Queensland prop Steve Price is tackled during Queensland v New South Wales State of Origin Game. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Johnathan Thurston gave us this pearl of wisdom last week, talking about what it means to play representative football: “You can’t put a price on those kinds of jerseys, but certainly if the money was a lot higher than what it is now, it’d certainly entice those guys to stay.”
So, you can put a price on rep jerseys?
I obviously don’t know what Johnathan really thinks about the issue, but what I believe he was trying to say is you don’t want to put a price on rep jerseys but if it means keeping the superstars in the game then by all means.
But will that affect the purity of State of Origin and Test matches? My answer is yes.
If players must sign contracts to play for New South Wales, Queensland or Australia, how long does that contract last: One game? One year?
I want to watch Origin matches that are fueled by the hate of the opposite state. Not fueled by Jarryd Hayne or Israel Folau’s desires to build a patio at the back or to drive that new V8.
Take Greg Inglis as an example. When the Bowraville boy made his debut for Queensland in 2006, there was the massive controversy over what state he should be playing for, seeing as though he was brought up and played most of his junior footy in northern NSW.
If we have the same situation arise at a time when we are paying players for their Origin appearances, which state would the next Greg Inglis choose? The one that pays the most.
So, do you then put a salary cap on rep games? If yes, then we end up back at square one. If no, then you potentially end up with a winner who bought their State of Origin shield, just like Melbourne did with their two premierships. And back at square one.
The popularity of Origin is attributed to the purity of the contest. It’s short but rich history has seen its appeal snowball off the back of that purity. I’m going to agree with only the first ten words of the Johnathan Thurston quote and say: “You can’t put a price on those kinds of jerseys.”
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