Footy legend Josh Morris has voiced genuine concerns for this year's State of Origin series, insisting that the heightened pace of the NRL is detrimental to the game. Morris, who represented the NSW Blues on 14 occasions, highlighted several recent lopsided scores in the NRL resulting from repeat sets and fewer stoppages.
Morris Warns of Origin Becoming a 'Score Fest'
The decorated centre believes this trend could mar the spectacle when NSW takes on Queensland in the series opener in Sydney on May 27. "I have genuine fears for Origin," Morris stated on The Continuous Call Team's Offload podcast. "I do not want this to turn into a score fest and be like the majority of NRL games, because that is not what Origin is about. It is the toughest arena and I would like to see the teams build pressure, stay down there for a period of time and come up with a try... that's what Origin is, it's a grind."
Morris elaborated, "It shouldn't be this free-flowing, fast, almost touch football game where we're going to see blowout points. As a purist and a lover of the game, I do not want to see Origin lose its mantle."
Recent Blowout Scores Raise Concerns
In the most recent round of the NRL, Cronulla thrashed the Wests Tigers 52-10, while in a high-scoring affair in Newcastle, the Knights edged out the fast-finishing Rabbitohs 42-38. These results have fueled worries about the direction of the sport.
Fox League commentator Mick Ennis echoed Morris's sentiments, expressing a desire for tighter contests. "It's entertaining rugby league... but I see myself as a traditionalist," Ennis said. "I love seeing tries, don't get me wrong. But I love the defensive element and seeing players just work for each other, and constantly turn up and compete together. At the moment, there are so many points in the game... the game's so quick that sides are under sheer fatigue, they can't do what they were once able to do."
Queensland will be aiming for back-to-back series victories this year, adding further intrigue to the upcoming Origin clash.
