Bill Kelly Cup
New Zealand 12 l. Australia 20

2012 International Test Matches Index [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: International > Nations > Senior Representative Competition: International Test Matches

DISCORD 2012: Edition 17
Thu April 26, 2012
RICKY Stuart's criticism of the decision to play Origin I in Melbourne is not surprising, nor is it new.

In fact, when the game was launched in the middle of the Melbourne CBD last year, Stuart said he wished it was in Sydney - although he said it with a smile. In case you missed it, on Triple M a few days ago, Stuart said: "It's ridiculous that we've got to go to Melbourne to play. There's no favour in going to Melbourne for us - that'll be basically a crowd that supports (Queensland).

"I can tell you, if the shoe was on the other foot and Queensland were down six series, they'd change the decision, and that's the attitude we've got to get too."

Sure, if Ricky was a club coach he might have been a bit more diplomatic. Even after losing 50-12, Brian Smith was careful what he said about the Sydney Roosters' decision to move a home game against North Queensland to Darwin. But as colleague Richard Hinds wrote, Stuart's is not a "missionary position".

Discord can't put it any plainer than this: it is more important to the sport of rugby league for State of Origin to be played in Melbourne than it is for NSW to win. Rugby league will survive NSW losing but it needs a presence in Melbourne to guarantee its long-term survival.

So Ricky should continue to complain - and officials should continue to ignore him.

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IT'S difficult to have an informed opinion on the suspension of agents David Riolo, George Mimis and Isaac Moses - because there's no information about exactly what they did.

The final report into the Storm salary cap breaches was not made fully available to the public - the section naming players and agents was kept private, no doubt because of legal concerns. But Discord believes that section should be released, once the managers explore their legal options of course.

The fact is, it's one thing to say there is a big deterrent to rorting because two premierships were stripped. But if we don't understand exactly what happened, how big can the deterrent really be. Melbourne fans, who were hit for six by the affair, deserve to know who did what and when.

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WASN'T ANZAC Day fantastic? The game in Sydney was the best of the year and the Warriors pushed the Storm all the way until the final 11 minutes in Melbourne.

And with crowds totalling more than 60,000, we could be heading for a monster weekend attendance-wise with the Bulldogs-Manly grudge match and the local south-east Queensland derby.

People complained that neither of Wednesday's games were on free-to-air television but could that have actually contributed to the big crowds? And should the ARLC offer "special event" matches as a separate package in their television deal negotiations?

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FEEDBACK time now and Rabby argued that the Challenge Cup should be retained in its current format despite a few floggings. I agree with you but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Super League clubs come in at a later stage of the competition next year.

Gavin and Col had a go at Channel Nine about the Test not being live. Nine would never interrupt their news for a football game and they didn't put it on one of their minor channels because they didn't want to hurt the ratings later on at 7.30! I'm sure they would have shown it live if the NZRL had agreed to kick off at 9.30pm! A bigger problem is why Tests are being sold by the NRL in the new television deal. They should be sold by the RLIF.

Bennis said City-Country was useless from a NSW selection point of view. I think the halves sorted themselves out in this year's game and Tariq Sims may have played himself into a blue jersey. Marty said Origin gave Australia an unfair advantage when it comes to players eligible for more than one country. Do you think the Kiwi Origin will work, Marty?

Boubear argued in favour of artificially building up the strong nations. I agree Boubear but remember, it's a two-way street: many of the players we think "should" be playing for developing nations, like Feleti Mateo, were born in Australia! International footy needs its own Independent Commission - no doubt.

Stephen had a spray about a number of things. Stephen, the flaw with Daniel's idea is that Samoa would be able to pick New Zealand A every year, and the lineup would change every year. I think you have to reward those players who stick to a developing country - there should be a cap on "ring-ins".

Col talked about the Pacifica team concept. There is an Asia Pacific Rugby League Federation - it was launched earlier this year. But I would think grassroots development would be above forming on their list of priorities at this stage.

Here's this week's podcast:

http://stevemascord.com/2012/04/26/white-line-fever-podcast-episode-24/


Kangaroos take close VB Test
Sat April 21, 2012
The Kangaroos have beaten the Kiwis 20-12 in front of 35,339 people at Eden Park in the VB Test.

There were a couple of injury hold-ups early in the match, with Shaun Johnson staying down after a heavy knock to the shoulder, and then David Shillington taking time to find his feet after a head clash with Sam McKendry. When the repairs were sorted it was the Kiwis who took the lead as Issac Luke weaved his way over from dummy half in the 12th minute. Benji Marshall converted.

The dancing feet of Johnathan Thurston got the Kangaroos back in the match not long after as he scored beside the posts. His goal kicking boots tied the scores.

The Queensland connection in the Aussie backline put the visitors ahead next as the ball went from Cooper Cronk to Thurston, who fed Billy Slater into an outside gap, before Greg Inglis took a final pass to score out wide on the left. Thurston converted from the touchline.

A critical call in the game came at the end of the first half when Slater put himself in the way of Alex Glenn's potentially try-scoring pursuit of a Johnson grubber kick. Slater got 10mins in the bin, but the Kiwis were unable to capitalise on their extra man and the Kangaroos even jumped ahead in this period to 14-6 though another Thurston penalty goal.

At the start of the second half - and this may just have been coincidence - the British boy-band One Direction made an appearance on the sideline and Cronk's passing radar went astray. Johnson snaffled an intercept and ran 90m to score. Marshall converted and the Kiwis were only two points behind at 14-12.

The match stayed an arm wrestle for much of the second half. But a try for the Aussie captain, Cameron Smith, with 10mins to go proved the decisive blow. Thurston again converted.

For the Kiwis, the performances of the two debutants in the backline were especially impressive. Johnson was dangerous on attack, his try brought the Kiwis right into the game, and he showed real courage to continue after his early shoulder trouble. Josh Hoffman, at fullback, also battled through injury after spraining his ankle on a kick return. He looked certain to leave the field in the first half, but played the match out. His defence at the back, such as a try-saving tackle on Justin Hodges, was superb and he was always a threat returning the ball.

Johnathan Thurston was named man of the match.

At Eden Park, Auckland:

Kiwis 12 (Issac Luke, Shaun Johnson tries; Benji Marshall 2 goals)
Kangaroos 20 (Johnathan Thurston , Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith tries; Johnathan Thurston 4 goals)

Halftime: 14-6 (Australia)
Referee: Richard Silverwood (England)
Crowd: 35,399

- Stats: New Zealand v Australia
- Live Blog: New Zealand v Australia
- Match Info: New Zealand v Australia
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Fri April 20, 2012
• Australia grind down New Zealand
  
Thu April 19, 2012
• Winning Kiwis turn out to cheer on 2012 team
  
Thu April 19, 2012
• Australia and Country shorten in the betting
  
Thu April 19, 2012
• Preview: Australia will continue their dominance
  
Wed April 18, 2012
• DISCORD 2012: Edition 16
  
Wed April 18, 2012
• Preview: New Zealand v Australia
  
Tue April 17, 2012
• From The Couch: Round 7
  
Tue April 17, 2012
• Hoffman and Johnson named in Kiwi starting side
  
Tue April 17, 2012
• Australia and Country favourites
  
Tue April 17, 2012
• Five Warriors named in representative teams
  
Mon April 16, 2012
• Kiwis name four newcomes for Anzac Test
  
Mon April 16, 2012
• Smith named Australian Test captain
  
Thu April 12, 2012
• Jess and Stan head to Eden Park
  
Wed April 11, 2012
• Silverwood to referee NZ v Aus Test
  
Thu March 8, 2012
• Schools to meet in Eden Park Test curtain-raiser
  
Sat February 4, 2012
• New apparel brand for Kiwis
  

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