Award criticism brushed

A FIRED-UP Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has lashed out at critics who have questioned his integrity following the decision to give Billy Slater the player of the Origin series award.

People were lining up to take a shot at Meninga and his fellow Kangaroos selectors Darren Lockyer and Laurie Daley after the trio awarded Slater the Wally Lewis Medal.

But Meninga was having none of it. “To be questioned about it, questions our integrity as people who know the game very well,” he said.

“I’m happy with the outcome. We have a really good process in place. it’s an indepdent process with the three judges. There is no collusion or conversations around who should get it.”

CHANNEL Nine enjoys a State of Origin monopoly but that does not give it the right to treat Queenslanders like mugs.

If it can’t rein in its commentators’ oneeyed Blues support, Nine must install a Queensland commentary team for broadcast north of the Tweed so we can be oneeyed too. Despite pointing to former Maroons Paul Vautin, Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer as providing balance, the downside to coverage this year was overthe-top ranting from its Blue-ringed team of Ray Warren, Peter Sterling, Andrew Johns, NSW coach Brad Fittler (stick to the coach’s box instead of commenting midmatch) and the biggest villain of all, Phil Gould. Sensing blood in the water from kickoff in Origin I, Gould was particularly insufferable. We’ve heard enough. Bring back the likes of Billy J. Smith.