LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Calls are intensifying for the NRL to address its "farcical" State of Origin scheduling following the Dolphins' overwhelming victory over a depleted Bulldogs team.
The Bulldogs, currently at the top of the ladder, faced a 44-0 defeat on Thursday night, fielding a team missing 11 regular players due to injuries, suspensions, and State of Origin responsibilities.
The absence of key players, such as Stephen Crichton and Max King, who are with the NSW State of Origin squad, has sparked concern.
Additionally, Kurt Mann, the 18th man for Queensland, was unable to play due to his potential role in the Origin match.
This situation raises concerns about player availability, as Mann risks missing out on both club and representative games.
The Dolphins capitalized on the Bulldogs' weakened lineup, scoring easily at times, including a try when Jake Avarillo ran through Bulldogs players who would typically be in reserve grade.
This situation highlights the disparity in competition during the Origin period, as a team languishing near the bottom of the table managed to overpower the league leaders.
Critics argue that no other major sports league structure allows such a depletion of its competitive teams for representative games, leading to calls for the NRL to establish a dedicated timeframe for State of Origin.
Fans expressed frustration with the current setup, noting that "5 NRL games this weekend with at least 51 (or more) players out with rep or injury...
somewhat defeats the purpose don't you think?" There is a growing hope that future television deals could resolve the scheduling issues that currently undermine the integrity of the competition.