State of Origin is more than just a game

 
Curtis Woodward Roar Guru
 

By , 4 Jul 2012 Curtis Woodward is a Roar Guru & Live Blogger

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    We all say it’s just a game and the sun will come up tomorrow. That it’s just sport and there is more to life. But when that whistle is blown for the first time in State of Origin III, the match will take on more meaning.

    State of Origin deserves as much. There is so much resting on this result.

    Will the mighty Queenslanders retain their title as the greatest rugby league side we have ever witnessed? Or will the challengers from the south overthrow the Maroons and hold that precious shield for the first time since 2005?

    In the hysteria of it all, New South Welshmen have forgotten the almighty job ahead of their beloved Blues. Despite winning Game II, New South Wales must now enter the closest thing we have to the Coliseum. Paul Gallen and his men must somehow find a way to conquer Queensland on their own turf at Suncorp Stadium.

    In 1532 Francisco Pizarro defeated the Incan Empire and conquered the largest amount of territory ever taken in a single battle.

    1813 saw an Allied victory over Napoleon at Leipzig. It was the first time European nations had co-operated to defeat a common foe.

    There’s Stalingrad, the Battle of Hastings and, of course, The Telegraph’s war on Phil Gould.

    The point is, between two sides, someone must lose. Which team cant afford to lose?

    “The first kick is so important, the first kick-off is so important, the first set of six is so important. We’ve just got to be prepared to get in the grind,” Blues assistant coach Trent Barrett said earlier in the week.

    “We just can’t let that happen again.

    “Six points is a huge margin in Origin. To give them six, 12, 18 points starts … You can’t get it back.

    “We’ve just got to hang in that first 20 minutes and do the little things: our kicking game, our kick-chase. We need to be disciplined.

    “We can’t let Queensland up in our own half. They’re too good.”

    On Saturday night, the Northern Territory celebrated Territory Day. A day where people are allowed to light fireworks at their own freewill.

    You can be assured that we will see more than just fireworks between the Maroons and the Blues at Suncorp Stadium. It’s the most important game of football we have ever seen.

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