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Last Wednesday’s opening State of Origin blockbuster certainly had it all. A game for the ages played out in front of a record audience across the land.
The players did not disappoint, slugging it out for 80 gruelling minutes.
We all know how the story goes, the mighty Queensland against the desperate challengers from the southern border fuelled by the ever-present light at the end of the tunnel.
For eight long years that light has eluded the men in the sky blue. But the light is so close now that it’s within touching distance.
Battle-weary leaders Paul Gallen and Robbie Farah are on the doorstep and can hear the Queenslanders scrambling on the other side of the wall. Now is the time for the Blues to not only push through the door but go straight for the jugular and burn the empire to the ground.
All empires fall and Queensland’s reign is no different.
Many centuries ago the Romans were simple farmers fighting off rabid wolves who were there to eat the farmers’ sheep. The Romans eventually became the wolves and so too has Queensland. Once the battlers and now the rulers, the Maroons have suffocated New South Wales for almost a decade.
But as Bob Dylan once said, “The times they are-a changing”.
So here we are with the fearless Blues 1-0 up in the series, and with the foot on the throat of the ageing Queensland legend. They are battered and bruised but still not defeated and if the Blues think this thing is over, think again.
Ruthlessness is the only way forward and the slightest sign of weakness will bring Queensland right back into the contest. Nobody knows exactly what the makeup of the Maroons’ team will be for the next Origin spectacular, and it shouldn’t matter.
The ramifications of a New South Wales win in Game 2 would see the shield back in this state for the first time in too long. The snowball effect of a victory however would also force Queensland’s hand. Ideally Mal Meninga and his staff would love to send out his champion players on their own terms but rugby league has a funny way of reminding legends of their mortality.
If the Blues went 2-0 up, a number of Queensland’s greatest ever players might be returning to Suncorp Stadium for their Origin swansong in Game 3.
Cameron Smith will be into his 30s by next season’s Origin series and so too will his Melbourne teammate Cooper Cronk, who may be pushed before he can jump. Future Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans is waiting in the wings for the prestigious number seven jumper.
Then there is Billy Slater, 31 next year, who also has Greg Inglis awaiting his chance to be unleashed as Queensland’s new fullback.
Justin Hodges and Brent Tate will both be 33 next series, with Dale Copley and Justin O’Neill expected to fill the void in the near future. Also well into his 30s next year will be Johnathan Thurston, who has the likes of Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt scrapping for a halves birth.
It’s the same story in the pack too with Matt Scott and Nate Myles heading toward 30 while Corey Parker will be 33 by Game 1 in 2015.
Queensland doesn’t look as scary as they used to be. That’s why the Blues must secure the series at ANZ Stadium in front of their own crowd.
A 2-0 series lead will force Queensland’s hand, something the Blues haven’t done for eight long years.
Queensland’s falling empire
Billy Slater – 31 next series
Successor: Greg Inglis, Ben Barba
Brent Tate – 33 next series
Successors: Dale Copley, Justin O’Neill
Justin Hodges 33 – next series
Successor: Will Chambers
Johnathan Thurston – 32 next series
Successors: Anthony Milford, Ben Hunt
Cooper Cronk – 30 next series
Successor: Daly Cherry-Evans
Matt Scott and Nate Myles – both 28 next series
Successors: Josh McGuire, Korbin Sims
Corey Parker – 33 next series
Successor: Aidan Guerra
Sam Thaiday – 28 next series
Successor: Josh Papalii
Cameron Smith – 30 next series
Successor: Jake Friend
Possible future Queensland team
1 Greg Inglis
2 Dale Copley
3 Will Chambers
4 Justin O’Neill
5 Darius Boyd
6 Anthony Milford
7 Daly Cherry-Evans
8 Matt Scott
9 Jake Friend
10 Nate Myles
11 Chris McQueen
12 Matt Gillett
13 Aidan Guerra
14 Josh Papalii
15 Ben Te’o
16 Brenton Lawrence
17 Ben Barba
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