First Up Tuesday: NRL - Tigers overwhelmed by Eels; AFL - Call for State of Origin return

First Up Tuesday:

[NRL] Tigers overwhelmed by Eels

Well the Eels proved me right about one thing - they are outstanding when they have the lead and their go-forward just trampled a Tigers pack that simply could not stop the Parramatta momentum at any stage after the Eels took the lead.

Parramatta were more creative with the ball that I have given them credit for previously but they still built every set the same way – big boppers running onto the ball at 100 miles an hour and making big dents in the defensive line. Brett Finch had his best game I’ve seen him play this season and Feleti Mateo was very impressive on the edges.

And how about Eric Grothe’s try in the first half!
I’d be more than happy to see him in the NSW State of Origin team at the expense of Jamie Lyon with Matt King moving to the centres. But with the lineups due in the next hour or so (and the fact I’m not a selector) don’t expect to hear Guru juniors name read out.

You can find a full report of the game here at SMH.com.au:
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqmatchreport/eels-in-demolition-derby/2007/06/04/1180809424743.html

[AFL] Call for State of Origin return

Former West Coast Eagle Chris Mainwaring has called for the re-introduction of State of Origin Football for all AFL players in his column for Yahoo7 Sport.

Mainwaring who was still playing in the AFL when the State of Origin concept still existed believes that players today do not fully appreciate the rivalry that exists between the 3 main Aussie Rules playing states – Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. He also labeled the Allies (made up of Tasmanians, New South Welshmen, Northern Territorians, Australian Capital Territorians and Queenslanders) as lacking the same credibility when it came to pitting state against state and that basically they should be an afterthought if the competition was revived.

Personally when I grew up I knew that the VFL/AFL Origin games were played but truth be told I could never get into the concept like I did with the Rugby League version. What probably didn’t help was that my Sydney Swans were an atrocious football team by the time I got old enough to start appreciating them and as a result I didn’t follow the sport closely.

But the question is if the AFL brought their State of Origin back would you care?

http://au.blogs.yahoo.com/aflchrismainwaring/33/bring-back-state-of-origin