Queensland were last night on the end of the biggest upset in sporting history when they were defeated 18-10 by a bunch of reserve graders in sky blue. The Queensland side, a supreme collection of the game’s best talent, appeared disinterested and at times, under the influence of one or more unknown substances (speculation about specific substances would be irresponsible journalism at this early stage) as they bumbled their way through the majority of the game.
Whether Queensland’s effort was the result of actual pre-match substance abuse remains to be seen however, as the alternative school of thought that they just chose a poorly balanced side also carries some weight in certain intellectual circles. The argument in this instance, according to subscribing intellectuals, is that selecting a fullback to play five-eighth (for the first time at senior level) was a mistake. The five-eighth—according to them—is responsible for the smooth-functioning of the backline, which in Queensland’s case boasts some of the most extraordinary athletic ability ever seen on this (or any other) planet, and needs to have silky-smooth ball skills, playmaking nous and strong organisational skills. In selecting someone with no previous experience in the role, who lacks any of the requisite skills, intellectuals subscribing to this alternative school of thought suggest Queensland made a mistake. Perhaps, they suggest quietly, Queensland would have been better served selecting Scott Prince to fill the position. Prince, an experienced Queensland and Australian representative, was the Churchill Medal-winning captain of the Wests Tigers’ 2005 premiership-winning side, is the in-form player of the NRL premiership and is generally regarded as the classiest ball-player and best playmaker in the game.
While the theory to which these intellectuals subscribe carries some weight, I personally believe Queensland took the field immediately following a 48-hour cocaine binge (the Queensland selectors seem to have been on a similar binge for near two weeks now).
