If you can’t beat them, join them. So let’s have a Rugby Union Queensland Vs NSW State of Origin series. The notion was floated by John Connolly in his review of the upcoming Super 14 Waratahs-Reds match at the Sydney Football Stadium.
My original reaction that that Connolly was an old Queensland warhorse who was missing the “It’s great to be an Australian but even better to be a Queenslander” feeling in the days of professional rugby when players switch from one state to another at the drop of a new contract.
In Connolly’s day as a successful Queensland coach, the year was made for the Reds if they defeated NSW, even if every other game was lost.
And in the early years of Super Rugby, this tribal passion for defeating NSW was maintained with the annual clash generally being a Super Rugby match as a dour and ferocious affair.
Most of the biff was dished out by the Reds.
The sainted David Campese, for instance, was whacked in one of the early Super Rugby matches by Damien Smith, just because he was a Waratah.
But the interchange of players to the various Super Rugby franchises, which started with Nathan Grey defecting from Queensland to NSW, has taken much of the tribalism out of the contest.
We’ve now got the Reds stalwart hooker Michael Foley coaching with the Waratahs, and the High Performance manager for the Reds is Ben Whitaker, the brother of the former Waratahs captain Chris Whitaker.
The way to get the tribalism back and restore what was one of Australian rugby’s best annual events (after the Bledisloe Cup Tests) is to bring back a Rugby Union State of Origin.
The rules about eligibility should be strict: only players born in Queensland can play for the Reds, and only players born in NSW can play State of Origin for NSW.
I had a telephone chat with Tony Dempsey, the CEO of the Rugby Union Players Association, about the viability of the concept. “It’s a great concept,” he assured me, “and the main concern about it is when could it be fitted in.”
Working from the Tests dates for this season, for instance, there will be only a limited window of opportunity, he pointed out, between the end of the Super 14 and the first Tests against overseas teams.
Similarly, between the end of these Tests and the start of the Tri-Nations tournament, there is little scope for a major rugby series.
But what about after the Tri-Nations is ended?
In South Africa there is the Currie Cup and in New Zealand the National Provincial Championship for players and spectators in the couple of months before the overseas tour.
In Australia, there is really nothing on in big time rugby. So about what about the Rugby Union State of Origin then?
The series would provide some great rugby for the Australian public and for many of the Wallabies waiting for their overseas tour. And it would also gift some revenue for the ARU to distribute to the use to develop rugby at the grassroots club level.
The public could be drafted in to put forward names of players for selection. And I’ve already pencilled in the names of the first coaches: Rod Macqueen for NSW (he coached NSW in 1991 to an unbeaten season, including matches in Argentina, and then was dumped) and Tim Horan, a Reds great, an Australian selector, and a commentator of note.
The commentators pick themselves: Greg Martin for the Reds and Phil Kearns for NSW.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
woah, that was clever.
Kuri
Roar Rookie
Could you see the NRL releasing a further 36 players (sorry not sure on squad sizes) from the competition to allow a NZ series though M1tch? It's highly unlikely and the clubs would be up in arms. yes the NZRL is useless but they are up against it
M1tch
Roar Guru
totally agree..the NZRL is terrible, they want the NRL to do everything for them..I dont know why the Warriors dont play 3 games around their nation every year - England is showing us up by going to Wales and the magic weekend in scotland and taking a game to Spain, while we have only have perth and adel 1 game each. The Pacific Islands could have awesome teams if they played more and had something to play for..hopefully the Pac cup is the beginning of that.
Kuri
Roar Rookie
Another reason why League is only big in 3 countries and two of those countries it would be a push to say it's a big sport. I like league don't get me worng I just find it astounding how league does nothing to promote itself to new markets. Why NZ doesn't have a Island of Orangin series or a Coastal Clash at the same time of origin is also a bit of a miff, What a lead in to an Origin game to have the Kiwis battling it our first in their own match then State of O kicking off 2 hours later. Sadly the NRL would never allow this to happen as it doesn't see league anywhere else othan than Australia as important
M1tch
Roar Guru
Current rules are very dodgy, but thats what happens when everyone wants to play Origin and the RFL ignore the pacific islands for so long
Kuri
Roar Rookie
Jared Hayne TT another who played for Fiji at the WC in 08 now playing for NSW, how the hell do you work that out. Wasn't Australian enough for the WC but shows some class and all of a sudden hes Australian enough for the Kangaroos and origin
Kuri
Roar Rookie
And Queensland could just about play as the 6th NZ franchise
Paul Robertson
Guest
The problem with a State of Origin rugby union match is that its rugby union - a crap sport!
katzilla
Roar Guru
Who would play for QLD though Spiro? They have more NZ born players then the Auckland Blues. Not that thats saying much ;)
JK
Guest
As I understand Oikee, you are a Kiwi, whilst I'll give you origin, the thing you need to understand is QLD V NSW rivalry extends to EVERYTHING.
Apelu Tielu
Guest
I agree, totally, Chris. ACT can field a competitive team. Spiro needs a lesson in geography. Also, many top players were born overseas, so well have to be spectators. So what's the point. The tribalism is not quite there, i think, folks.
Joh4Canberra
Guest
... or Long Beach, California. Let's not forget that in 1987 the leaguies experimented with playing State of Origin football in the US.
Chris
Guest
Spiro, Canberra is not in NSW and I can assure you that Canberran's sure as hell don't consider themselves New South Welshmen.
Chris
Guest
Exactly, I was born in the UK, but I don't support them. I chose to live here, I chose to support Australia... and I'd love to play for them, if I'd been talneted enough.
Chris
Guest
Stupid idea. The reason why League has been slow to develop outside of NSW and QLD, is because the pinnacle of the sport in this country is between these two states only. How can someone from outside of those states get involved? They watch it for entertainment value but they lack the passion because they see the game as a NSW and QLD only sport, they are not represented. In AFL the State of Origin concept was dropped for a number of reason, one of which was because it was dominated by Victoria, so they developed the 'Others team'. Back in those days, Victoria's success cemented in my mind (rightly or wrongly) that its primarily a Victorian sport and that's where the talent pool lay. The recent success of AFL's expansion has ridden on the ability to make all communities feel included. NSW and QLD are beginning to see it as the AFL not the VFL. A Union State of Origin is a massive step backwards, that will disengage follows in ACT, WA and Victoria, at a time we are trying to expand the Code. The League State of Origin is a great spectacle that Union will find hard to emulate. Union should be an innovator, not a follower.
PuntPal
Guest
HAHAHAHAHA! Oh mate - if Union tried to create its own State of Origin it would be hillarious! They wont do it because it would show once and for all what a boring and antiquated game Union really is. Thanks for giving me a good lunch time laugh!
young gun
Guest
i still agree with the concept of the possibles vs probables matchand i can name 2 teames right now 1-alexander 2-tpn 3-baxter 4-horwill 5-sharpe 6-mumm 7-smith 8-palu 9-burgess 10-gituea 11-tuquiri 12-barnes 13-mortlok 14-mitchell 15-aac 16-frier 17-henderson 18-kimlin 19-hoiles 20-lucas 21-tahu 22-ioane the other team 1-robinson 2-moore 3-dunning 4-caldwell 5-mcmeniman 6-waugh 7-pockock 8-brown 9-sheean 10-cooper 11-hynes 12-oconer 13-cross 14-turner 15-shepard 16-hardman 17-kefu 18-tohmson 19-mowen 20-holmes 21-beale 22-gerrard
canberrabear
Roar Rookie
Geeze, sorry Spiro, but I hate the idea! It only benefits NSW and QLD supporters. You forget that the Brumbies and Force are also supported by large fan bases. Their fans would take great offence at their players pulling on a blue or red jumper each year. I think the problems lies within the culture of the Reds and Waratahs. The Brumbies have a very loyal bunch of players and tribal supporter base. Even if this concept did take off, why couldn't the ACT be included? Remember, the ACT represents ACT and southern/NSW. If you use the same qualification rules as league (place of birth or first senior rugby game), the Brumbies would field a strong team, including - Shep, Faingaa, Henderson, Kimlin, Salvi, Henjak, Gits, Tyrone Smith, Norton-Knight, A Faingaa, Fainifo, Halangahu etc. These guys would step up to try and beat the bastards from NSW!
TonyClubCollaroy
Guest
Wowww Andystath... you usually write jibba jabba ;-) here but i have to agree with you about the NRL state of origin rules .....as with steffy that is a life long journey educating her. good luck.
The Link
Guest
sheek, being a bit cute there, can't count the ACT for Union and not League. Raiders were around for 14 years before the Brumbies.