The situation with Jarome Luai’s selection for NSW in Game 2 has proven very divisive.
NRL fans are calling for change to the farcical rules around the 18th man in State of Origin, after it was revealed on Thursday night that Tom Trbojevic knocked back the chance to be NSW’s emergency player in Game 1 so he could play for Manly. And it raises questions about whether the rules were breached by allowing him to do so.
Bulldogs fans are fuming that Matt Burton is once again 18th man for the Blues in Game 2, given it means he can’t play club footy this weekend. Because the 18th man has become such a vital player on game-day and could be called into action if a player is ruled out through an act of foul play, they need to be training with their respective Origin teams all week. The other members of the extended squads are released back to their clubs for the weekend’s games, but the 18th man has to stay in camp and remain fully-fit to play.
It means Burton will miss a fifth game for the Bulldogs while serving a role for NSW that means he’s every chance to sit on the sideline all game. The situation was made even worse for Burton and Bulldogs fans on Thursday when Jarome Luai was parachuted into the starting team to replace the injured Mitchell Moses at five-eighth, despite not being named in the initial squad.
Burton was named 18th man earlier this week, and many feel he’s been hard done by to not be replacing Moses. Nathan Hindmarsh said on Triple M radio on Thursday: “I’ve got to feel a little bit disappointed for Burton. He’s been carried as 18th man before, just give him a run. I think his combination with Nathan Cleary would have worked alright.”
Tom Trbojevic pulled out of being 18th man in Origin 1
If Burton and the Bulldogs weren’t already annoyed enough, a new revelation about Trbojevic will add to the frustration. Michael Chammas of The Sydney Morning Herald revealed on Thursday night that Turbo was picked as 18th man for Origin 1, but withdrew so he could play for Manly that weekend.
It remains to be seen whether the Bulldogs knew that was an option for Burton as well. Trbojevic has been plagued by injury over the last few years and reportedly felt obliged to knock back a spot in the Blues’ squad so he could be available for the Sea Eagles against Parramatta.
But it seemingly breaks NRL rules around representative games, with players not allowed to withdraw from rep footy unless they’re injured or have a compelling reason. The rule reared its head last year when Kalyn Ponga was forced to backflip and make himself available for Kangaroos selection, even though he eventually wasn’t picked anyway.
The 18th man shouldn’t be selected until the Sunday night before an Origin,” Chammas wrote. “Allow the states to pick extended squads as they do now, but send players 18, 19 and 20 back to their clubs. And at the end of the round, having determined everyone’s fitness, then decide who [the 18th man] should be.”
NRL fans made the same argument on social media on Thursday, particularly after Burton was overlooked in favour of Luai to replace Moses. Many described it as a “joke” that Burton can’t play for the Bulldogs this weekend, and the revelation about Trbojevic only adds to the controversy.
Many pointed out that the 18th man should simply be picked from a team on the bye to avoid any drama, as was the case with Campbell Graham in Game 1 (after Turbo withdrew).
