Balmain Sports Guy

With no Sydney teams remaining in the NRL or AFL competitions, it’s officially time to turn your attention to the cricket. The Ashes and a beefed up Big Bash are set to make this the biggest summer ever, and to cap off all the action on our shores is the 2017 JLT One-day cup.

Now entering the fifth year of the stand-alone round robin tournament, this year will see the tournament kick off in Brisbane and Perth, before the latter stages in Sydney. The ultimate group match and finals will also be held in Tasmania for the first time, giving a more national flavour to the tournament than in previous years.

Last year saw the NSW Blues claim their second consecutive title after victories over Victoria and Queensland in the semi and final. With the CA XI once again included, seven teams will by vying for top spot, so here’s a preview of what to watch from each side.

Cricket Australia XI

Squad: Max Bryant (QLD), Jake Carder (WA), Jackson Coleman (VIC), Daniel Fallins (NSW), David Grant (SA), Clint Hinchliffe (WA), Jonathan Merlo (VIC), Harry Nielsen (SA), Ben Pengelley (SA), Mark Steketee (QLD), Henry Thornton (NSW), Param Uppal (NSW), Beau Webster (TAS), Mac Wright (TAS)

Last year: After managing one victory in their inaugural season, last year saw the CA XI go winless throughout the tournament, although they did go close against eventual champions, NSW. Seven members of that squad have now graduated to their full-state squads which shows the experiment is working.

Prediction: 7th - while they could snag a victory if lucky, it’s hard to see this very young outfit getting off the bottom of the ladder this year. While they do boast a few Shield reps, this tournament will be all about gaining experience for these stars of tomorrow.

Who’s missing: Technically no one - they are made up of the best young players who missed state selection, so realistically everyone who should be here is here. Last year’s squad was quite fluid, meaning we could see additional players joining the unit throughout the tournament.

Star players: The inclusion of fast bowler Mark Steketee (QLD) and batting allrounder Beau Webster (Tas) - the latter of which was arguably the most improved player in last year’s Big Bash - are both interesting given they both were first choice state players in last year’s tournament. They’ll be in the unfamiliar position of veterans in this squad, but could help the side be more competitive this year.

Young gun: Ben Pengelley (SA) is a great story. Hailing from regional South Australia, he travelled 400kms each way, twice-a-week, in order to train in Adelaide. The Redbacks rookie is a genuine all-rounder, with a game tailored made for the short formats. Although not guaranteed a spot in their XI, if given his chance, he could put his name on the radar of several BBL clubs.

Where they’ll win it...: In Max Bryant (QLD) and Jake Carder (WA) they have two of the most dynamic, attacking openers in the competition. Carder scored 93 from only 83 last year against South Australia, while Bryant scored 134 from only 92 balls, with seven sixes in Queensland Premier Cricket two weeks ago.

While seniors is different, both of these young batters are renowned for their big hitting, and if they both get going, it could help the CA XI post a winning total.

It’s a big tournament for…: In a team picked on potential it is hard to narrow this down, to just one player but here goes… Daniel Fallins was called out for his ability to give it a rip like Stuart MacGill by Greg Chappell himself, and the young leg-spinner looks set to shoulder the load of the slow bowling for the CA XI. The last young leg-spinner picked in the CA XI was Mitch Swepson who is now the premier wrist-spinner in the country. Could Fallins follow the trend?

New South Wales Blues

Squad: Sean Abbott, Doug Bollinger, Harry Conway, Ed Cowan, Mickey Edwards, Ryan Gibson, Daniel Hughes, Jay Lenton, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Arjun Nair, Peter Nevill, Kurtis Patterson, Gurinder Sandhu

Last year: The Blues steam-rolled Queensland in the final of last year’s tournament to claim their second straight One-day cup. After a slow start against the CA XI and loss to Tasmania, they re-grouped with strong victories against Victoria and Western Australia on the way to the title with Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques leading the way with the bat and Doug Bollinger and Pat Cummins getting it done with the ball.

Prediction: 2nd - It is hard to go past the polish in this NSW squad, which could win its third straight title in the format. The majority of last year’s side returns, and while they lack a genuine all-round option to create balance in their XI, they have studs across the board who can more than make up for that.

Who’s missing: Steve Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins (International duty) and Stephen O’Keefe (Suspended) are all unavailable, while Moises Henriques will also be unavailable for the majority of the tournament due to the T20 Internationals in India. While Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are both on the injured list, they could return for some overs in this tournament which would give the Blues a serious ace up their sleeve.

Star players: Nathan Lyon continues to get overlooked for International honours in the short formats, but his record last year was irresistible. His 4/10 (10) in last year’s final break the heart of the Queensland Bulls, and on early season decks he could be a handful once more.

With the bat, Kurtis Patterson looks set to carry the load for the Blues who will be without Henriques for the majority of the tournament. The classy left-hander has been one of the most consistent bats in the country over the last two years in the Shield, and will be looking to replicate that form with the 50-over game this year.

Young gun: Mickey Edwards has the chance to show the world he’s more than a meme this year after earning selection. After earning a rookie-deal 3 years ago, Edwards has spent almost the whole time in the rehab ward. Now fit, the 2-metre monster looks set to show his worth, and could be one of the real eye catching players of the tournament.

Where they’ll win it...: The Blues strength lies in their depth. Last year the consistently bowled sides out, while over five batsman scored over 200 runs. While there XI can look unbalanced when it doesn’t go well, head-to-head they’re better than any side in the comp.

It’s a big tournament for…: Sean Abbott has been playing in this tournament since he was 18, and despite the accolades he’s achieved in the Big Bash, the One-Day format looks to suit his game perfectly. He’s already grabbed a five-for in the warm-up games and the opening round of Grade cricket, and this tournament could be the start of more regular conversations about his value on the our national team.

Victorian Bushrangers

Squad: Cameron White (c), Wes Agar, Scott Boland, Travis Dean, Seb Gotch, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, John Hastings, Jon Holland, Will Pucovski, Matt Short, Peter Siddle, Blake Thomson, Chris Tremain.

Last year: Some good wins, some bad losses, the Bushrangers underachieved with a 3rd place finish in last year’s tournament. Cameron White (again) topped the run-scorers list with 457, but only Glenn Maxwell (211) scored over 200 to support White.

Prediction: 4th - The Bushrangers are affected more than any other side with players unavailable to them. In total, seven of their 14-man squad stand to make their List A debut for Victoria. While their bowling attack is world class, they’ll again be reliant on White for the bulk of runs given their lack of experience with the stick.

Who’s missing: Glenn Maxwell, Peter Handscomb, Dan Christian, Aaron Finch (International Duty) are all unavailable, while last year’s skipper Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis have both returned to their home states of Tasmania and Western Australia respectively.

Star players: Cameron White has scored more runs than anyone in the last three years of the competition, but still cannot find his way back into the Australian One-day side. As the Captain, he’ll once again have to shoulder the load.

Between Scott Boland and Chris Tremain, the Bushrangers host two of the best young fast-bowling prospects in the country. Throw in John Hastings and you could be talking about the ODI bowling attack in years to come. These three should at least give the Vics a shot at victory in the early stages of the tournament.

Young gun: Will Pucovski shot to prominence after smashing the u19s National Championships scoring record, and subsequently earned a rookie deal and Shield debut last summer. We could be looking at the next great Aussie batsman.

Where they’ll win it...: A bowling attack of Tremain, Boland, Hastings and Peter Siddle matches it up any state. Throw in Jon Holland and it could even match it with some International attacks. If they get Maxwell and Christian back later in the tournament, they’ll be the most dangerous side in the tournament with the ball.

It’s a big tournament for…: Former Australian u19 skipper Matt Short has bounced in and out of the Bushrangers squad over the years, but could be set for an extended run with Stoinis’ departure opening the door for another allrounder in the ranks. He hits it a mile and bowls decent off-spin, and still just 21, he could mature into a very handy player for them in the mould of Ashton Turner.

South Australian Redbacks

Squad: Callum Ferguson (c), Tom Andrews, Alex Carey, Tom Cooper, Michael Cormack, Jake Lehmann, Joe Mennie, Alex Ross, Chadd Sayers, Kelvin Smith, Cameron Valente, Jake Weatherald, Nick Winter, Daniel Worrall

Last year: The Redbacks topsy-turvy tournament was finally ended last year after they stuffed up their maths and thought a bonus point win was needed from their final match for a spot in the finals. It wasn’t, and they lost a winnable match going too hard and were bundled out. They did unearth young guns Jake Weatherald, Cameron Valente and Alex Carey as bright prospects however.

Prediction: 3rd - despite their youth, there’s something plucky about this Redbacks squad which inspires confidence. While not all household names, each of their squad members are capable of being match winners, and they’re likely to shock a few teams throughout the tournament just two years after they made the final.

Who’s missing: Regular skipper Travis Head, Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa (international duty) are all first-teamers missing from action, while Chadd Sayers picked up a finger injury in grade cricket which looks set to sideline him. Should they make it to the finals, they Head, Richo and Zampa could all provide a big boost for the #Rarebacks

Star players: The Redbacks strength lies with their batting, and from pre-season form it looks like Alex Ross could be set to take his game to the next level. The Sweepologist has already delivered match-winning knocks for his state, and will be looking to better his career best List A score of 97*.

Stepping in for Head as skipper, Callum Ferguson will also be expected to score plenty for the Redbacks this tournament. With the way the national tour in India is going, another strong tournament from the 32-year-old could propel him back into international reckoning.

Young gun: If you had predicted that Cameron Valente would’ve topped the wicket-takers last year then you’re probably related. Still just 23, he showed plenty of experience with a mix of slower-balls and cutters to bamboozle batsmen the country over, and he also scored a ton. Alongside a pace attack more suited to Shield cricket, he could be a shining light again for his state.

Where they’ll win it...: The Redbacks boast fire-power in their line-up which is almost unrivalled. In Weatherald, Carey, Ferguson and Tom Cooper they’ve got an incredibly powerful top four. Alex Ross and Jake Lehmann round out a side which could out any attack to the sword.

It’s a big tournament for…: Alex Carey is the name on everyone's lips at the moment, and with good reason. The young wicketkeeper has had a strong 12 months, and in some circles is viewed as next-in-line behind Matthew Wade for the Australian Test team. A good tournament could only strengthen his credentials.

Western Australian Warriors

Squad: Mitch Marsh (c), Ashton Turner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Will Bosisto, Josh Inglis, Matt Kelly, Michael Klinger, Simon Mackin, Shaun Marsh, David Moody, Jhye Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Andrew Tye, Jonathan Wells

Last year: 4th - with a side loaded with potential, the Warriors underperformed and could not capitalise on their matches played at the WACA. Adam Voges (301) and Michael Klinger (236) led the way with the bat, but aside from AJ Tye’s 12 wickets, the Warriors lacked strike-bowling.

Prediction: 5th - on paper, the Warriors are well balanced, but their bowling attack will be one of the least experienced in the competition. The Marsh brothers and Klinger provide class up the order, but their final standing is likely to depend on their ability to exploit local conditions during their opening three matches at the WACA.

Who’s missing: Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Hilton Cartwright will all miss the start of the tournament, while Agar looks set to be out altogether after breaking his finger during the ODI series. Young quick Joel Paris appears to still be out with injury, but the production line of fast bowlers should cover well at the start of the tournament.

Star players: Michael Klinger continues to get it done despite his age. He averages almost 50 in the format and will be relied on once again to get his adopted state off to a flyer. While he’ll open the batting with Shaun, it’s the other Marsh who could also provide a reminder to the national selectors with some strong form.

Despite his struggle at Test level, Mitch Marsh’s last year in ODI cricket has been solid, as he’s lifted his batting average to 35 on the international stage. Offseason shoulder surgery will restrict him to playing as a bat only, and he’ll likely come in at four.

Young gun: Jhye Richardson made a name for himself with a Man of the Match effort in last summer’s Big Bash final. At just 21, he bowls with good pace and accuracy and will play a huge role for the Warriors at the start of the tournament.

Where they’ll win it...: While they lack experience in the pace bowling stocks, local conditions at the WACA could play a huge factor in their push for a spot in the finals. Last year, four wins was enough for the Vics to make the semi, so if the Warriors can exploit home conditions they’ll have one foot in the door for the knockout stages.

It’s a big tournament for…: Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis has found himself in a tough spot to start his career as understudy to one of the country’s brightest prospects in Sam Whiteman. Despite this, he has hardly put a foot wrong when given his opportunities, and after a solid tournament for the CA XI last year, the aggressive right-hander will get his chance with the Warriors with a chance to show his employers what he’s capable of.

Queensland Bulls

Squad: Usman Khawaja (c), Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Brendan Doggett, Jason Floros, Cameron Gannon, Sam Heazlett, Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser, James Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Swepson, Jack Wildermuth

Last year: The pace-setters during the group stages, the Bulls were blown away in the final and finished as runners-up in the tournament. Marnus Labuschagne was voted the player of the tournament, with plenty of contributors across the board including Michael Neser, Ben Cutting and Jason Floros.

Prediction: 1st - 2017 is the year the Queensland Bulls return to the top of the castle. They’ll have Usman Khawaja for the whole tournament - arguably the finest batsman not on International duties - while their glutton of allrounders makes them a daunting prospect for any opposition side.

Who’s missing: The Bulls are the only side not missing players to the tour of India, and have arguably gotten better than last season by welcoming Matt Renshaw, Sam Heazlett and allrounder Jack Wildermuth to the fold - all of which were injured during last year’s tournament.

Star players: He averages 44 in List A cricket, possess probably the nicest cover drive in the country and Khawaja will be keen to prove a point during the JLT One-day. People forget how good he is at white-ball cricket, but when he is on he is simply too good for Domestic cricket.

Joe Burns is another player with Test experience who will be hoping to push for higher honours with strong results. He scored over 200 runs last year, and showed in the Big Bash that he can perform any role in the XI.

Young gun: Jack Wildermuth rose to prominence in the tournament two years ago when playing for the CA XI, and the young allrounder finally gets his crack with his home state this year. He will bat seven and bowl 10 overs without any fuss. And he’ll probably be doing it for Queensland for the next decade.

Where they’ll win it…: The Bulls have weapons across the board with bat and ball. Quite simply if one of them doesn’t get you, another one will. Remarkably, I’ve got them as favourites despite the fact that Chris Lynn doesn’t even have a Queensland contract at the moment. If they can take wickets, they’ll win the tournament.

It’s a big tournament for…: Billy Stanlake will miss the first couple of games due to a foot injury, but looks set for a huge tournament. He’s just 22, and at 6”8 bowls absolutely rapid pace that has already earned him two ODI caps. A strong tournament could see him earn more action in gold this summer.

Tasmanian Tigers

Squad: George Bailey (c), Jackson Bird, Cameron Boyce, Alex Doolan, Jake Doran, Ben Dunk, Andrew Fekete, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Simon Milenko, Sam Rainbird, Tom Rogers, Jordan Silk, Charlie Wakim

Last year: 5th - A strong win against NSW had them in contention for the finals, but three wins and three losses had them in the middle of the pack. Alex Doolan and Tim Paine lad the way with the bat, but bowlers - aside from Cameron Boyce - struggled.

Prediction: 6th - While they could spring a win or two, outside of George Bailey they lack a bit of polish in the white ball department. In Ben Dunk, Alex Doolan, Ben McDermott and Cameron Boyce they boast game breakers, overall there lack of experience could mean they won’t cause too many ripples this summer.

Who’s missing: Wicketkeeper Tim Paine and James Faulkner will miss the start of the tournament while on International duty, and should slot straight back into the fold when available.

Star players: George Bailey was in the Australian first choice ODI lineup consistently until last summer, and remains an elite player at domestic level. Importantly, he’s a calm head who should help provide valuable experience to young middle order and pace attack.

Aside from Bailey, Alex Doolan will be expected to score heavily, backing up his fantastic tournament from last summer. Doolan belted 362 runs from 6 innings, averaging 120 and passing fifty on four occasions.

Young gun: Charlie Wakim is a new recruit from Sydney who’s an exciting middle-order prospect. He’s compact, busy at the crease, and has all the shots. Although not a lock in their best XI, if selected he could provide some stability at five or six for the Tigers.

Where they’ll win it: In Dunk and McDermott they possess big hitting ability that few sides own. Dunk scored a double-century (remarkably Tasmania still lost that match) a couple of years ago while McDermott broke the internet in January with his devastating Big Bash ton for the Hobart Hurricanes. If these too get going, they could score 400.

It’s a big tournament for…: Cameron Boyce was a leg-spinning golden child just two years ago, but on the verge of his ODI debut he was surprisingly overlooked for Adam Zampa. Zampa succeeded, and the move confined Boyce to the sidelines of the International arena.

Last week the gates officially opened on the BBL signing announcements for BBL|07 where, as predicted here, the Strikers unveiled Colin Ingram as one of their overseas.

Another club that has been has been the Hobart Hurricanes. Cricket in Tasmania has undergone a massive overhaul, with a new CEO – former Sydney Thunder GM Nick Cummins – and a new GM and Head Coach for the ‘Cane Train.

Cummins has declared the ‘Canes would be signing two new Internationals for the coming season, so alongside the reigning champion Perth Scorchers, let’s take a look at who these two clubs could target this offseason.

Hobart Hurricanes

The mercurial Hurricanes had some impressive moments last season. They defeated the Sixers by 60, the Strikers by 8-wickets and chased 224 against the Melbourne Renegades, re-writing BBL history in the process. After finishing seventh however, they need a rethink.

With the pay dispute between the players and administrators is in the rear view, player contracting for BBL|07 has finally opened. August 4 officially saw the start of the contracting, and with only four months until the start of the tournament, you can expect player signings to be as busy as Steve Smith at the crease.

With another $200k tacked onto the salary cap, the BBL is even bigger business. Whereas in the past some clubs have erred on state lines when evaluating talent, the stage looks set for one of the biggest offseasons in recent memory with many star players available on the open market.

Over the next week or so I’ll take a look at each club’s roster, and try to predict what it may look like come BBL|07. First up is two teams with contrasting fortunes, the Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat.

Adelaide Strikers

After two consecutive 1st place finishes in the regular season, BBL|06 saw the Strikers miss out on a place in the playoffs. In fact, if it weren’t for the heroics of New Zealand import Ish Sohdi who’s leg-spin netted 6/11 against the Thunder in the side’s final match, they would’ve won the spoon last season.

At the time of writing we’re just halfway through the Matador Cup, but already the tournament has delivered the goods in terms of drama and star performances.

With our ODI squad in South Australia, chances for young campaigners to strut their stuff have been thick and fast. The Cricket Australia XI – comprised of the best young talent not selected by their states – have been a far more competitive outfit, so without further adieu, here’s an XI of the best young-stars in the country you’d probably not heard of until two weeks ago.

1.       Arjun Nair – 18, NSW

18-year-old Nair is a name to remember. He’s been chosen to open in this side, although he only got promoted here from number eight in his sides last match against Victoria where he top-scored for the match with 67 (89).

They call him “the YouTube kid” as this is where he learned to bowl his countless off-spin variations. He’s second in the competition for wickets at the moment with seven at an average of 23.85, which shows his allround credentials. Small in stature but a future giant of the world game.

2.       Matt Renshaw – 20, Queensland

It says a lot when despite retiring hurt midway through his second innings, Renshaw is still the fourth highest run-scorer for Queensland despite having played 2.5 less innings then his teammates.

Queensland’s leading run-scorer in Shield cricket last year, some questioned whether his patient demeanour would translate to the 50-over game, but his answer his critics with scores of 88 and 38* at a strike-rate of 82 in his two appearances.

Unfortunately for the classy left-hander, he looks unlikely to play any further part in the tournament after injuring his knee – let’s hope it doesn’t cost him too much cricket this season.

Eight internationals feature in the NSW Blues 14-man squad, ensuring there’s plenty of experienced campaigners to call upon in their Matador Cup title defence, however the final ingredient to be added to the mix remains unclear.

Lyon, O’Keefe, Bollinger, Sandhu, then who? Who will the Blues pick as their fifth bowler? The answer won’t be clear until the toss at their first match on October 7.

In a three-way battle for the final position is spinner Chris Green, and young quicks Harry Conway and Ben Dwarshuis. Each of these young guns has a compelling case for inclusion.

Green, 22, first rose to prominence when plucked from Grade cricket two years ago to make his NSW debut with O’Keefe and Lyon unavailable for selection. Tall, and with a great control of his craft, Green has fine-tuned his game in the Big Bash the last two summers with the Sydney Thunder, and with his variations and ability to bowl at any stage of the game – not to mention some expected low-carry in the early season Matador pitches – could be an ideal foil for his more experienced team mates.

One of the tallest members of the Blues squad, 24-year-old Harry Conway is patient if nothing. After starring for the Australian under-19 side Conway was handed a rookie contract in 2012, only to break down with injury. Finally fit in 2015, he grabbed a five-fa on First Class debut against Tasmania, rewarding the patience of CNSW selectors who stood by him.

A huge human, Conway didn’t blow opposition away with pace in his two Shield matches last season, but with a strong preseason under his belt, he is in career best form and rightly earned his place in the NSW squad. While he lacks much of a white-ball resume to stake his claim, his physical make-up alone makes him an intriguing prospect.

The final squad member, and another potential debutant is left-arm speedster Ben Dwarshuis. At 22, Dwarshuis’ ability has long been touted, but rarely cited, in NSW circles. Having endured chronic stress fractures, Dwarshuis has been limited to just seven T20 matches and a handful of 2nd XI fixtures in his four season’s to-date as a pro.

Strongly built, athletic, and with a whippy action, he has drawn comparisons in style to Mitchell Johnson. He boasts good pace, clever change-ups, and a decent yorker which has seen him called on to bowl some critical late-innings overs for the Sixers in the BBL.

Essentially the three youngsters are aiming to replace the currently injured Sean Abbott in the side, who finished with the second most amount of wickets for the Blues in last year’s tournament. Abbott also batted at seven, so the all-round credentials of Dwarshuis and Green might give them an edge in this battle.

Who earns the last spot in the XI is anyone’s guess, but regardless of which man earns thee spot, it’s sure to provide a fascinating subplot to this year’s title defence by the NSW Blues.

NSW squad: Moises Henriques (c), Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters, Harry Conway, Ed Cowan, Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Green, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Steve O’Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Gurinder Sandhu

NSW fixtures

7 Oct v CA XI Hurstville Oval

9 Oct v Tas Hurstville Oval

12 Oct v SA Drummoyne Oval

14 Oct v Qld Drummoye Oval D/N

16 Oct v Vic North Sydney Oval D/N

19 Oct v WA North Sydney Oval

21 Oct Elimination Final (2 v 3) Drummoyne Oval D/N

Boasting one of the strongest young crops of talent in the country, Queensland Cricket’s youthful resurgence has continued in 2016 with several noted veterans making way in their 2016 Matador Cup squad, announced yesterday.

Queensland legend James Hopes is one obvious absentee following his retirement, while the non-selection of Chris Hartley and Peter Forrest demonstrates the direction the selectors are taking into this year’s tournament.

In Hartley’s place comes Jimmy Pierson. The 23-year-old has been a fixture at the top of the order for the Brisbane Heat in the last two seasons of the Big Bash League and now looks set to get is chance in Maroon after featuring in the National Performance Squad in last year’s tournament.

Other members of last year’s squad, legspinner Cameron Boyce and allrounder Simon Milenko both moved to Tasmania in the offseason after falling behind Mitchell Swepson and Jack Wildermuth respectively.

While unable to crack the squad last year, off-spinning allrounder Jason Floros has been handed the captaincy reigns, with stylish opening bat Matthew Renshaw, pint-sized Marnus Labuschagne and fast-bowling pair Peter George and Cameron Gannon have also come in.

Highly rated prospects Sam Heazlett, Billy Stanlake and Wildermuth were unavailable for selection due to injury.

What to watch for

The Bulls were the big winners out of last year’s NPS squad, with young guns Peirson, Wildermuth, Swepson and allrounder James Bazley all getting invaluable game-time against quality opposition. All of these players excepting Bazley were locks to make this year’s squad barring injury, and after an incredible rise through the ranks, all eyes will be on the performances of Swepson.

In his limited opportunities, Swepson has been somewhat of a revelation, culminating in Australia ‘A’ selection last month. No longer boasting the element of surprise, the classic leg-spinners ability to take wickets and keep his economy down will be pivotal in the Bulls hopes of victory.

Out in the field, plenty of eyes will also follow new Captain Jason Floros, with the Canberra-born product set to lead the side for the first time. Coach Phil Jacques has bestowed the honour on the 25-year-old over the likes of more experienced teammates Joe Burns, Ben Cutting and the injured Chris Lynn – who captains Floros in the BBL.

An astute cricket mind, Jacques judgement has to be back in this situation.

At full strength, the Bulls have the batsmen to destroy any attack. Boasting three genuine allrounders in Ben Cutting, Floros and Michael Neser also ensures good balance in the side.

Scoring runs is one thing, but their ability to take wickets and restrict opposition sides from posting big totals will be the difference between a W and an L in this year’s tournament.

Queensland Bulls likely XI

1.       Matthew Renshaw

2.       James Peirson

3.       Joe Burns

4.       Marnus Labuschagne/Chris Lynn* (when available)

5.       Nathan Reardon

6.       Ben Cutting

7.       Jason Floros

8.       Michael Neser

9.       Luke Feldman

10.   Mark Steketee

We’ve looked at the batting stocks, but the truth is it’ll be the Blues bowling stocks most likely to give them the edge over their rivals in the 2016 Matador Cup.

Last year it was the season of Starc. Big Mitch broke the tournament record with an incredible 26 wickets from six matches at the average of just eight. What a freak.

Unfortunately for NSW, Mitch and fellow spearhead Josh Hazlewood will be unavailable to them, whilst last year’s 2nd most prolific wicket-taker Sean Abbott (10 wickets @ 19.7) will likely be unavailable as he recovers from a broken ankle suffered in the recent Quadrangular ‘A’ series.

The good news? After missing out on selection for the Aussie ODI Tour of South Africa, Nathan Lyon will be available for the whole tournament and hungry to prove his white ball credentials. Likely to join him will be Stephen O’Keefe – himself on the comeback trail from injury – meaning the Blues will have a serious left, right, good night attack in the slow bowling department.

It feels like NSW fans have been watching Doug Bollinger steam in off the fence forever. The longest serving current member of the Blues squad is a fan favourite, and likely to back leading the new ball charge once again. At 35 years old, Doug is still one of the most highly rated quicks in the land, but may be unrecognisable at the start of the tournament after opting to ditch the old haircut in favour of a shaved dome which is bound to prove a talking point. He’ll be needing a new nickname accordingly.

Doug Bollinger is likely to be joined by Gurinder Sandhu, who boasts one of the best List A averages in Australian history. After a rough end to the domestic season, watching from the sidelines as his beloved Sydney Thunder claimed the BBL title, he’ll be keen to hit the ground running and rekindle the form which saw him earn two ODI caps in 2015.

There’s strong speculation that Pat Cummins will make a return from injury in the tournament, and if fit he’ll be one of the first names chosen by Head Coach Trent Johnston. If he is not available however, then the stage could be set for any number of players to step in to the third seamer role for the Blues.

Experienced left-armer Josh Lalor could earn a call-up. Seemingly always on the periphery of the Blues squad, alongside Trent Copeland he owns the title as the most experienced Blues quick that could earn a spot.

Outside of those two it’s a wide open race between some of the state’s most exciting prospects.

Bean-pole quick Harry Conway – who debuted with a Shield five-fa last summer – could earn selection. If fit, Sydney Sixers quick Ben Dwarshuis - a strongly-built left-armer with a skillset well suited to white ball cricket, could also be a useful option. He also bats, and would be an ideal number seven in the absence of Sean Abbott.

Other potential candidates include Aussie under-19s representative Henry Thornton – a highly rated rookie whose debut season at NSW was curtailed by injury, or the potential for a third spinner amongst either Chris Green, Arjun Nair or Jonte Pattison.

Ultimately a lot rests on the fitness of Cummins, and the form of Sandhu. Should they a) be available and b) fire, it’ll give NSW one of the best attacks in the competition.

No matter which way you cut it up however, the Blues likely eleven has the credentials to defend their title this season.

Likely Blues 11

1.       Nic Maddinson

2.       Ed Cowan

3.       Kurtis Patterson

4.       Moises Henriques

5.       Ben Rohrer

6.       Peter Nevill

7.       Steve O’Keefe

8.       Pat Cummins

9.       Nathan Lyon

10.   Gurinder Sandhu

The Samoan train-on squad, announced today for the World Cup pricked my attention for a couple of reasons: it’s chock-full of NRL players for one, but it’s the selections of a few players in particular which have me asking questions.

Former Australian Kangaroos representative Reni Maitua has been named alongside junior QLD representative Anthony Milford and the Wests Tigers centre Tim Simona. Just last week, Simona was also named in the New Zealand train-on squad.

If Simona pulls on the black jersey, he will be ineligible to ever play Origin, while if he or Milford opts to play for Samoa who knows what the future may hold for the rising stars.

It’s a hot topic around origin time and is threatening to rear it’s head again during the Rugby League World Cup later this year – are loose eligibility laws hurting the game of Rugby league. 

Already the Sims brothers have committed to playing for Fiji, much like Jarryd Hayne did in 2008. And with the likes of former NSW Origin Players Anthony Minichiello and Anthony Laffranchi due to run out for the Azzurri, it needs to be asked where do we draw the line?

Allowing NRL stars to switch allegiance and play for second tier nations in the tournament is sure to boost the level of competition through out the tournament. It also whilst affords said players the opportunity to proudly pay homage to their cultural ancestors. 

While these are both good things, the real issues lie in the knock-on effects to local competitions and their players far beyond the periphery of the Australian borders.

The players missing out on being selected in the squad due to presence of the ring-ins are the big losers out of all of this. They may have grown up idolising the play of some of these players within the NRL, but not rewarding their loyalty and efforts to the national program will hurt them in many ways.

Earning representative honours is a sure-fire way for a player to accrue higher earnings. It also carries with it prestige and profile which can help to garner further interest in your performances and the fortunes your team. By removing the opportunity for locally reared players to play for their home nations we are hurting the global league economy.

Picture this – in a blow-out game between Australia and Fiji, one of the Fijian players puts a massive hit on an Aussie which makes the highlight reels. If it’s made by one of the Sims brothers, it’s a good shot, but if a local Fijian player makes it, then suddenly it has the opportunity to become folklore and potentially inspire the next generation of talent.

While in the short term more competitive match ups and NRL players in second tier teams may increase the spectacle of the World Cup itself, in the long term allowing local athletes to develop and gain experience from major tournaments is better for the greater good of the game.

In terms of switching allegiances, there is no easy answer to this complex problem which has been highlighted in the media for years.

My views are that players should nominate their nationality (and state of origin) upon their first standard player contract they sign, which for some players can be as young as 16. This would help in removing the controversy around the topic, and also ensuring the second tier nations can protect more places in their squads for locally grown talent.

Following long-held discussions and speculation, it was announced today that the NRL have come to terms with a private promoter, Duco Events, to partake in an NRL Nines competition in Auckland for the next five years.

The last time the NRL ventured into this territory was 2004 when the Wests Tigers were victorious in capturing the title in a seven-a-side tournament. This latest announcement is sure to spark controversy across league circles for a number of different reasons.

Already the NRL have come out to extinguish rumours that top players would sit out the tournament by outlining a clause in the contract that stipulates clubs will be forced to field one of the top five top earners as per the salary cap. This will help to instill credibility to the tournament, but also means we risk injury to a star that fans will actually pay to watch.

The temptation from clubs to field a strong team will be the prize money of $2 million dollars to whoever is crowned champions, which will no doubt ensures cash strapped clubs like the Tigers and Sharks give it a red hot go.

There’s no secret that both the NRL and the private promoter stand to make a lot of money from the tournament, but the other big winner will be the city of Auckland who will benefit from the attention and attendance the tournament receives. The question I have is why couldn't the National Rugby League of Australia host the tournament on its own shores?

The greatest concern with the tournament however is not the location but the length of the contract that the NRL has entered into to be a part of it all. Five years is a long time in football, particularly for a new tournament which cannot guarantee success.

A casualty of the lucrative February based event is already the NRL All-Stars match, which has already announced its postponement for 2014. This is as much to do with the World Cup at the end of the year and the toll that will likely have on the league’s top players, but in years to come will there be room in the preseason for both a Nines Tournament and an All-Stars game?

Surely a 13 v 13 match up of the league’s greatest talent playing with modified rules designed at better game play is more appealing than a watered down Nine-a-side tournament with teams stacked with up and comers and second-tier talent? Or will the $2 million carrot dangling in Auckland be too much for the clubs to resist?

Rest assured the first injury to occur as a result of this tournament will have commentators up in arms.

Bledis-who? It’s been gone for so long that I’d almost forgotten what it looked like. Lucky it took the tour last weekend while it was here or I may still have drawn a blank.

It’s meant to be our biggest rugby rival, perhaps even our countries biggest sporting rivalry alongside the Ashes, so why has it been so long since we were able to lock it up in OUR trophy cabinet?

The past is the past, but the fact remains that the Wallabies haven’t won a Bledisloe series since 2002, which is a test best remembered for the two streakers who entered the field donning nothing but a Vodafone logo – yes even back then Voda offered poor coverage.

Of the major trophies in World Rugby (and I’m only considering the Southern Hemisphere variety), Australia has only held one in the last decade, being the Tri-nations title in 2011. That year was supposed to be Robbie Dean’s turning point where Australia went from promising to threatening, but on reflection, that tournament victory was built upon the creativity and flair of the Ewen McKenzie coached Quade Cooper and his Reds teammates Genia, Ioane and the leadership of James Horwill.

The Reds rode that wave of confidence and self-belief all the way to the Super Rugby title, Australia’s first since 2004, and the knock-on effect into the Wallabies squad was huge.

The Tri-nations title was supposed to be the lift the Wallabies needed going into the World Cup in New Zealand, but (ignoring the fact Cooper got the yips) Robbie instead reverted to a more structured game plan, took only one number 7 to the World Cup and cost a good squad a crack at the title.

Since then we all know what has happened, but now with Ewen at the helm, Australian rugby fans cannot wait to see if the Wallabies will try and replicate their style on the international stage.

Imagine Quade Cooper, with a fully loaded backline, and Ewen calling the shots, asking him to play what he sees. Imagine Quade Cooper, linking up with Izzy or Mogg, Christian or Tevita.

It’s enough to make a backs coach salivate.

The time was right for change, and I’m really excited that Bill decided he was going to chop Robbie even IF we won the Wallabies series.

Australian Rugby is on the up. Of our five Super Rugby teams, only the Reds did not beat or better there win total from last year, yet they still record 10 victories and qualified for the playoffs.

The Australian Conference won 37 of 80 games, up from 32 in 2011, which, while still a touch below where it should be, is a positive sign. Combined, the Australian teams had 12 wins and 10 losses versus New Zealand teams, which would’ve been 12 and 8 excluding the finals series.

There are new, young and exciting backs and forwards coming through who are SCREAMING for a Wallabies birth, and do you know what it reminds me of? The Reds in 2010.

In 2010, Ewen McKenzie stepped into the Reds job after the team had finished second last on the ladder. The team had lost stalwarts Berrick Barnes and Hugh McMeniman and was built around an immature Cooper, improving Genia and captain Big Kev.

The other players were youthful, fast and hungry but widely unproven players such as Luke Morahan, James Slipper, Ben Tapuia, Ben Lucas and Rod Davies. It’s no surprise that most of the guys ended up cracking the Wallabies.

Ewen turned the place around and established a culture that these guys were dying to be a part of. They played for each other and they almost made it to the Finals. Only a year later did they go all the way, and this year made it three finals series in row.

That squad had talent but it took McKenzie to step in and instill the belief that took them from good to great. At the Wallabies he has gathered what he feels is great talent from around the country – now it’s his job to turn them into world-beaters.

I’m excited because McKenzie has the ability to start fresh – a new squad, a new style and renewed hope. Yes most of the guys in the squad have been a part of the setup at least since the Spring tour or Lions series, but when he selects 23 out of his existing 30 man squad, maths tell us there will be at least one fresh face chosen.

Ewen brings hope and respect to the playing group, which was so sorely missing in the Wallaby camp since the Rugby World Cup debacle. He was the right choice for the top gig and I cannot wait to see what he can do with Australia’s best players at his disposal.

There is one more area however that the ARU will be really hoping Ewen delivers the goods, and that is to the games coffers.

For a lot of reasons, none more so than successful attractive rugby, the McKenzie coached Reds organisation has been able to pull some absolutely staggering front office numbers, including over 32,000 memberships sold in 2012 (up from 15,000 in 2011), as well as the number 1 game day attendance average for elite sporting teams in Queensland.

There is no doubt Bill and his board would have considered these facets when selecting their new coach, and believe me it is the fans who will stand to benefit if Ewen can a) bring the successful game plan to the Wallabies and b) bring the sponsorship dollars and eyeballs back to the game.

I’m excited for the potential. I’m excited for the hope. I’m excited for the rugby championship.

Imagine rocking up to the church on your wedding day and you’ve had no say in it at all. You’ve never met the bride (albeit you may have noticed her from a distance), the groomsman are strangers and there’s a bloke poking a gun in your back to make sure you go through with it.

This is kind of like the situation that Wests coach Mick Potter walked into this year when he assumed the head coaching position at the club. After a horrible year, he was picked to replace a head coach who the club couldn’t even sack.

He walked into a club in pre-season (which is late by recruitment standards), got absolutely no say in the 2013 roster (the bride - which included a host of flop signings like Braith Anasta and Eddie Pettybourne) and didn’t even get to decide who would be his assistances (groomsman) in his first crack at coaching in the NRL.

The shotgun? Don’t underestimate how small his deal is to be in the role for the next two years. Ignoring the fact that sports people get good cash, Potter is on the smallest salary for a head coach in the whole league and the club knew he would have to take it, being desperate to prove his credentials in the NRL.

To make matters worst, that man Sheens was hanging around like a bad smell. With a contract too large to terminate, and a shadow of ten years of culture built into the organization, his imprint has perhaps the biggest unspoken disruption to the club in 2013.

Throw in injuries, player-contracting sagas, ageing superstars and Adam Blair and it’s easy to see why Potter has not had the best year as coach. It’s been a bad year for the club as a whole, but does he really deserve to lose his job next year?

I didn’t know a lot about Potter before he took the reigns, but believe that he isn’t to blame for the train wreck that has been 2013. Is he to blame for Benji’s ineptness? Is he to blame for the long-term injuries to the teams regular first-graders?

This week the Tigers announced that the contracts of three members of the coaching staff would not be renewed for 2014. This is widely believed to be defensive coach Royce Simmons (the Tigers have a defensive coach I hear you say?), Steve Georgallis and rehabilitation manager Andrew Leeds.

Some may see this announcement as the writing on the wall for a fresh coaching staff to be implemented in 2014, which would not include Potter, but I disagree. The right option is to instill faith in Potter and allow him to find his own staff to fill the vacancies.

The roster changes are coming. Already the Tigers have offloaded dead weight in Blake Ayshford, a player who has grown tired at Wests, and Benji Marshall. The signs for next year are that we’ll have a mix of youthful backs (Blake Austin, Luke Brooks, Nofoaluma, Simona, Korebeite) and experienced forwards (Galloway, Halatau, Fulton, Cory Paterson, Farah)which is really exciting for those around the club.

With a fresh roster, Potter will finally have the chance to make his impression on the squad, taking them in the direction that he believes will lead to success. With his own assistance, he can start to truly implement his own systems – systems that have been successful enough to see him named Super League coach of the year twice in the UK.

Tigers board; I implore you to keep the faith. We understand that the ultimate measure of success of wins, but you cannot blame this train wreck on Potter. You need to ride this out, and put trust in whatever it is that you saw in him in the first place to be convinced that he was your man.

When Shane Watson sends his LBW dismissals his isn’t using the DRS technology as it was intended.

When Shane Watson gets trapped on the front foot and rapped on the pad, he knows well and good that he certainly didn’t edge the ball, so what is he trying to overturn?

For Shane to overturn the decision he needs one of four things to happen:

1.     The bowler has overstepped and delivered a no-ball (not very likely unless you’re facing Siddle)

2.     The ball has pitched outside leg (England aren’t playing a left-arm bowler so this is about as likely as Watson converting a start into a score)

3.     The ball has hit him outside the line (Given he plants his front foot in the same place for every delivery with metronome like precision it’s likely going to be on the decision sticks)

4.     The ball is missing the stumps.

Number 4 is the most likely option, but is hope a good enough reason to use up one of your referrals?

The DRS was brought in for one reason – to clear up the howlers. It was designed for the instances when a player had chopped one into has pads, or when an edge was mistaken for late swing. It wasn’t designed to be used if you simply thought you may or may be out.

Watson’s a goose but he hasn’t been the only controversial decision from DRS so far in the two Ashes test. Jonathon Trott, Ashton Agar, and to a slightly lesser extent Brad Haddin in the first test have all been victim to questionable decisions from the third umpire. While hotspot has been the problem in all these instances (and I am secretly blaming that on the English weather) I still don’t think this is the issue.

Hawkeye is the problem with DRS. Without Hawkeye, people like Watson can have no gripe. What about the bowlers you say? Well surely the umpires can be trusted enough to make the decision?

By keeping hot spot, and also introducing snicko, we can ensure there’s enough technology in place to ensure no one gets robbed, but avoid the time-wasting and controversy of putting the decision in the hands of a computer.

You may also recall that in India there was no DRS used, as was the case when they toured our shores in 2011. Did you really miss it when it wasn’t there? Cricket without the technology served us well for over a hundred years so surely it can’t be that bad to put a bit more trust in the umpires.

Forget the fact they’ve finally broken the nine year finals free streak, there’s only one question Brumbies fans really care about at this point – can their team win the title?

The Australian conference champions are the now the only Aussie team remaining the in Super Rugby competition following the Reds humbling against the Crusaders on Saturday night.

Despite the obvious speed bump of the Lions tour, which caused the Brumbies a hiccup against the Western Force in the last round, there were enough signs of life against the Cheetahs to suggest the team is working back towards the peak they achieved in round 17 against the Rebels.

Nic White looked threatening with every touch, challenging the line and providing great ball to his outside men, while Henry Speight must surely be on the radar of Ewen McKenzie when he becomes eligible for the Wallabies come September.

The Brumbies have been successful this year with devotion to an unwavering game plan. They don’t play the ball from their own half, preferring to kick for territory with skilled technicians in Jesse Mogg and Matt Toomua. They flood the breakdown with their forwards constantly looking for steals – to which they had great effect against the Cheetahs.

They like to bash up teams with their mobile back and second row and catch others off guard on the counter with their speed men outside. They rely on clinical efficiency and using the accurate goal kicking of Christian Leali’ifano and Nic White to punish mistakes. But do they have enough to take down the might of the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld?

Given the Brumbies employ a South African coach, and a former world cup winning one at that, it’s no surprise that they’ll be coming up against a side with a remarkably similar game plan.

In all major statistically categories the sides are incredibly even matched, excluding metres (Brumbies 404 metres per game, Bulls 363 m/pg) and carries (Brumbies 1831 for season, Bulls 1509 for season), indicating that the Brumbies are prepared to run it more, but the Bulls are more successful in this area.

When they met earlier in the season, the Brumbies prevailed in Canberra, but since early in the season the Bulls have improved drastically, not least Morne Steyn who still remains one of the most dangerous kickers in the game.

In the end, the game is likely to be decided by the most telling factor in Super Rugby, which is the travel. The Brumbies embarked on a mammoth journey to Pretoria early Monday morning where they are likely to be greeted by 51,000 screaming Blue Bulls fans. The Wallabies have never won there, and on a short turnaround the Brumbies likely can’t.

In the other game, the two form teams of the competition will be battling for New Zealand bragging rights when the Chiefs host the Crusaders. I’m tipping the Crusaders to triumph as they did in round 19, winning 43 – 15.           

The final, should the Crusaders triumph, will be held in South Africa where again the Blue Bulls should be able to prevail given the advantages of home. In the history of Super Rugby, no team outside of the top 2 has gone onto win the title.

With much interest the thousands of spectators at Leichardt Oval watched on as their one-time saviour turned out for his last performance in front of the Balmain faithful on the hill.

No matter what side you look at it from, there is no denying that the events of this week have rocked the joint venture club, and tonight was only ever going to go one of two ways; Benji stands up and leads his Tigers to glory making a mockery of the administrators that spurned him or he would stumble hurt his Union stocks.

As the Tigers took to the field for their warm up, interestingly they were lead out by the former Kiwi skipper. On match day the big question on everyone’s lips was “would he be booed”? Even local Minister Darcy Byrne went to the extraordinary lengths of going to the papers to try and ensure Benji would not receive a frosty welcome in his last outing at the historic oval.

In the end, the notion was quashed as a huge Leichardt crowd cheered him on. For now he would still remain one of their favourite sons. That was at least until the second minute of the game.

His playing style has always been all or nothing so this was never going to peter out. In just the Tigers second set of the game, Benji through a great pass to James Tedesco’s knees – only problem was he usually catches the ball with his hands. Not a great start.

Minutes later, with the Tigers on the attack, Benji managed to deliver a superb cut out pass to Blake Ayshford to put him in space on the right edge. Ashyford would go on to find Nofoaluma for the Tigers first try. That is where the highlights stopped unfortunately.

For the rest of the game, the Tigers featured more of the 2013 Benji we’ve come to know and resent. Three further times in the first half Benji would throw passes that missed targets. And I’m not talking cut outs – these were simple one out passes that even Ben Roberts (hi Eels fans) could hit.

The second half started positively, as Benji looked threatening as he took the Warriors on at the line. Despite this he didn’t really do anything. No line breaks, no line break assists, just a few run and dump offs. In the final 20 minutes however, his game completely unraveled.

His passes found the deck and the sideline more times than they found hands, and the Bronx cheer started to go up.

When he kicked the ball out on the full from a 5th tackle, and not just a little bit out but a decent shank which made the front row of the crowd, the cheers were not really sarcastic but almost joyous.

It’s never good to see the mighty fall, but like a lot of the fans there on Friday night, I’m starting to think Wests really might have dodged a bullet here by unloading what would have been a highly paid debilitating player.

This point is even more apt when you consider the commanding role our u20s halves played in the curtain raiser. Luke Brooks mesmerised the defence all night with every touch, while Mitch Moses was hugely influential playing in the unfamiliar fullback role. But this isn’t an article about them, it’s about Benji.

In 80 minutes, Benji made the least amount of runs and least amount of metres of any of the Tigers 17 barring Braith Anasta. He finished with game with three recorded errors, but contributed to countless others against his teammates.

It’s hard to say that Benji was the worst player on the field, and I won’t. He wasn’t even the Tigers worst. The problem again lies in his inability to do what he wants to do with the ball.

He still attacks and reads the play well, he still has pace, although not where it once was, but he has now picked up some technical deficiencies that seemingly have ruined his passing game. He just can’t do what he used to be able to do.

At this rate it’s hard to see how he is going to make it in Rugby Union.

For Tigers fans the last week has been a blur. First there was shock, then disappointment, then resentment followed by confusion (mostly over the videos and interviews done). But just as quickly, we find acceptance. This was the change the club had to make.

I should preface this by saying I’m quite a pessimistic sports fan, but I’m just glad I wasn’t silly enough to go out to Homebush tonight to have to witness ANOTHER Queensland party.

New South Wales lost for a lot of reasons, not least that they’re playing one of the most talented football teams ever assembled. The streak, now 8 years long (or longer than a cycle of El Nino as I like to consider), used to be about the gulf in class.  They had Lockyer and we had Jarrod Mullen. But over the last three years we’ve managed to find a consistent bunch of blokes to wear Blue, some of who are actually good enough to play for Australia, so what is our excuse now?

Oh yeah, we picked Mitchell Pearce.

Ricky Stuart was meant to be the saviour. Queensland had the Queenslander spirit and actually to their credit ran a tight ship that helped to build a rock solid culture. Stuart incorporated many of these same tactics, but aimed too small. He talked about winning “one game” and in the end, that’s all we could do. Then before he could actually start to reap the rewards of his regime, he takes off to the Eels. Can you imagine Mal doing that?

Then we get Laurie Daley in whose only previous head coaching experience were figurehead roles with Country origin and the Indigenous All-stars. How does he know how to run a football team? At least Stuart had experience.

Oh yeah, and he picked Josh Reynolds as a back-up hooker in Origin I and II.

The notion of sticking with the 17 has long been a point of contention with NSW teams. We used to chop and change all the time – now we stick through it no matter what. Is it about pride? Not admitting you may have made a mistake?

Josh Reynolds was a terrible selection. The fact he was chosen ahead of Sutton is a travesty. If he showed anything in his limited minutes of football in the second game, it’s that he cannot pass both ways across his body, which is pretty embarrassing for a first grader.

Oh yeah, and there was no semblance of a game plan.

The New South Wales Blues looked completely lost out on the field for long period of the game. It seems the only plan for the game was to slide in defense and spread out in attack. There wasn’t a single “set piece”: no inside balls like Origin I when Hayne got over, only wrap-around. It seems that they were just hoping that someone, somewhere would be better than his man and set up points.

Queensland weren’t fantastic. Sure, they defended their line brilliantly, and for the most part so did the Blues. They were just a lot better at capitalizing when they had the chances. The stats on balls played inside the oppositions 20-metre line heavily favoured NSW, and would have done so more if not for the final few moments of the game. Both of their tries came from broken plays from Thurston and Hodges.

Oh yeah, and the referring was really ordinary.

The Blues got HEAPS of penalties, and rightly so. But they could have easily had more. Dodgy play the balls and high shots went missed, and Thurston’s first try looked to have a lot more obstruction in it then the commentators gave them credit for.

Oh yeah, and the Blues played their Grand Final in game I.

And this is why they really lost the series before kick-off. To see they way that team carried on after winning the first game was embarrassing. A wise man, John Singleton, once said you don’t celebrate at half-time. This was a line used mainly to stop employees at his ad agency from drinking at lunch, but it rings true here. You’re allowed to be pleased, but to sit around and smash beers in the sheds with your coaches and reporters when you’re only a third of the way through the series?

It certainly set off alarm bells in my head.

It got Tamou into trouble only a couple of days later and he copped a ban from the NRL which saw him miss the next game of the series. Promoting this boozey culture also tripped up Ferguson who hasn’t been cited since the night before the team went into camp before game II, except outside a courthouse.

The attitude of this team was completely wrong. They won one game – they didn’t earn anything. And after tonight’s error riddled performance, least the respect of their state that has grown sick and tired of being on the wrong end of the score line.

Will he, won’t he, will he or won’t he and finally confirmation – Benji Marshall has asked for a release from the remaining two years of his contract with the Tigers. This move will see Benji take up a contract in Rugby Union, either with the NSW Waratahs or, more likely, the Auckland Blues.

Since 2003, Benji has been the most recognizable face of an extremely underachieving Wests Tigers side. In 10 years, they made the finals only 3 times, including of course the famous 2005 title triumph.

Never before had such a polarizing figure played for the club. He began as a spectacular, highlight reel-grabbing youngster and later turned into a giant chunk of the salary cap. Through out all of this, his numbers stacked up as some of the best in the league. He twice lead the NRL in try assists and in 2010 even won the ‘Golden Boot’ for the World’s best player. Despite all this he always had his detractors.

The knock often came from outside the ranks of Tiger fans. Opposition supporters wth longer memories were quick to point out the numerous errors and poor play which was littered in between his brilliance. For the most, people were hooked by his star – the million dollar smile and pin-up boy attitude made him a fan favorite, and even the face of the league at one point.

His off field behavior matured with his play, and he seemingly changed from a wild child to a community leader, using his profile to raise money for numerous charities whilst also becoming a media darling. So where did it all go wrong?

2012 was a watershed year for the Tigers. After two spectacular and ultimately cruel finals campaigns, the squad could not live up to expectations and came crashing down to earth. While former coach Tim Sheens took the fall for the poor form, the rumours of unrest within the playing group were widely reported.

In the same off-season, a renegotiated CBA lead to an increase in the salary cap that activated an upgrade clause in Marshall’s contract. For months, the club and Benji have been in negotiations. Benji wanted to stay until 2017, the club wanted him until 2016, and to pay him less money. Benji felt insulted, and now he has gone.

Amidst all this, Benji’s game has been on a downward slide for the last two years. The telling point was against the Cowboys when, on a breakaway, he was chased down from behind by James Tamou, a prop.

His kicking game leaves a lot to be desired. While he has perfected a twisting grubber which frees up his outside men, a kick few in the world of rugby league can do, he still cannot land a bomb with any accuracy.

While he still steps across field and opens up half opportunities with his footwork, he can no longer has the finesse to hit the last pass and often looks out of sync with the remainder of his squad.

Sadly, father time has caught up with Benji and it hasn’t been kind. His game was built on improvisation – playing what was in front of him – but sadly he lacks the pace and agility to do that anymore. While he has tried to adapt his game to his capabilities, the fact remains for the price he was asking for, his capabilities were not worth it.

Benji has been the Wests Tigers. No player has brought more eyeballs and newspaper columns to the club. He inspired a generation of young boys across the world to try the “Benji-step” and flick pass. While has value to the Tigers could still be counted through commercial and marketing returns, the fact remains he can no longer win games for the club.

So what’s next for the Tigers? With a heap of salary cap room now available they can do what they’ve been threatening for the last few weeks, and pay the next crop of Benji wannabees their dues. More cap space should allow the club to lock in the talents of Tim Simona, Markia Korebeite, Mitchell Moses, Brendan Santi, Kyle Lovett, Nathan Brown and of course the highly touted Luke Brooks.

To lock in one playmaker or to secure on long contracts the services of seven future rep players… ? I know which option I would take.

While Benji could definitely have assisted in bringing the next generation through the club, his salary expectations were not worth it. If he took a pay cut and wanted to 2017, do you really need to think how average he would be in four years if his decline continues?