TV, would be a great entrée.
If you get the right people behind it, and showed our elite characters, it will get people interested.
Michael is that man.
DCE, Olakau’atu primed to torment Sharks
Cronulla faces a massive against test against Manly in Thursday Night Football.
They’re coming off the build-up of a match against the Storm and go into this one without Dale Finucane and Braden Hamlin-Uele.
Historically, the Sharks have struggled against Manly. In their past 14 matches, they’ve lost 12 of them.
There’s supposed to be some rain around Sydney this weekend and, if that’s the case, you can expect PointsBet Stadium to be wet and windier than anywhere else.
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That brings the Sea Eagles right into play with halfback Daly Cherry-Evans’ kicking game.
Manly are two-from-two without injured fullback Tom Trbojevic, which has surprised me.
They’re winning because of their right-side attack. The combination of Cherry-Evans with edge backrower Haumole Olakau’atu, who is often impossible to stop.
He’s big and powerful but combines that with incredible footwork. When Cherry-Evans gets him one-on-one with a defender, good luck trying to bring him down.
This kid is on the verge of rep footy.
Manly can get away with a win in a real tight one.
JOEY’S TIP: Manly by 2.
FIRST TRYSCORER: Haumole Olakau’atu.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Daly Cherry-Evans.
The artist formerly known as Munster
Most Saturday nights you’ll find me sitting on my lounge while watching the footy, and there’s one bloke who regularly gets me standing up and applauding: Cameron Munster.
Against the Sharks, he produced a 10-out-10 performance. He played like an artist, deceived like a magician, and entertained like a rock star.
The way he hides the ball, the way he dummies to the defence, using the ball like a magic wand, is mesmerising.
About the only bad thing I can say about Munster is he wasn’t born in NSW.
He’s one of those players who thrives when the stage and pressure is at its greatest.
There’s so much talk about his future at Melbourne, but he manages to push it aside. It’s almost like he needs pressure.
He’s a special superstar.
Tip-top Tigers the talk of the town
It was so good to see the Wests Tigers smiling after their win against Parramatta, especially coach Michael Maguire, who actually had some colour in his face.
The reaction of the players after Jackson Hastings kicked the winning field goal will be huge for them. People don’t understand how much that can lift a side, which bounces into training the next day.
Ten per cent of the game is set plays and shapes. The rest is ripping in, defending hard, putting your body on the line – and the Tigers showed that against the Eels. It was all effort and passion, which has been missing.
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Starting Hastings at halfback, and moving Luke Brooks to five-eighth, was a masterstroke. Brooks did his job.
In the next six rounds, there’s some winnable games for the Tigers.
They found some fun on Easter Monday. Footy’s fun — that’s when it’s played at its best.
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