When commentators start calling for the inclusion of New Zealanders in the series, and they are, they not only display a dullard’s understanding of the concept of ‘origin’, they are noisily admitting the series’ desperate need for rejuvenation.
But to suddenly baptise Benji Marshall a true Blue would be to destroy Origin’s very raison d’etre.
In a sporting universe where players don the colours of the highest bidder, Origin isn’t a choice. It chooses you. You cannot deny your origins. You represent your turf.
And yet, if true, it’s disappointing that Sonny Bill Williams left league because he couldn’t play Origin.
Clearly, with so many of the NRL’s stars now from places outside New South Wales and Queensland, State of Origin is facing a losing battle for premier status.
I’m not for a second delivering State of Origin’s eulogy. It remains the greatest Australian sporting invention in the years since World War II, and has crowds and television ratings that ensure its future.
It is still the recipient of the greatest free-publicity frenzy in Australian professional sport, but ask anyone and they’ll tell you, “It ain’t what it used to be.”
I have just the tonic. It is exciting, elegant and profitable.
Introducing: Origin 2.0: The War in the Pacific.
Here’s the plan; introduce a parallel “Land of Origin” to be played across the Tasman. New Zealand Origin versus Pacific Islands Origin in a three-match series.
The victor plays the winner of State of Origin in a one-off match. The winner of that match is crowned “Pacific Origin Champion”.
The Pacific Islands would consist of the stars from Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and anywhere else in the Pacific that is not Australia or New Zealand.
Suddenly, more than bragging rights would be up for grabs in State of Origin.
The NRL’s best players could represent somewhere other than Australia, and still play Origin, albeit “Land of” rather than “State of”.
Now we have a stage to see the best Pacific Islanders, with so much impact in the NRL, together. The clashes would be titanic, the styles so contrasting.
Rugby League will have revitalised its precious State-based showpiece, and at the same time produced an international series that would be competitive and legitimate in a way the Four Nations, even the World Cup, could never be.
The NRL itself would be fairer. State of Origin puts huge pressure on some clubs, while others ensure a mid-year holiday. This would spread the pain, and the interest.
It would also make Test series fairer. It would mean Australia’s opponents have had a similarly bruising season, and it would make Pacific Island Test sides infinitely more competitive over time.
There would be no such thing as an Origin dead rubber. Instead, you would have a final hitout for “Pacific Origin”.
There is much minutiae that I welcome debate on.
Would the current origin qualification rules work or would they need to be tweaked in some way? If we picked a Pacific Island Origin team today, under current qualification rules, would it be competitive against New South Wales or Queensland?
If Maroons and Blues are cane toads and coackroaches, what would they be called? What would their colours be? I vote yellow and green for the sand and flora of the Pacific. But a strip taking in the national colours of each island may be in order.
Would the entire “Land of Origin” series be played in New Zealand? PNG and the Pacific Islands do not have facilities worthy of such an event. Is that too much of an advantage for the Kiwis? Should Melbourne or Townsville be the Pacific Islanders home?
Here’s a thought; 8pm kickoff in New Zealand is a 6pm kickoff on the east coast of Australia. Could we have an Origin double header?
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Step back from what you know and put yourself in the shoes of Lunn, Maranta, Reid, McAuliffe and Humphreys, the Fathers of Origin.
State of Origin was invented because state games were lacklustre and not the main game. These visionaries saw the game needed a new theatre of war. They saw that fans wanted to be represented in a pure and primal way.
These proponents did not agree on every detail but were bold and honest about what was needed to grow. They did not accept the status quo as good enough.
Kiwis and Pacific Islanders are an integral part of modern rugby league. They deserve to share in Origin. They would represent it in a new, pure and primal way.
They will produce new heroes and new enemies, the combatants upon which the Origin legend is built.
A series that calls itself the pinnacle of rugby league but denies New Zealanders and Pacific Islanders the right to compete is lying to its fans.
They know it. That’s why State of Origin needs Land of Origin.
Time to declare war in the Pacific.
hutch
Roar Guru
this!!! how is it fair that we get to play rep games mid season but no other countries can? origin should be on stand alone weekends for starters, and nz and pacific countries should have the opportunity to play tests and rep matches as well. pacific cup, 3 tests series' or nz v pac islands could all work!
sheek
Guest
Rugger, That may be true. But the fact is the Pacific Islands are ignored when it comes to scheduling test matches. Cut out of this lucrative circuit, the best young players are deciding to ply their trade with either NZ or Australia. Now I don't mind islanders who come to Australia for a better life and in time genuinely consider themselves Aussies. But not when it's a matter of expediency, & deep down they still think of themselves as Fijian, or Samoan, or Tongan, or whatever.
skull
Guest
Get rid of it completely, its always been about massaging the ego's of Queenslanders. I for one hope and pray that no one from the team I support will be picked in the exhibition game, as it can only ruin your teams chances in the comp if you get your best players picked. If they want to keep it going then have a series over 7 days and give all the other teams in the NRL a week off so no one is disadvantaged.. Broncos supporters should be the ones really feeling hard done by by SOO, without it they probably would have won the comp every year until about 2006
silent.one
Guest
I like the idea of a Islands Of Origin Series very much, but I don't know how the IoO Vs SoO match would fit it into an already hectic rugby league schedule. Also to the person that said an NZ vs England match would be the better fit, I beg to differ as they have just announced an 'international origin' match between England & 'the Exiles' for next month with plans for it to become 3 games in the next few years. Also the travel would be to much for the players and their respective clubs who wouldn't want there players to be playing on the other side of the world in the middle of the season. Maybe it could be the NZ Kiwis Vs Pacific Allstars on the same night as SoO.
Chris D
Guest
State of Origin works up here because we have two big states. It doesn't work down there because you have one big state and three little ones. Kinda hard for the South to call the north backward when Australia's three poorest states (Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria) are all in the south! The Australian south is just as backward as their American cousins.
Charles
Guest
I suggested to have a VRL Sate of Origin and as soon as possible for a number of reasons 1. It allows players outside of NSW, Qld to be part of the most elite competition in the world. 2. If we wait for Victoria or any other state to grow first it will be many years before it can occur. Players like Benji Marshall will never get that opportunity. 3. Rules can be in place so once they play for that state they can only play for that state 4. Including Victoria in will speed up the process of promoting a healthy competition in a state that already has a successful team 5. A great money spinner in having a three state origin competition The concept of having one in the Pacific is too earlyat this stage I feel, lets promote on our own turf first. Purists would have reservations with this concept especially with the die for your state mentality. However it can be in bred with time and passion as what has already occurred. Our game needs to grow and expand to sustain the enourmous costs it occurs For too long we have sat back, lets hope the Commission come up with a fresh attitude
The Recalcitrant
Guest
We got rid of it in AFL, mercifully. What is the point of allowing your player's to play this exhibition series and have the chance of being injured from what really matters. It had a point in the era before a national competition. That time finished in 1986 for us. Things obviously take a little longer to sink in up in the backward north.
TammyS
Guest
I dont think its premature. In fact I think if we brought in a third state of origin team tommorow, I reckon they would be very competitive. Think about all the players that have switched their allegiance to Australia just to play origin. Now if a third origin team was introduced, it could have names like Burgess, Marshall, Ellis, and Hayne in the team. You could probably even throw Robbie Farah's name in there. Not only would it strengthen international footy with more players choosing to stick to their home country but I think it would be very entertaining to watch. Obviously the team will be dominated with Kiwis and Islanders but down the track, there might be a couple of Victorians or Western Australians might be able to qualify who knows. I just think with the game becoming more and more multicultural and looking to expand outside NSW, and QLD, its important to have that option out there for them.
chris
Guest
Queenslanders love SOO more then NSW's is true but to say Sydney is not the Rugby League stronghold is a pile of crap as crowds might be fickle but thats what you get with 8.5 teams and apart from the Broncos crowds are not very good for the Titans and the Cowboys,i have noticed in a number of years it's been Sydney who has pulled in some good crowds for some big club games.
bilbo
Guest
Victoria v Everyone turned out to be a massive win for Victoria. What makes origin awesome is that Qld are always the underdogs - even if theyre not. No such thing with AFL.
bilbo
Guest
Digby is the most high profile VRL representative - but alas is in RU now.
pennypanther
Roar Rookie
This idea has been floated before, most notably at last years Chief Executives conference, so it is nothing new, but I do hope it gets some legs. Interestingly, England have created an 'origin' series this year. It is called International Origin and it is the England national team v The Exiles. The Exiles are made up of expat Aussies, Kiwis and Islanders. They are only having one game this year and depending on its success will look to make it a 3 game series. I certainly hope that it is successful and helps the England team become more competitive! Check it out http://www.internationalorigin.com/
sunshinecoaster
Guest
What would the interest be in watching the Kiwis thrash the island teams, it would be the same old story, island teams will look handy on paper and be full of ex Kiwi players and end up getting a flogging Keep origin if you will but rugby league in Australia needs to start showing the Kiwis the repect they desserve by a regular test home and away series. Even at present the papers etc is all about who will be 6 for NSW etc, well hang on a sec shouldnt the talk be about the Roos v the world and tri nations champs ? Sometimes i get the impression the core people influencing the talk and buzz in rugby league such as the channel 9 team like to sort of shuffle the Kiwis off to the side and condescend there efforts, " they got lucky again " but enough about that, " its origin time again the best of the best ". Well maybe, or is it just groundhog day ?
Chris D
Guest
"State of Origin has lost its lustre" - Um, last years state of origin had the highest TV ratings of any Origin series ever. Leave Origin alone - it is just about the only thing in this great game the administrators haven't stuffed up. Game three in Sydney last year was a dead rubber, after 5 straight Queensland series wins, and 62,000 people still turned up!
Titus
Guest
Hadn't most of them already bought their tickets though, two for the price of one? Personally I think it has become a huge media spectacle, but the games are pretty average. I think it should take a back seat to the regular season games, you know, the ones that matter.
lopati
Guest
Hmmm, maybe it's only those south of the border? (And their new idea: if you can't beat it, break it.)
Football United
Roar Pro
i know at least 2 Gareth Widdop (might be a pom but he played in the VRL since he was 14) Jeremy Smith - played for altona roosters as a junior
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi Aaron - this is one of those "love the idea, hard to see it executed easily" moments. Sure, Pacific Islanders v New Zealand (although I was actually thinking South v North Island in NZ might be an easier stepping-stone to implement). Play the Pacific team out of PNG and the NZ'ers out of Auckland (or Wellington) for starters. The concept is worth more discussion at least and I applaud the fact that sports fans continue to try and devise new ways of putting a clever spin on an old favourite.
UD Almería
Guest
Coming from an AFL background, it's no surprise that I agree with Zach on this. This is definitely a case when more is not better. The current concept has worked for so long because it began organically, adding bits and pieces is just contrived, and is we know only too well in Australian Football, as soon as you have three or more sides, it just doesn't work as neatly anymore. In years to come, as the demands on the bodies of League players start to reach a bit of a limit, don't be surprised if it returns to a one match per annum format.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Skeek Sorry, mate but the IRB have invested more than $25 million in the last development cycle. Considering the total playing population of the Islands is less than 100,000, that indicates a sizeable level of interest. More than what the US has recieved in the same period in a region considered a vital growth market for the game.