This past week in rugby league was filled with numerous talking points.
From the excitement of Origin send-offs to shocking upsets and player signings, the events unfolded on and off the field!
While it would be easy to compile 20 thoughts solely on Origin, the buzz surrounding the game feels like it belonged to another era, so we won't dwell on it extensively.
The Bulldogs, Sharks, Cowboys, and Dragons offered enough drama to fill the list multiple times.
Here are 20 reflections from Round 13 and beyond.
1. I firmly believe Laurie Daley was on the verge of being sacked with just 25 minutes left in Origin 1. Daley owes Kalyn Ponga a thank you note for his reckless moment, which allowed the Blues to bounce back and ultimately saved the coach's position. His job was hanging by a thread until Tedesco scored late and Cleary followed up with a conversion.
2. Personally, I would still let Daley go. The win in Origin 1 was purely a stroke of luck, overshadowing Daley's questionable decisions. The Blues have managed only 12 points in the last three first halves of Origin, while QLD has racked up 66. This is unacceptable and indicates major coaching flaws. There's a long list of issues I'd love to discuss, but that would take all day!
3. For the record, it was a blatant send-off. If this had happened in the NRL, there would be no debate. I've seen plenty of blame aimed at Ashley Klein and even at Chris Buttler, but I'm not seeing enough critique directed at Ponga. His actions were lazy and cruel. If he had made even a slight effort to wrap his arms, it would have been just a Sin Bin at worst. This was entirely on Ponga.
4. A brief word to those advocating for the banning of send-offs in Origin ... please, stop! This idea needs to end! If that were the case, Jack Hetherington would have played 30 Origins. Designate a "Goon" like in hockey to target the best players on the opposing team and then sit him down for the next game? That's just foolish!