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Sydney Morning Herald
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Until Blues find their own Wayne Bennett they won't get Origin
Bennett was speaking of game three in that year's Origin series when the Maroons were embarrassed by that scoreline – 56-16. It sealed a three-nil series whitewash with the Blues celebrating tries in outrageous fashion, including Bryan Fletcher's now infamous 'bomb detonation'. It was a complete humiliation at the hands of Brad Fittler and co. So much so, some Sydney scribes wrote the dominance of NSW was so great the Origin concept itself was under threat because it was hard, in their eyes, to see Queensland ever being able to compete again. At the lunch, Bennett said he could not stand by and watch Queensland being beaten so badly and that he wanted to coach Queensland again. To his credit, he was extremely sensitive about dethroning current coach Mark Murray. In the end, once Bennett declared his hand, with the help of The Courier-Mail, a relieved Murray handed over. Incredibly, but not surprisingly, Queensland did it. A year after NSW threw a party in their faces and the Origin concept was declared 'dead', Bennett led Queensland to a series win thanks to the fairytale return of Allan Langer from the English Super League for the deciding game three. The stuff of legend. At the end of that 2001 series, Queensland had won the shield ten times and NSW nine, with one draw. The tally is now 25 to 17 in Queensland's favour with two draws. After last Wednesday's embarrassment at Accor Stadium, who in the NSW rugby league establishment will do what Bennett did and decide it can never happen again? Who will stand up and say it is unacceptable to lose the 2025 series in the manner they did after winning last year's series, then completely dominating in game one this year? Who will say trailing by 20 points at halftime in two consecutive Origin matches can't be tolerated? The answer is - probably no one. And that's the distinct difference between the two states. While Queensland doesn't cop it, and finds ways, NSW says things like coach Laurie Daley did in the post-match press conference. He was asked if he was the man to lead NSW again next year and he said he was because 'of what we've been building'. He was hurting and shattered and scratching for answers when he said it, but you're not 'building' when you won last year, then won game one easily, only to lose the series. Except maybe mediocrity. Having a crack at Daley is like shooting Bambi - you're bagging a wonderful guy who served his state as well as anyone in the history of Origin, and he desperately wants to replicate his playing success with coaching success. But whichever way you cut it, he was outgunned again and is now one series win in six attempts. Queensland lost game one this year and coach Billy Slater dropped his skipper and chief playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans. NSW lost game two and did nothing, except reference poor goal kicking and the ref while patting themselves on the back for a second-half fightback. Queensland won game two and made even more changes - introducing late career breakout star Gehemat Shibasaki and recalling retired favourite son Josh Papali'i. It's about finding an edge, a source of inspiration, a reason to get up. Like bringing Alfie back. Whatever it takes. NSW, meanwhile, took away reasons to 'get up', like entering the field through the long tunnel from their centre of excellence to run on to the field. Daley and his staff wanted to 'keep things normal' and run on through the traditional tunnel from the sheds. Isaah Yeo said the tunnel over-hyped the players and possibly led to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii flattening Reece Walsh leading to his send-off in game one last year. All well and good except Origin isn't normal. It's abnormal, and you have to deal with it. You have to run on knowing this is no weekend club game. Things will be thrown at you like Queensland's outside-in jamming defence. Yeo and Nathan Cleary said they knew it was coming. If they knew it was coming, where was plan B? Loading NSWRL boss Dave Trodden has declared Daley will coach the side again in 2026, the second of his two-year deal. Maybe Daley isn't the problem. It may be that head office is. Meanwhile, the game's ferocious news cycle will wash away the 2025 Origin series. But someone has to find a napkin, write '26-6 and 20-0', the halftime scores from games two and three on it, and slide it across a table to someone who will listen.
The Age
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Until Blues find their own Wayne Bennett they won't get Origin
Bennett was speaking of game three in that year's Origin series when the Maroons were embarrassed by that scoreline – 56-16. It sealed a three-nil series whitewash with the Blues celebrating tries in outrageous fashion, including Bryan Fletcher's now infamous 'bomb detonation'. It was a complete humiliation at the hands of Brad Fittler and co. So much so, some Sydney scribes wrote the dominance of NSW was so great the Origin concept itself was under threat because it was hard, in their eyes, to see Queensland ever being able to compete again. At the lunch, Bennett said he could not stand by and watch Queensland being beaten so badly and that he wanted to coach Queensland again. To his credit, he was extremely sensitive about dethroning current coach Mark Murray. In the end, once Bennett declared his hand, with the help of The Courier-Mail, a relieved Murray handed over. Incredibly, but not surprisingly, Queensland did it. A year after NSW threw a party in their faces and the Origin concept was declared 'dead', Bennett led Queensland to a series win thanks to the fairytale return of Allan Langer from the English Super League for the deciding game three. The stuff of legend. At the end of that 2001 series, Queensland had won the shield ten times and NSW nine, with one draw. The tally is now 25 to 17 in Queensland's favour with two draws. After last Wednesday's embarrassment at Accor Stadium, who in the NSW rugby league establishment will do what Bennett did and decide it can never happen again? Who will stand up and say it is unacceptable to lose the 2025 series in the manner they did after winning last year's series, then completely dominating in game one this year? Who will say trailing by 20 points at halftime in two consecutive Origin matches can't be tolerated? The answer is - probably no one. And that's the distinct difference between the two states. While Queensland doesn't cop it, and finds ways, NSW says things like coach Laurie Daley did in the post-match press conference. He was asked if he was the man to lead NSW again next year and he said he was because 'of what we've been building'. He was hurting and shattered and scratching for answers when he said it, but you're not 'building' when you won last year, then won game one easily, only to lose the series. Except maybe mediocrity. Having a crack at Daley is like shooting Bambi - you're bagging a wonderful guy who served his state as well as anyone in the history of Origin, and he desperately wants to replicate his playing success with coaching success. But whichever way you cut it, he was outgunned again and is now one series win in six attempts. Queensland lost game one this year and coach Billy Slater dropped his skipper and chief playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans. NSW lost game two and did nothing, except reference poor goal kicking and the ref while patting themselves on the back for a second-half fightback. Queensland won game two and made even more changes - introducing late career breakout star Gehemat Shibasaki and recalling retired favourite son Josh Papali'i. It's about finding an edge, a source of inspiration, a reason to get up. Like bringing Alfie back. Whatever it takes. NSW, meanwhile, took away reasons to 'get up', like entering the field through the long tunnel from their centre of excellence to run on to the field. Daley and his staff wanted to 'keep things normal' and run on through the traditional tunnel from the sheds. Isaah Yeo said the tunnel over-hyped the players and possibly led to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii flattening Reece Walsh leading to his send-off in game one last year. All well and good except Origin isn't normal. It's abnormal, and you have to deal with it. You have to run on knowing this is no weekend club game. Things will be thrown at you like Queensland's outside-in jamming defence. Yeo and Nathan Cleary said they knew it was coming. If they knew it was coming, where was plan B? Loading NSWRL boss Dave Trodden has declared Daley will coach the side again in 2026, the second of his two-year deal. Maybe Daley isn't the problem. It may be that head office is. Meanwhile, the game's ferocious news cycle will wash away the 2025 Origin series. But someone has to find a napkin, write '26-6 and 20-0', the halftime scores from games two and three on it, and slide it across a table to someone who will listen.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Mate against mate! Origin legends Bryan Fletcher and Mat Rogers pinpoint why their state will reign supreme in 2025
Footy legends Bryan Fletcher and Mat Rogers have outlined who will win the State of Origin series this year - and it was no surprise they weren't on the same page. Fletcher chalked up 14 appearances for NSW in his career and he forecast a Blues triumph, while Rogers, who represented Queensland between 1997 and 2000, couldn't see anything but the Maroons lifting the shield. The pair - who are good mates and work for SEN Radio - recently caught up over a beer as part of VB's Very Bitter Tissues promotion. With bragging rights on the line, footy fans can pass on the tissues to a mate once their team loses, and the boxes are nothing short of hilarious. They feature brutal slogans such as 'sorry for your loss', 'you tried your best,' and 'chin up, champ.' Fletcher told Daily Mail Australia he would love to pass on a tissue box to the likes of Rogers and champion halfback Allan Langer - before stating why he thinks the Laurie Daley coached Blues will retain the interstate shield. Fletcher (pictured, in 2000) chalked up 14 appearances for NSW in his career and he forecast a Blues triumph this year 'I think the kicking game of Mitchell (Moses) and Nathan (Cleary) will be the difference, he said. 'I've been really impressed by Moses, the bigger the game, the better he gets. 'Overall, I think it is a very handy Blues team.' Fletcher also confirmed he has no problem being a villain in many Queenslander's eyes following his infamous grenade celebration with Blues teammates during the 2000 series. 'Can you believe that was 25 years ago?,' he said. 'I know they (Maroons) say it was disrespectful and they use it as fuel…but it was fun at the time, with the Footy Show post try celebrations. 'We had just beaten them by 50 (or thereabouts)….I didn't think much of it. 'It was also my one Origin try in 14 or so games, I was always going to celebrate it.' Rogers told Daily Mail Australia he is a big fan of the VB tissues. 'I enjoy a beer and a sledge, so for me it is the perfect combination,' he said. 'I am especially looking to pass them onto (former NSW enforcer) Greg Bird, he still gives it to me for playing for Queensland after I was born in Sydney. 'In terms of the series, for me, (Cameron) Munster and Tino (Fa'asuamaleaui) are both huge inclusions. 'I thought we lacked direction last year with those guys Cameron can run the show and Tino can provide the go forward.' The first game of the 2025 series is at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on May 28.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Footy legend turned TV star Bryan Fletcher reveals his coach's disgusting and VERY unhygienic toilet act as he gave a halftime speech
Rugby league legend Bryan Fletcher has revealed a very unhygienic act his former coach at Wigan once performed during a halftime speech to his disgusted team. Fletcher, 51, played for the Wigan Warriors in England between 2006 and 2007 - and the Fox Sports TV star recalled Brian Noble once tried to fire up his team in diabolical circumstances. 'He (Noble) was kicking back doing the (halftime) speech from the brasco (toilet),' Fletcher said on SEN. 'At the time the door was open and he was doing an 'Edgar' (Edgar Britt - rhyming slang for defecating). 'He was telling "Bails" (teammate Phil Bailey) to move up in defence while he was folding (toilet paper)....then he told me, "Hey Fletch, you need to stop missing all these tackles".' Fletcher then said Noble was deadly serious during his team address - before adding his coach was also a 'looker'. Affectionately known as 'Fletch', the backrower made his NRL debut with the Roosters in 1997 and won a premiership in 2002. He then joined bitter rivals South Sydney for three seasons before finishing his footy career in 2007 with English glamour club Wigan. In 2014 Fletcher join the Fox League team - and over a decade later, remains on their books. The father of three also recently landed $7500 after a bold pre-game bet during Magic Round that Knights star Fletcher Sharpe would score a hat-trick versus the Rabbitohs. Away from footy, Fletcher's life is just as colourful. Last November he opened up about the bizarre medical treatment he received after suffering a nasty surfing injury while holidaying in Indonesia. The former Roosters star was on a surfing holiday at Telo Island off the west coast of Sumatra when he cut his foot while trying to get back into a boat. Fletcher's wound was serious and required stitches - and fortunately, help wasn't far away. 'There was a team of doctors in a nearby house, which was perfect,' he told SEN. 'The guy was a neurosurgeon, but my mates wouldn't allow him to do it until after dinner when he was blind [drunk]. They were feeding him tequila and he couldn't even stand up. 'I was encouraging it all, and he nailed it. I've got no scar because he did such a good job. Even though he couldn't really stand up.
