May 29, 2025 • 9 mins
The Queensland Maroons have been humbled by the New South Wales Blues in the first game of the State of Origin series.
Despite having the home advantage, they lost 18-6.
Dejected Maroons fan D'Arcy Waldegrave spoke to former Queensland coach Sir Graham lowe about what went wrong on Sportstalk.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncy Wilder
Grave from News talks'd.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be let's talk about a league and why not? Sir.
Graham Lowe joins us now from from a leaner near
Eagle Farm race Track after enjoying last night's Origin match.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yeah that's right, mate, Actually I am. I'm in Racecourse
Road in Brisbane and just enjoying the company of some
good friends and just talking a little bit about Origin.
And I can tell you there's a very somber mood
amongst the whole area really because I think most would
agree and be prepared to accept that Queensland didn't serve
up what people were hoping they would.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Sir, But they kind of didn't even arrive Or is
that too harsh? I mean, from my untrained eyes, I
thought that these guys just don't to me look like
they have the wherewithal to penetrate. It was very odd,
especially when you consider the spine they had grown. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Well, and I think you know, one of the one
of the things that probably slipped the teacher of a
lot of people is there was a number of Queensland
players chosen who have come from sides playing ordinary footy.
So if you're in that situation there, it's hard to turn.
It's hard to get a game like Origin Tournery. You
really need players in top form coming in coming into
(01:23):
those sort of games, and I think Queensland selectors were
guilty of not abiding to that. The Queensland has got
this thing pick and stick, and I've got to say
that I've sort of been part of that philosophy as
well when I was coaching. But you know, there was
some glaring things. I suppose that will be really uncomfortable
for the coach and the selectors at the moment when
(01:44):
they do an analysis of what actually happened.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Before we talk about the origin and where it lies
and how other people can be involved in that period
that aren't being able to represent Queensland or New South Wales.
Any major changes of you in your way? Where would
you look at? Where are the points of concern for
this Queensland side.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I thought the big point of concern was just a
whole I won't say attitude, but oh look at it.
It's hard to put it down to one or two players.
But obviously the captain and the half back has come
under a lot of criticism rightly wrongly, But I mean,
he's played at such a high standard all his career.
He didn't he didn't have one of those games last night.
So I suppose the hard question is, you know, should
(02:25):
he be replaced with someone else or do you you know,
hope that his experience and his way to steer a
good team around it's going to come to the four
in the second game. So it's a big call for
the for the coach and for the selectors to make
because next games do it die, They've got to do it.
And I just I can't see those players you played
(02:45):
last night rising to the next level. I just I
can't see them. You know, they might be able to
if they rise up, like you can be damn sure.
New South Wales is going to improve as well, because
New South Wales will wave all over that their best.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
I'd be locked into watch, but it's in Perth. It's
in the middle of the goddamn night over here, so
graa who joined us game interesting calls made it happens
quite a lot. Andrew Webster, the Warriors coaches today talking
about Origin, talking about he doesn't know any other competition
in the world that in essence cannibalizes its own competition
(03:21):
for another competition in the middle of it. The way
it's positioned, it is an ideal for the NRL. Is
he right? Does it need to move? Do things need
to change? Do you think?
Speaker 3 (03:34):
I think they are the words of a coach, is
the boss of one of the best teams in the competition,
and they just they're the sort of comments I would
make advise them as well, because you want to protect
your players. But I think Andrew Rays is a really
valid point. But when you look at it, that's actually
been part of the mystique of the whole series. You know,
(03:55):
it was always known that it was going to interfere
with certain clubs and whatnot during the year. What was
unknown at that particular time. And I'm not trying to
say I was a smarter us or anything, but I
can remember not too long ago, having actually when I
was when I was CEO at Manly, I can remember
having a conversation or at one of the CEO meetings
(04:17):
and telling them I thought they were going to be
in for a fall soon because half the competition would
be made up of Pacifica heritage players and because Kiwi
heritage players. And they all laughed at me, and I
don't think they'll be laughing now. I think if they
had a close look at.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
It, the landscapes changed dramatically. Back in the early days
when Origin started, it really was the best of the best.
But that's not the case anymore. You'd say, half the
best players in the nur own now pacifica or New Zealanders.
So you're still getting something everyone wants to watch. Of that,
there is no doubt. But is it really the pinnacle
like people think it is.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
It is, but I think you've got it's not. It's
never said it's the best of the best. It's the
best of the Australian players. You know, guys like Mark
Graham right back when it first started. You know, he
was as good as any any of the players playing
on Origin then, but he wasn't Australian. And that's the
point of the whole thing that we've got to keep
in mind. So it was while back in the early
(05:13):
days it was seen in some way as a little
bit of a trial for the Australian team, that whole
test landscape has changed now, and like you rightly pointed out,
the whole landscape of the competition has changed. So I
think Andrew Webs has got a really fair and valid point.
But on the other side of things, the mystique of
State of Origin and the attraction and appeal it has
(05:36):
is because it is there to disturb everything and has
done that so well since its inception.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
If there was a desire a waran to need across
the other league playing nations to actually put a standalone
competition and have a space when Origin was being played,
that basically you hit paws on it. You had Origin,
you had an international window. How well would the NRL
cope with that, because they're not exactly known for caring
(06:04):
about other league playing nations. They would they even move,
would they wiggle? Would they give it any room at
all to breathe?
Speaker 3 (06:11):
I think again, does see that's a good point, and
to be fair on the NRL, I think the NRL
would would look at well, we'll look at some stage
at a like a representative period in which there is
a pause for the NRL rounds. I can see that happening.
But at the end of the day, it all depends
on what the media rights come to and what the
media wants when they do that. When they do the
(06:33):
next media rights, which is another two years or whatever
it is. Whatever they want is what will happen, because
they're the ones that are putting billions into it.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Well, I suppose the golden rules, aren't they They've got
the gold they're making the rules. Well, you look to
England and the likelihood of them in their summer touring
over here for something that's productive that big. Would that
be enough? Do you think to beckon over here.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
To do this?
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Because it's completely the wrong way around for them, But
if it did actually happen an international window, you think
they'd buy in.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Who cares what the pomps thing make.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Window? Because we rugby league state of Origin and it
always trumpeted this is the sea, this is what we
want to watch, and International rugby league doesn't really get
a fair sack of the save and constantly has been
tried to make it more relevant. With something like this
actually put international league up in a different space.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
I think it go part of the way to ask
you to do it, but really, at the end of
the day, for whatever reason, State of Origin has created
it's its own special brand, its only uniqueness, it's its
own folklore, and unfortunately International rugby league play second field
to it with it. No matter how much we want
(07:51):
country against country to be the pinnacle and all reality
in our game of rugby league, that's not the case
because it's state of origin that's the pinnacle. Whether we're
not like it or not, that's how it is. So
I do think, as I mentioned before, that there will
be a window that they'll play origin and maybe maybe
test football if they can get an agreement around you know,
(08:12):
around the table with Great Britain and others. But in
the meantime, it's just gonna it's just going to suck it.
You've got to suck it up and keep going the
way it is now.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Deal with it, right, It's been around for a long
long time. It doesn't look like it's going anywhere. Although
based on the quality of last night's game, well you
know they'll come back. They really will. The last few
years have been brilliant. This was just a bit of
a copybook blot, wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Yeah. Well, and I think that that's again the mystique
of it, because this sort of thing has happened so
many times. You know, one side's looking very dominant and
then the other side, against all odds, has come back
and live in the series up again, and you know,
we just got to keep our fingers cross it that
this happens again. But in the meantime, the men with
the weight of the world on their shoulders is Billy
(08:58):
Slater and his and his selectors, because you know, they
gambled on a few players going into this first game,
and the players were fantast to credentials, you know, credentials
that are barely matched by any other player in the game.
But still many of them were out of form and
their clubs were out of form. But it's a hard
call that's going to be made, and I'm just glad
(09:18):
I don't have to bag it.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
I'd say that's good because you're over there, but had
nothing to do with you, you said, Alena, having yourself
a nice glass of red and you can talk and look,
but you have to make no decisions at all. You
deserve that happy space. You've been hit, done that. It's
a graham low, always a pleasure. You look after yourself
and travel safe.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I'll tell you what, Darcia, I watch that game last night.
I had these opinions on what should be happening. I
didn't make one single mistake.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
For more from Sports Talk Listen live to news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncy Wilder
Grave from News talks'd.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Be let's talk about a league and why not? Sir.
Graham Lowe joins us now from from a leaner near
Eagle Farm race Track after enjoying last night's Origin match.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yeah that's right, mate, Actually I am. I'm in Racecourse
Road in Brisbane and just enjoying the company of some
good friends and just talking a little bit about Origin.
And I can tell you there's a very somber mood
amongst the whole area really because I think most would
agree and be prepared to accept that Queensland didn't serve
up what people were hoping they would.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Sir, But they kind of didn't even arrive Or is
that too harsh? I mean, from my untrained eyes, I
thought that these guys just don't to me look like
they have the wherewithal to penetrate. It was very odd,
especially when you consider the spine they had grown. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Well, and I think you know, one of the one
of the things that probably slipped the teacher of a
lot of people is there was a number of Queensland
players chosen who have come from sides playing ordinary footy.
So if you're in that situation there, it's hard to turn.
It's hard to get a game like Origin Tournery. You
really need players in top form coming in coming into
(01:23):
those sort of games, and I think Queensland selectors were
guilty of not abiding to that. The Queensland has got
this thing pick and stick, and I've got to say
that I've sort of been part of that philosophy as
well when I was coaching. But you know, there was
some glaring things. I suppose that will be really uncomfortable
for the coach and the selectors at the moment when
(01:44):
they do an analysis of what actually happened.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Before we talk about the origin and where it lies
and how other people can be involved in that period
that aren't being able to represent Queensland or New South Wales.
Any major changes of you in your way? Where would
you look at? Where are the points of concern for
this Queensland side.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
I thought the big point of concern was just a
whole I won't say attitude, but oh look at it.
It's hard to put it down to one or two players.
But obviously the captain and the half back has come
under a lot of criticism rightly wrongly, But I mean,
he's played at such a high standard all his career.
He didn't he didn't have one of those games last night.
So I suppose the hard question is, you know, should
(02:25):
he be replaced with someone else or do you you know,
hope that his experience and his way to steer a
good team around it's going to come to the four
in the second game. So it's a big call for
the for the coach and for the selectors to make
because next games do it die, They've got to do it.
And I just I can't see those players you played
(02:45):
last night rising to the next level. I just I
can't see them. You know, they might be able to
if they rise up, like you can be damn sure.
New South Wales is going to improve as well, because
New South Wales will wave all over that their best.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
I'd be locked into watch, but it's in Perth. It's
in the middle of the goddamn night over here, so
graa who joined us game interesting calls made it happens
quite a lot. Andrew Webster, the Warriors coaches today talking
about Origin, talking about he doesn't know any other competition
in the world that in essence cannibalizes its own competition
(03:21):
for another competition in the middle of it. The way
it's positioned, it is an ideal for the NRL. Is
he right? Does it need to move? Do things need
to change? Do you think?
Speaker 3 (03:34):
I think they are the words of a coach, is
the boss of one of the best teams in the competition,
and they just they're the sort of comments I would
make advise them as well, because you want to protect
your players. But I think Andrew Rays is a really
valid point. But when you look at it, that's actually
been part of the mystique of the whole series. You know,
(03:55):
it was always known that it was going to interfere
with certain clubs and whatnot during the year. What was
unknown at that particular time. And I'm not trying to
say I was a smarter us or anything, but I
can remember not too long ago, having actually when I
was when I was CEO at Manly, I can remember
having a conversation or at one of the CEO meetings
(04:17):
and telling them I thought they were going to be
in for a fall soon because half the competition would
be made up of Pacifica heritage players and because Kiwi
heritage players. And they all laughed at me, and I
don't think they'll be laughing now. I think if they
had a close look at.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
It, the landscapes changed dramatically. Back in the early days
when Origin started, it really was the best of the best.
But that's not the case anymore. You'd say, half the
best players in the nur own now pacifica or New Zealanders.
So you're still getting something everyone wants to watch. Of that,
there is no doubt. But is it really the pinnacle
like people think it is.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
It is, but I think you've got it's not. It's
never said it's the best of the best. It's the
best of the Australian players. You know, guys like Mark
Graham right back when it first started. You know, he
was as good as any any of the players playing
on Origin then, but he wasn't Australian. And that's the
point of the whole thing that we've got to keep
in mind. So it was while back in the early
(05:13):
days it was seen in some way as a little
bit of a trial for the Australian team, that whole
test landscape has changed now, and like you rightly pointed out,
the whole landscape of the competition has changed. So I
think Andrew Webs has got a really fair and valid point.
But on the other side of things, the mystique of
State of Origin and the attraction and appeal it has
(05:36):
is because it is there to disturb everything and has
done that so well since its inception.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
If there was a desire a waran to need across
the other league playing nations to actually put a standalone
competition and have a space when Origin was being played,
that basically you hit paws on it. You had Origin,
you had an international window. How well would the NRL
cope with that, because they're not exactly known for caring
(06:04):
about other league playing nations. They would they even move,
would they wiggle? Would they give it any room at
all to breathe?
Speaker 3 (06:11):
I think again, does see that's a good point, and
to be fair on the NRL, I think the NRL
would would look at well, we'll look at some stage
at a like a representative period in which there is
a pause for the NRL rounds. I can see that happening.
But at the end of the day, it all depends
on what the media rights come to and what the
media wants when they do that. When they do the
(06:33):
next media rights, which is another two years or whatever
it is. Whatever they want is what will happen, because
they're the ones that are putting billions into it.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Well, I suppose the golden rules, aren't they They've got
the gold they're making the rules. Well, you look to
England and the likelihood of them in their summer touring
over here for something that's productive that big. Would that
be enough? Do you think to beckon over here.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
To do this?
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Because it's completely the wrong way around for them, But
if it did actually happen an international window, you think
they'd buy in.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Who cares what the pomps thing make.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Window? Because we rugby league state of Origin and it
always trumpeted this is the sea, this is what we
want to watch, and International rugby league doesn't really get
a fair sack of the save and constantly has been
tried to make it more relevant. With something like this
actually put international league up in a different space.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
I think it go part of the way to ask
you to do it, but really, at the end of
the day, for whatever reason, State of Origin has created
it's its own special brand, its only uniqueness, it's its
own folklore, and unfortunately International rugby league play second field
to it with it. No matter how much we want
(07:51):
country against country to be the pinnacle and all reality
in our game of rugby league, that's not the case
because it's state of origin that's the pinnacle. Whether we're
not like it or not, that's how it is. So
I do think, as I mentioned before, that there will
be a window that they'll play origin and maybe maybe
test football if they can get an agreement around you know,
(08:12):
around the table with Great Britain and others. But in
the meantime, it's just gonna it's just going to suck it.
You've got to suck it up and keep going the
way it is now.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Deal with it, right, It's been around for a long
long time. It doesn't look like it's going anywhere. Although
based on the quality of last night's game, well you
know they'll come back. They really will. The last few
years have been brilliant. This was just a bit of
a copybook blot, wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Yeah. Well, and I think that that's again the mystique
of it, because this sort of thing has happened so
many times. You know, one side's looking very dominant and
then the other side, against all odds, has come back
and live in the series up again, and you know,
we just got to keep our fingers cross it that
this happens again. But in the meantime, the men with
the weight of the world on their shoulders is Billy
(08:58):
Slater and his and his selectors, because you know, they
gambled on a few players going into this first game,
and the players were fantast to credentials, you know, credentials
that are barely matched by any other player in the game.
But still many of them were out of form and
their clubs were out of form. But it's a hard
call that's going to be made, and I'm just glad
(09:18):
I don't have to bag it.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
I'd say that's good because you're over there, but had
nothing to do with you, you said, Alena, having yourself
a nice glass of red and you can talk and look,
but you have to make no decisions at all. You
deserve that happy space. You've been hit, done that. It's
a graham low, always a pleasure. You look after yourself
and travel safe.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I'll tell you what, Darcia, I watch that game last night.
I had these opinions on what should be happening. I
didn't make one single mistake.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
For more from Sports Talk Listen live to news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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