Men’s State of Origin Game 3 2026 - The Blues Vs The Maroons - 8:05pm Wednesday 8th July - Suncorp Stadium

Seano said:
Hopefully, NSWRL make a case to the NRL about rescinding the "No current club coaches" rule and makes a play for Ivan Cleary, who will only be at Penrith for one more season.

Otherwise, maybe Brad Arthur is interested in coming home?

But it's going to be Shane Flanagan, isn't it? Oh Well. At least those who wanted Nathan dropped will get their wish when Kyle gets his first Origin jumper.
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I just can’t see a club coach, given how well they are remunerated wanting to invite the distraction that Origin coaching brings. Especially given it is going to be Ivan’s last year as coach at Penrith. I reckon it’ll be Matt King or Des Hasler on a one year deal.
 
The Seagull said:
Grant and Munster do tend to overplay they hand, Grant seems more intent in getting gotcha moments with the markers then consistently providing clean ball. Also watch in the game how many times Ponga tried to get into dummy half but was pushed out by Grant.
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I've started to think this too recently. As good a player as Grant is, he tries to do too much sometimes I feel, he's a ball hog. Just pass the ball. Makes me appreciate Crossland more. Ponga catches a cold waiting around for Grant and Munster to throw him the ball.
 
That was one of Cameron Smith's strengths but he knew when and when not to dart out of dummy half, taking advantage of slow markers or weaker defenders, and never overplayed his hand.
 
Seano said:
Does Cleary now move into the immortal conversation now?


State of Origin: Wally Lewis Medal (2026) in a series decider in QLD and the Brad Fittler Medal (2020)
NRL Premierships: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
Clive Churchill Medal: 2021, 2023.
Dally M Awards: Halfback of the Year in 2020, 2021, and 2025.
Penrith Panthers Awards: Merv Cartwright Medal (Club Best and Fairest) in 2020, 2021, and 2025.
RLPA Awards: The Players' Champion (2020) and Halfback of the Year (2020, 2021).
Mary Fowler
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That last one itself brings him into immortality
 
Joshhh said:
I've started to think this too recently. As good a player as Grant is, he tries to do too much sometimes I feel, he's a ball hog. Just pass the ball. Makes me appreciate Crossland more. Ponga catches a cold waiting around for Grant and Munster to throw him the ball.
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I don’t watch many Storm games, but last night it was like he’d gone down a rabbit hole trying to get set restarts at every chance. Definitely stalled their attack a few times.
 
Seano said:
Does Cleary now move into the immortal conversation now?


State of Origin: Wally Lewis Medal (2026) in a series decider in QLD and the Brad Fittler Medal (2020)
NRL Premierships: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024.
Clive Churchill Medal: 2021, 2023.
Dally M Awards: Halfback of the Year in 2020, 2021, and 2025.
Penrith Panthers Awards: Merv Cartwright Medal (Club Best and Fairest) in 2020, 2021, and 2025.
RLPA Awards: The Players' Champion (2020) and Halfback of the Year (2020, 2021).
Mary Fowler
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No
 
jamesgould said:
I don’t watch many Storm games, but last night it was like he’d gone down a rabbit hole trying to get set restarts at every chance. Definitely stalled their attack a few times.
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Yeah he and Munster overplayed their hand last night, especially Grant. They needed to get the ball to KP on the left, like game one attacking Chricton and Cleary but KP didn’t see much ball at all. Walker didn’t have a great night either, Walsh looked better when he came on
 
Seano said:
Hopefully, NSWRL make a case to the NRL about rescinding the "No current club coaches" rule and makes a play for Ivan Cleary, who will only be at Penrith for one more season.

Otherwise, maybe Brad Arthur is interested in coming home?

But it's going to be Shane Flanagan, isn't it? Oh Well. At least those who wanted Nathan dropped will get their wish when Kyle gets his first Origin jumper.
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NSW will never be desperate enough to have Shane Flanagan, or worse still, Michael Ennis to be within the same postcode as the NSW Origin coach.
 
Although jokes and attempted jokes aside, Origin coach was Madge's way back to a head coaching gig, so I'd imagine both Des and Shane apply if they still have aspirations.
 
The NRL and pundits need to understand the point of the bunker is not to be perfect but to pick up the obvious howlers; otherwise, we go with the ref's call.

QLD whinging about the Best try bunker call... but even after a detailed review at leisure the next day, the NRL only "believe" Bostock touched it.

The rule has long been that, in these circumstances, ie without a clear view, it is to go with the on-field decision. And that's what happened.

PS. The QLDers being on the (arguably) wrong side of a bunker call, one time, has me breaking out the tiny violin.
 
Joshhh said:
I've started to think this too recently. As good a player as Grant is, he tries to do too much sometimes I feel, he's a ball hog. Just pass the ball. Makes me appreciate Crossland more. Ponga catches a cold waiting around for Grant and Munster to throw him the ball.
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From most of the Storm games I've seen this year, Harry has overplayed his hand a lot. Was no different last night.
 
Seano said:
The NRL and pundits need to understand the point of the bunker is not to be perfect but to pick up the obvious howlers; otherwise, we go with the ref's call.

QLD whinging about the Best try bunker call... but even after a detailed review at leisure the next day, the NRL only "believe" Bostock touched it.

The rule has long been that, in these circumstances, ie without a clear view, it is to go with the on-field decision. And that's what happened.

PS. The QLDers being on the (arguably) wrong side of a bunker call, one time, has me breaking out the tiny violin.
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This is the first I’ve heard that the Bunker is only there to pick up howlers. I believe they are meant to make the correct call as they see it, unless there’s insufficient evidence due to lack of camera angles or cameras not being detailed enough. If they “believe” a mistake was made, then they should overturn it.

I think you’re reframing the Bunker into DRS referrals, but the Bunker and Video Ref has always been about making the right call, as much as possible, not finding a reason to back up the on-field ref.
 
But sufficient evidence shouldn't require a detailed analysis the next day to reach the view that Bostock probably touched it. Unless we want to stop games for extended periods. Unless it's clear either way in a reasonable timeframe, then it should always be the refs' call. And that's what happened.
 
I think the prevalence/transition to “insufficient evidence to overturn” has resulted in a little bit of a grey area now.
“Refs call” is now the initial decision so they essentially need proof it was the wrong decision - which I guess lends itself to be interpreted as an “obvious error”.

But I agree the Bunker should be using the technology to get the right answer wherever possible.

In the incident in question - there’s footage of Bostocks finger deviating as the ball contacts it so I think he touches it. But which direction does it go? I think there was an initial replay shown that it looked to bend his finger, but that angle was never shown again. As a viewer, you trust and are aware there’s more angles than being shown. BUT, if they can’t show a clear view of it touching a finger AND travelling forward - I’m happy to stick with on field call.

The problem lies with subjective decisions that differ referee to referee, video ref to video ref. Sometimes they seem to invoke a “pub test” if you will, and make a subjective decision. Other times, they are very black and white and objective with their decision. Especially with things like obstruction etc. sometimes they deem player x wouldn’t have been able to effect a tackle, sometimes they say there’s an obstruction in the lead up - no try.

It always amuses me when the bunker starts to rule on marginal knock ons when they don’t dare touch forward passes - not even the blatantly obvious.
A player can have their hand in front of the ball - and the ball travel forward due to their momentum. The same way a pass can come out of the hands backwards but travel forward.

As for other sports - Cricket decisions are often very black and white and there’s a very solid pathway and technology supports the decision making process with Hawkeye snicko etc.

Even with the FIFA World Cup at the moment - offside calls are objective, last touch for corners etc - VAR is great. There’s technology to prove something, so use it. But penalty decisions etc, often slowed down to frame by frame and has resulted in lots of controversial decisions that could go either way.

TLDR; IMO, if there’s video evidence to overrule something, then it probably falls into the obvious or clear category. Anything that isn’t clear cut or a bit subjective - should go with refs on field opinion.

It’s a bit of a gripe of mine when players seemingly challenge everything about a play. And then the bunker comes back to something else in the lead up. Or slow motion shows a hand graze a face in the build up (the ones we seen with most tries).
 
Seano said:
But sufficient evidence shouldn't require a detailed analysis the next day to reach the view that Bostock probably touched it. Unless we want to stop games for extended periods. Unless it's clear either way in a reasonable timeframe, then it should always be the refs' call. And that's what happened.
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I seen it touch him as his fingers flex... Didnt have to wait until Thursday it was pretty obvious

Like to see the other camera from the corner post that apparently cleared it
 
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