This NSW squad is good enough to win. It’s the starting 13 who are a worry

The 19-man squad Laurie Daley has picked for Origin III is strong enough to win; it’s the starting 13 who are a worry. Mitchell Moses, Liam Martin, James Tedesco and Reece Robson are among those who have to rediscover their best form on the toughest stage of the year.

Several starters are carrying injuries. Meanwhile, the bench looks awesome, with the game’s best lock (Cameron Murray), best second-rower (Haumole Olakau’atu), best running five-eighth (Ethan Strange) and quickest outside back (Tolu Koula).

There’s more talent on that bench than the High Court. Daley just needs to know how to use them. The fact that they’re on the bench, however, suggests otherwise. If only the Blues can avoid losing the game in the other 50 to 60 minutes when their best players aren’t on the field, they’re a chance.

Invisible Munster

For a player who spends so long in the referee’s face, Cameron Munster has an uncanny gift for invisibility. In Origin, Munster is brilliant at getting in Ashley Klein’s blind spot and running up offside out of the defensive line.

He was practising it again for Melbourne on Saturday night. Uncanny how such a prominent footballer can just … disappear. There is no more natural Origin player than Munster, and no-one better at reading the Klein mind. It’s almost like a spell.

Des-parate Blues should roll dice on Hasler

On these pages last week, Andrew Johns summarised his anti-job application for the Blues’ Origin coaching role: doesn’t want to, isn’t qualified, wouldn’t be good at it. If only everyone showed such honesty and self-awareness.

But bluff, mystery and magical belief are required, and if the NSWRL are looking for a one-year coach before Ivan Cleary becomes available in 2028, then of course they could turn to the master wizard. If they only dared, Des Hasler is a coach who could kid individuals into becoming a team … Desperate? Well, yes, but the last time they were this desperate, they appointed Michael Maguire.

Playing the advantage: Best practice

A long-term glitch in NRL refereeing has been an unwillingness to play advantage. The “advantage rule” isn’t a rule as such, but a matter for the referees’ discretion, and too often the ref will blow the whistle as soon as they see an infringement.

This year, there has been a subtle loosening up, more intelligence applied, and it delivered a memorable moment in the 75th minute of the Knights-Tigers match on Sunday. The Tigers’ Adam Douehi put up a bomb, and in the challenge Jahream Bula knocked the ball forward into the Knights’ in-goal.

Standard operating procedure is for the referee to immediately blow the knock-on. But Bradman Best collected the ball and hurled a long pass behind the posts to Dom Young, who beat three tackles – one before even crossing his try-line – ran 60 metres, wove past two more tacklers, found Best inside, and Newcastle had a classic match-winner.

The NRL doesn’t want to go all silly rugby-union style and wreck their game with playing endless advantage, but a little bit of feel for the game can deliver a handsome reward.

NRL cartel under threat

The Dolphins and the Warriors played the match of the season on Saturday, with Redcliffe snatching a last-minute win. Despite losing several players to injury, both teams showed the depth, skill and desire that should take them deep into the finals.

How deep? With Penrith and Melbourne losing and the Broncos out of contention, the NRL premiership cartel is looking wobbly. The Panthers and Roosters are still premiership favourites, but it would be mightily refreshing for the game to see a new winner. If Saturday’s thriller turns out to be a grand final preview, nobody except the cartel would be too unhappy.

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