Battening down the hatches in another State of Origin squall battering the race to NRL finals, master coach Wayne Bennett has called on administrators to be brave and stop sticking their heads in the sand.
The push for Origin to be played exclusively on stand-alone weekends, intended to help both players and the standard of NRL fixtures, has gathered momentum in recent weeks.
Origin II, to be played in Perth on June 23, is part of a stand-alone representive weekend but the other two games are sandwiched between NRL rounds.
Bennett and Craig Bellamy, two of the most respects voices in the game and uniquely well placed to comment, weighed into the schedule debate on Friday.
Former Queensland coach Bennett, now in charge of second-placed South Sydney, suggested change is overdue.
Former NSW mentor Bellamy, coaching ladder-leading Melbourne Storm, argued the code expects "too much" of players who represent club, state and country throughout a taxing year.
Bennett and Bellamy's clubs arguably have the most to lose during the Origin period but they're not the only coaches concerned about the burden placed on the sport's greatest assets.
"It's time ... something has to change and we need to look at it," Bennett told reporters in Sydney.
"We're 40 years of clubs giving players (to Origin), clubs getting no compensation, clubs getting players injured, clubs getting players worn out. A whole lot of stuff is happening and we've still got our head in the sand.
"It's a challenging time. No doubt about that. Depending on the number of players you have away, the intensity of the games and what other injuries you may have.
"There are ways to do it better. It's just whether you're brave enough to want to do them."
Souths playmaker Cody Walker, who is set to be axed by NSW, was among the Origin players who failed to back up for their clubs after a bruising series opener.
Bennett wouldn't be drawn on the best possible solution to the problem.
"I'm not going to be hanging by my phone for that call," Bennett quipped, when asked what his response would be to any NRL bigwigs seeking scheduling advice.
"Listening is the easy part. The hard part is the doing."
Bellamy was more measured but also made his views clear.
"Sometimes we just expect too much of our players. To play 24 games of NRL, that's a tough grind within itself then you put Origin games, internationals on top. It's a tough ask," Bellamy said.
"I'm not quite sure what the ideal scenario would be, but it does take its toll on clubs and players."
