NRL Origin takes heavy price
BRONCOS coach Wayne Bennett has accused the NRL of being slow movers and says he has given up on campaigning for change in State of Origin scheduling.
Five of Bennett’s Broncos will back up from Wednesday’s bruising Origin I encounter in tonight’s blockbuster against the Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
Five- eighth Anthony Milford ( concussion) has been ruled out of the game and Bennett revealed he wanted to rest more of his Queensland players but they demanded to play.
Origin scheduling and player burnout has been a contentious issue in the NRL for decades.
A stand- alone Sunday Origin will be played for the first time in Melbourne next season, but the other two games will be on Wednesdays between NRL rounds.
The Broncos have again been the hardest hit club this season with six Origin representatives and Bennett said they had to deal with it.
“There is no competition in the world that’s as elite as Origin and the athletes have to go back two days later and play again,” he said.
“I came up with a concept two years ago when all this debate was going on.
“It’s gone on for 30 years. The administrators are pretty slow to change anything.
“The answers are there. They just won’t look further afield to make the decision.
“They have locked them- selves into whatever they have locked themselves into.
“I’m not going to get into a debate about it. We’ve got to live with it and get on with it.”
Matt Gillett’s ribs were heavily strapped in Origin I, Josh McGuire played long minutes at lock, Darius Boyd had a heavy defensive load and winger Corey Oates made 19 runs.
The Origin players were given an early mark from training yesterday and Bennett said his requests for some to be rested were met with rebuttals.
“I was very tempted ( to rest them) but I couldn’t convince them they should miss the game,” he said.
“They are great warriors. They were adamant they wanted to play.
“It comes with the disappointment ( Queensland loss) of playing on Wednesday night. They want to get back out and play football again.
“It made it very difficult for me. In the end I granted their wish.”
The Broncos had to face the Warriors in New Zealand without their Origin players and concussed hooker Andrew McCullough last week.
McCullough will be a big inclusion against the Roosters and Bennett said he would look to give his Origin players a rest later in the season. “It takes a toll,” he said. “If it’s not this week it will be next week or the week after. They get worn down and fatigued.
“We’ll have to give them a spell at some stage but it won’t be this week.”