King Wally cries foul over NSW Origin coup

Updated November 20, 2012 18:22:35

Maroons Origin legend Wally Lewis said the Queensland Government should have fought harder to keep two Origin home games in 2013.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) announced two home games for Sydney in 2013 as part of a five-year Origin schedule in Sydney on Tuesday.

The original scheduling for Brisbane's Lang Park to have two games in 2013 was made before the new independent commission came into power at the start of the season.

Under the new five-year schedule Queensland will host two games in 2014 and 2017.

The Blues also host two games in 2016 while the rival states host one each in 2015 with one game that year set aside for a neutral venue, probably Melbourne.

Queensland Sports Minister Steve Dickson said the state's debt has cost it the 2013 hosting rights to Origin matches.

He said the State Government could not afford a bidding war with New South Wales.

Lewis argued the Queensland Government was underestimating the importance and value of the Origin games to Queenslanders.

"Look anybody that doesn't fight hard to maintain a bit of loyalty and support for Queensland, I don't believe they're real Queenslanders," Lewis said.

"People that don't believe these games aren't the number one earner for Queensland need to go back to primary school."

Dickson said it would be financially irresponsible for the Government to write any more large cheques with an existing debt of $65 billion.

"If it's about cheque books at the end of the day, maybe New South Wales may have a bigger chequebook than us," he said.

"We just can't afford to go blowing big bundles of money at this point in time, on Origin or anything else."

New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell said the new five-year deal was a fairer arrangement for both states with Victoria being the biggest loser.

"We haven't spent a lot of money to get these games," O'Farrell said at a Sydney press conference.

"Each of these games will bring to the city (Sydney) $9-10 million into the economy."

New Blues coach Laurie Daley said the home games would be an advantage in 2013 but would count for nothing if the side did not prepare well.

The Blues have been installed as favourite by bookies to break their seven-year losing streak to the Maroons in 2013.

Tags: rugby-league, sport, state-of-origin, brisbane-4000, qld, australia, sydney-2000, nsw

First posted November 20, 2012 11:59:58

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Meninga cries foul over Uate decision

Updated June 7, 2011 22:19:00

State of Origin just would not be the same without a good conspiracy theory.

And Queensland coach Mal Meninga did his best to maintain tradition by hinting NSW winger Akuila Uate only escaped suspension for an NRL spear tackle so he could play in next week's Origin II.

The Maroons mentor suggested NSW players in hot water around Origin time had been shown leniency for "a long time", citing Jarryd Hayne's infamous 2010 headbutt.

And Meninga believed a precedent had been set ahead of Origin II after Uate walked away unpunished for the dangerous throw, setting up the potential for game two fireworks.

Knights winger Uate was breathing a sigh of relief on Tuesday when he escaped punishment by entering an early plea for his grade one charge following Newcastle's loss to Wests Tigers on Monday night.

But Meninga hinted Uate should have been rubbed out for at least Origin II for the 72nd-minute lifting tackle on Tigers debutant Tim Simona.

"I thought it warranted a grade two but I don't make those decisions," he said after unveiling his side on Tuesday.

"He is very important to them so he is playing.

"It's not the first time - Jarryd from a year ago."

Hayne needed just eight minutes in the NRL judiciary to beat a headbutt charge on a technicality ahead of 2010's Origin II, despite admitting he made contact with Melbourne and Queensland's Billy Slater.

"It's been happening for a long time, as long as I can remember - and I played game one," Meninga said.

Of course Meninga is conveniently forgetting Luke Lewis was rubbed out of NSW's Origin side by the judiciary on the same night Hayne was cleared - and the countless other cases passionate Blues fans could come up with over the years.

But Meninga was in no mood to back down on Tuesday, especially when asked if a precedent had been set by Uate's tackle ahead of Origin II.

"Well, they have set one," he said.

"We will see what happens from here on.

"But we will work with the cards we are dealt with and get on with business."

Uate was too excited to take Meninga's comments to heart.

"I would have been pretty upset if I had (been suspended)," Uate said.

"Even though I haven't done it before, I was worried about what I was going to get ... you always worry when you are put on report.

"But I knew nothing much happened in that tackle.

"I was a little bit worried this morning but ... I came to training and I heard the news and I was pretty excited."

For good measure, Meninga also tried to play some old fashioned mind games when asked about NSW coach Ricky Stuart's stunning change of tack.

A long term view and a vow to show loyalty and not pick players out of position were thrown out the window for game two.

"In any Origin game I think you need people playing their position - that is my belief," Meninga said.

"(But) you would have to ask Ricky about that.

"We have a lot of belief in our footy side.

"We are very secure in the knowledge that we have picked a side that has done it before."

Asked if he would ever go into an Origin clash with just two specialist props like NSW have done for game two, Meninga said: "We haven't had to make that decision.

"We have the best front rowers in the game playing for us.

"We are in an envious position."

-AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, state-of-origin, australia, nsw, qld

First posted June 7, 2011 19:19:00

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