Sport Confidential: Hoffman the hero

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NSW captain Paul Gallen may have been named the official man-of-the-match for State of Origin II but it was champion Blues backrower Ryan Hoffman who was awarded the game ball for best on ground, as voted by his teammates.

To a man in the Blues 17, almost every player chose Hoffman as NSW's most influential, whereas the Australian Kangaroos selectors Bob McCarthy, Bob Fulton, Des Morris and Allan Smith went with Gallen.

Paul Gallen was the official Man-of-the-Match. Source: News Corp Australia

On raw numbers alone, it's impossible to argue against Gallen's influence on the Maroons, with the Blues skipper making 24 hit-ups, 200m and 33 tackles.

Which raises the question, is Origin greatness about more than just impressive statistics? Of course it is.

Hoffman was, in our view, the best player involved in State of Origin II, running at Queensland's Daly Cherry-Evans at every opportunity and looking most likely to break the

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Maroons defensive wall when the Blues were trailing 4-0.

Halfback Trent Hodkinson was a shandy behind him, producing the game-breaking try and goal to finally end the Maroons dynasty, while Blues hooker Robbie Farah was also relentless the way he targeted DCE and Johnathan Thurston on the Maroons last tackle options.

No question Gallen has been one of the cornerstones of the NSW forward pack for the past five years, but there's a view the Blues skipper can overplay his hand and demand too much possession, making the attack too one-dimensional.

Trent Hodkinson celebrates scoring a try with teammates. Source: News Corp Australia

Phil Gould, the most successful NSW Origin coach in history, made this very point during Channel Nine's record-breaking TV coverage, with the Blues trailing 4-0 and camped on the Maroons tryline.

"If I've got a criticism of the NSW players it's that Gallen and Bird are getting the ball too much in attacking zones. You want it with Hayne and Jennings, you don't want it with Gallen and Bird, they've done their job. Get the ball to the attacking players," Gould said.

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Gallen's statistical numbers from the last five seasons in Origin make for phenomenal reading, with the Blues captain averaging 165m per game, 19.6 runs, 33.9 tackles and 24.7 possessions.

In terms of statistical output, that's at least 25 per cent better than every other forward who has been on the field at the same time.

NSW's Jarryd Hayne and Robbie Farah in tears after winning the Origin series. Source: News Corp Australia

The next best forward by the numbers is NSW teammate Greg Bird, who averaged 116m, 13.8 runs, 24.9 tackles and 17.2 possessions, while from Queensland Petero Civoniceva leads the charge with 116m, 13.5 runs, 19.3 tackles and 13.09 possessions per game.

NSW coach Laurie Daley presented Hoffman with the game ball inside the Blues victory celebrations of a private function room at the Pullman Hotel at Homebush after the game.

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FULL credit to Queensland, the Maroons were magnificent in the way they handled defeat. Coach Mal Meninga went into the NSW dressing rooms to shake hands with great mate Laurie Daley, who also deserves huge plaudits for the way he opened-up the Blues inner-sanctum for Channel Nine's highest rating Origin match in history.

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The record-breaking TV numbers are no surprise considering Blues assistant coach Brad Fittler was allowed access all areas before the game and during halftime, when Daley was talking to the players. The NBA and the NFL get plenty of raps in the US for allowing brilliant media access, this was one occasion when the NRL got it spot on. You can't buy that kind of advertising, especially when it comes to casual rugby league fans.

FORGET ORIGIN, DALY'S GOT BIGGER FISH TO FRY

CONGRATULATIONS to Manly rising Manly superstar Daly Cherry-Evans, whose partner Vessa Rockliff is pregnant with the couple's second child. Cherry-Evans recently purchased a new family home in Freshwater on the northern beaches, throwing up plenty of questions about a mooted return home to the Brisbane Broncos in 2016. Sure, Cherry-Evans father, Troy, is close to current Broncos coach Anthony Griffin.

Sea Eagles player Daly Cherry Evans and girlfriend Vessa Rockliff are expecting their second child. Source: News Limited

But with Griffin needing a top four finish to ensure his own future, DCE is looking increasingly comfortable on the northern beaches. The Sea Eagles view him as a future leader of the club and intend to upgrade his contract for next season, even though he is signed until the end of 2015.

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CHANNEL Ten's commentary team for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games is going from strength-to-strength, with Olympic Gold Medallists Steve Hooker and Liesel Jones signing on as part of the team. The Games will kick-off off on July 23, with Ian Thorpe also expected to feature as part of Ten's coverage.

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THE Wests Tigers have made the hardline call to rule concussion victim Liam Fulton out for the rest of the season.

Tiger's Liam Fulton leaves the field with concussion during the game against the Rabbitohs. Source: News Corp Australia

You won't catch anyone at the Tigers officially confirming as much but we've been told after four concussions in seven weeks, the decision has been made in the best interests of Fulton's welfare. Fulton was in Melbourne earlier this week for brain scans.

GEALE LIGHTS A RING OF FIRE

AUSTRLALIA'S favourite boxer, Daniel Geale, has wasted no time getting straight down to business in preparation for his WBA middleweight world title fight against Gennady Golovkin in New York next month.

Daniel Geale puts in a gruelling training session in the lead up to his fight against Gennady Golovkin at Madison Square Garden on July 26th for the Middleweight title. Source: News Corp Australia

As our photographer Adam Taylor discovered, Geale has already begun a gruelling eight-week program out of Grange Old School Boxing's Smeaton Grange headquarters in Sydney. The former IBF and WBA champion intends to use the dangerous Jarrod Fletcher and Sakio Bika as sparring partners in preparation for his latest title shot against knockout merchant Golovkin.

TIME FOR SOME FANCY FOOTWORK

THE Wallabies are definitely in need of a dose of "Ooh La La" after last weekend's snooze-fest 6-0 victory over France in Melbourne.

Let's hope giant 140kg debutant Will Skelton and inside centre Matt Toomua can provide the 40,000-plus expected crowd at the SCG this Saturday afternoon with the necessary x-factor in the third Test against France.

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If the rugby turns too boring, there'll also be a group of Moulin Rouge dancers performing around the SCG precinct.

POST CARDS FROM BRAZIL

THERE have been plenty of hardluck stories among Socceroos fans in Brazil, with local pickpockets not afraid to plunge their grubby paws into Australian pouches. A heap of phones and wallets have been pinched from FIFA live sites in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

According to several victims, the modus operandi is always the same. "They push forward to create a crowd surge, which makes you take your hands out of your pockets to regain balance," one unlucky fan said. "The next thing either your phone or wallet is gone."

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THE best tale of supporter woe belongs to a fan from Ireland, who had two tickets to last Saturday's Holland-Spain fixture in Salvador confiscated after being sprung trying to scalp them before kick-off. A few hours later, he walked into the stadium to find the two police officers responsible sitting in the adjacent seats.

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THOUSANDS of Aussie fans in Brazil faithfully tuned into Wednesday night's Origin match, which was broadcast live on Sport Plus. But what they didn't bargain for was full commentary in the local tongue, Portuguese, courtesy of a chap named Rafael Spinelli. NRL matches are also shown live in Brasil, on the same channel.

Fanatics watch state of origin in Port Alegra Brazil before the Socceroos match v Netherlands. Source: News Corp Australia

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ENGLAND'S World Cup campaign could be over by the time most people read this. If so, it was nice while it lasted. They trained on the grounds of a military fort in Rio's most exclusive neighbourhood, Urca, which sits between the Atlantic Ocean and Sugarloaf Mountain, the city's most iconic volcanic outcrop.

WINNING

It's impossible to go past NSW coach Laurie Daley and the almighty Blues ending eight years of Cane Toad vitriol from north of the Tweed. Daley is an ornament to rugby league who poured his heart and soul into the NSW campaign. Onya Loz.

NSW's coach Laurie Daley celebrates victory with NSW's Robbie Farah after Game 2 of the 2014 State of Origin series at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello Source: News Corp Australia

DUNCE CAP

Poor old rugby union just can't take a trick. Even the rah-rah purists would have almost needed No-Doz to suffer through the no- tries-two-penalty-goals slugfest between the Wallabies and France in Melbourne last Saturday.

SPOTTED

AUSTRALIAN cricket coach Darren Lehmann and master blaster opening batsman Dave Warner cheering the mighty Blues home in the ANZ Stadium corporate suite on Wednesday night.

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SOME of the most influential figures in rugby league converged on Beppi's Italian restaurant in East Sydney yesterday to thrash out all the latest goings on.

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SHOOSH

WHICH fringe-NRL player at one of the NRL's strongest clubs was sent home and fined his match fee of $3000 after turning up to training extremely under-the-weather?

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WHICH rookie tipped to turn into a superstar is putting massive pressure on an established NRL player who is struggling through the twilight of his career?

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