NSW Origin: the Pale Blue imitation
Roar Guru By mushi, 6 Jul 2011 mushi is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- NRL, NSW Blues, Rugby League, State Of Origin, State of Origin 2011
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It is symbolic that today on the precipice of the Blues’ first series victory that the back page of the Daily Telegraph has a picture of NSW’s greatest origin legend… Wally Lewis? After more than 90 matches in the series the most defining image for New South Wales pride is the bronze statue of the first State of Origin Immortal.
The Blues faithful keep talking down the difference in passion for the Origin series, yet every display of their pride comes in the form of either duplicating a Queensland tradition or dismissing it.
The thing is, try as hard as they might, they just can’t grasp the concept as they gear up for this decider.
If you think Origin is only about the result, then you already have missed the point that separates us.
The guy who has lived his life on top just can’t understand both the plight and motivation of the little guy that has been struggling for the rewards and recognition.
There is a chip on the shoulder that can only be manufactured through generations of perceived slights and mistreatment.
As a Queenslander living in the old steak and kidney I can understand the origins of their apathy. Sydney offers everything a city could hope to from beaches on the door step, a thriving pub, bar and restraint scene that caters for all and sundry capped off with one of the world’s greatest city centre pieces, the crystalline Sydney harbour.
Perhaps the most understated feature is that you’ll find surprisingly few born and bred Sydney-siders living close to the CBD, thereby muting its one real failing of Australia’s largest city.
It was beautiful to watch the mentality of the New South Wales rugby league public over the past half decade. When the chips were down the knives came out.
You didn’t understand that the struggle is part of it. Queensland have long been on the on the light side of the talent see-saw but reacted to every loss with a varying mixture of immediate despair and anger that was soon replaced by resolution and optimism for the future.
We always believe our guys will get better just because they keep wearing a shade of purple.
New South Wales reacted with indignation and disdain. At first it was the “good to see it competitive again” and then came intolerance from a State used to being the centre of attention. New South Wales didn’t like a disruption in the natural order of things.
Now with this team tonight, you may win or you may lose. The only certainty about the outcome for tonight is that Queenslanders will care more about it.
And you can’t just change that mindset.
Sure you can take a take a picture of it with a blue light filter and try to imitate it, but at the end of the day it’s just that: a pale blue imitation.
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The Crowd Says (11) | Page 1 of Comments
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- Explore:
- NRL, NSW Blues, Rugby League, State Of Origin, State of Origin 2011
July 6th 2011 @ 1:46pm
Willy said | July 6th 2011 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
New South Welshmen care less about Origin than Queenslanders… and that’s a BAD thing?
Ever consider that we’re just a little too mature to let our happiness and self-esteem be decided by something as trivial as a game of footy?
You crazy kids up in QLD can live and die by your little games (like a teenage girl crying over a Justin Bieber concert), but we adults have got work to do.
Maybe one day you’ll understand.
July 6th 2011 @ 1:49pm
mushi said | July 6th 2011 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
The failure to admit it is a bad thing. You’ve obviously gotten past that so now your opnly problem is actually being a new south welshman
July 6th 2011 @ 1:54pm
Willy said | July 6th 2011 @ 1:54pm | Report comment
I’m Sydney born and bred, but I genuinely love Melbourne and Brisbane (and various other cities and points throughout the country). I love visiting Queensland, and think it is a wonderful place.
Quite why Queenslanders (and Melbournites) need to validate themselves by “hating” Sydney/NSW is beyond me!
July 6th 2011 @ 2:47pm
mushi said | July 6th 2011 @ 2:47pm | Report comment
Its like that in every country I suppose.
Everyone hates the new yorker/roman/parisian/londoner etc hell even the kwiis pick on those poor little aucklanders
July 6th 2011 @ 1:55pm
Willy said | July 6th 2011 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
Just got my first pay slip for the year and see my take home pay has gone down… due to paying the QLD Flood Levy!
Honestly – we’re paying to rebuild the place, and they still hate us!
July 6th 2011 @ 2:12pm
oikee said | July 6th 2011 @ 2:12pm | Report comment
Thanks Willy,
and i am useing that levy to pay for my firewood because i cant afford central heating like you Sydneysiders. So while i am sitting here tonite in front of that fire, drinking cheap Sirronet wine from down the road, and eating my stingy $50 dollar block of cheese i bought from the markets in Brisbane from the first origin game, (probably off some Sydneysider who moved up here to make a quid), think about poor me.
It is not always only about you Willy, what about us poor Queenslanders.
Deep down you love us, go on, just say it.
I think your cranky because Brisbane has turned its city into a Maroon one eyed village.
July 6th 2011 @ 1:55pm
oikee said | July 6th 2011 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
Awe Mushi, up their with your finest work my man. Very good read, never knew you were a Queenslander, nice work son.
Yes, and i am not sure what it is like around Sydney during origin, but i can tell you this, my wife is on her way home from Brisbane city right now, so i asked her how Maroon the scene is down there. She started to count, 5-10 20 30, and that was standing at the lights waiting to cross. Maroon jerseys everywhere. She also spoted most wearing the colour Maroon under their work jackets or whatever. Its easy to spot Victorians this time of year.
The beauty of the Wally statue is that this time next year he wont feel so lonely, he will have his mate Locky their to keep him company, but yes, Queensland has really turned Origin into a showcase event.
I just watched the last game on tv, the 1996 origin decider at lang park. Packed house, we were already down 2nil, but how we love our boys, win or lose, we turn up to support them giving 110% for their state, win or lose. We came back to only lose by a point, and the stars on show for the blues was outstanding, Fittler, Johns, Harrigon,(the ref and player) Lazarus, Daley.
I just think origin is a part of Queenslands spirit, my good wife rolls her eyes this time of year. All i talk about is the weather, fine and track good. Suncorp ready to go. Bring out the lambs.
Its a great time of the year, it is fun being part of it, first game i was in the city adding to that Maroon mass.
July 6th 2011 @ 2:34pm
C'mon blues! said | July 6th 2011 @ 2:34pm | Report comment
“Queenslanders will care more about it.” Hmmm. Not real sure about that. I’m a new south welshman who has been living in qld for 2 years, and I’m so surprised about how little rugby league is talked about and supported in QLD. The most popular sport in QLD seems to be AFL. You don’t find that in NSW, which is a massive league state. Go the blues!!!!
July 7th 2011 @ 8:58pm
Ted Skinner said | July 7th 2011 @ 8:58pm | Report comment
Yea
In the South-East Queensland the combined total TV Ratings of last weekends Suns & Lions AFL games was about 120K.
Last night’s SOO game, 900K.
Last Friday’s Parra v Broncos 300K.
July 9th 2011 @ 11:46am
Roon said | July 9th 2011 @ 11:46am | Report comment
Perhaps Queenslanders don’t talk to you either because you’re a cockroach, or because they assume that being a cockroach you’re just not into rugby league (like the Blues…)
Either way, I went to a Swans game at the SCG once and didn’t hear anyone talk about or support rugby league. You won’t find that in Qld, which is a massive league state. Did you know we recently won six Origin series in a row?
July 6th 2011 @ 4:12pm
Gaz said | July 6th 2011 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
Us Queenslanders aren’t always one eyed, we don’t only just follow State of Origin and although we have to wait almost 12 months to do all this again, we can look forward to the Bronks beating St George in the grand final!
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