Dear NSW squad of seventeen: When you take the field for Origin One this year, I want you to be absolutely clear why you’re there. Origin transcends everything.
Let me give you an example…
Take Jamie Soward. As a Dogs fan (and I’m putting that mildly), I can’t stand the sight of that dancing midget in his white swim cap. I swore to all the Gods in the universe I’ll never forgive him as long as he lives and breathes, after “that” video ref incident in 2009.
But I have found the circumstance that may make me think twice, and that very circumstance comes dressed in a sky blue jersey.
If one J. Soward pilots us to a series win, clearly I will be forced to review my position on several levels. I imagine if I ever go to Thailand and get offered some shish-kebab tarantulas to eat, the feeling will be equally as foreign.
You see boys, origin transcends everything. Club rivalries die whenever a sky blue jersey gets worn.
I have Manly neighbours one one side, and Parramatta on the other. There’s mates from high school who love the Dragons, and a smattering of Tigers in my family.
The ill-feeling come Friday is thick as concrete on some weekends, but that being said, all of these people are instantly more tolerable come Origin time. All of a sudden Watmough is no longer an invisible suitcase carrying tool-bag. And Gallen is no longer a brain exploding thug merchant.
Among workmates, among neighbours, among your own family, the unity is an all encompassing hate when it comes to playing the canetoads.
In the 30 or so years of modern Origin football, we face a herculean obstacle in trying to extinguish Queensland’s dominance.
There is no hiding from it. The balance is crying out to be restored. The fans are aching for a series win.
And only you can do it fellas, you 17 men alone.
While we don’t wear the jersey onto the green grass of battle, make no mistake. When you lose we lose with you!
But you have to realise as fans we lose for longer. Losing Origin is a lonely venture for us. Some can easily distract a series loss with focus on their current NRL side to quell the pain, but some go away with nothing.
Now, it’s been five years! Count ’em! Five freakin’ years !!
I know not all of you have been present for the ride, and this note is not about personal accountability.
When you take the field for Origin one, it will not matter to me one iota which club you play for, where you came from, or what your journey represents. We, players and fans, are united in our hopes and dreams: Blue glory!
When you play in Origin one in the coming weeks, I want it to be absolutely clear …
We could pick any 17 to play footy. There are enough of us.
You don’t just represent yourself. You don’t just represent your club.
Or your family. Or your friends.
You represent me!
I’m the one who has to tolerate the bandwagon Queensland-supporting mates sledging YOU.
I’m the one who’ll get text messages, voicemails, Tweets and the like for days!
I’m the one who has to sit and listen to the cousins at BBQ’s crap on for another year on my birthday!
I’m the one in the stands, with the face-paint on, looking at the wrong end of the scoreline, and down the cup of a crap beer!
I’m the one who has to be nice next week to the office idiots sledging me, because I went to causal Friday dressed in the Blues jersey!
As you go about your Origin business, remember … you represent us, and you represent me!
Win it, and I’m the one who’ll be first to thank you for representing us properly.
When game time comes … find a face in the crowd … and WIN IT for them.
They deserve it. And so do I.
And so do we!
More info: State of Origin 2011 fixtures and kick-off times
Captain Kickass
Guest
A pre-match address ??? Good lord, I shudder to think the half-time result.
Captain Kickass
Guest
... well, I guess you're right : At least three times a year we can love him for the exact same reason and overlook it eh ? ... :p
Captain Kickass
Guest
ROFL - Sorry this went almost a week without mention : Classic.
Pacman
Guest
Well said. As usual we hear the same old tired Queensland wank about how great their passion is. Everything Blue 2 the Bone said is true. Queenslanders like to pretend, but I don't recall a NSW supporter ever calling for origin to be scrapped. Dare I say it... Fairweather supporters? Eat that one up nom nom.
Kerapp
Guest
Getting too old for Caxton Street, Gaz. But really, I do prefer the race for the 8 and the finals of course.
greg
Guest
Im a Qlder and am pretty tired of these poor sides from NSW. This year doesnt appear to be different . Either NSW pick up it game or maybe we should just play the kiwis instead. Im losing interest in the SOO and am starting to lose the passion.
Ronnie the Eel
Guest
Well said Captain Kickass, it would be good if someone would read parts of your address to the Blues just prior to running on for each game this year. When the Blues lose, I don't even have the back-up of watching the Eels go too well for the last few years. I like also how you note that Origin brings us (or should bring us) all together as New South Welshmen at this time and push for a Blues victory! Even though I have stated in another post that it's about comparable talent and the ability to be mentally tough to handle the 3 toughest games of league each season for the players, it's still good to see the passion. No matter what you say about NSW on here, you'll still get narky comments from those halfwit arrogant imbeciles who believe they have mystical insights into the passion of their team, and that's why they believe they win (aka QLD supporters). But kudos to you, old mate, for what you have said, I would love to see NSW win this series and many series to come, at least then that might shut the arrogant little ungracious QLD supporters up for a few years!
BennO
Guest
Wait on there, back up a second. There is just one error you made as far as I can see. There is one thing that transcends even origin. Gallen is always a brain exploding thug merchant.
amy_p
Roar Rookie
Why was it that we didn't lose 4 in a row; that Lockyer got to that dropped ball first and Brent Tate out ran everyone else to get 12 points in less than 10 minutes? But, even if you don't believe or understand that we do have a unique passion for origin, you must believe in the importance of confidence. Queensland couldn't be more confident or have more belief in their team and their ability to win. NSW is very aware of that and, with constant changes to their line-up, it's hard for them to have confidence. So if this "passion" transcends to confidence, Queensland has the edge and that's still not something that can be forced or prompted.
Blue 2 the Bone
Guest
Well said, I specifically remember Queenslander's whinging about how Origin was dead when NSW had won 3 in a row, I know so because I was studying in Queensland at the time of Origin, now all these supposed die hard Maroons supporters are out and about talking about QLD passion and how they always support their team no matter what, what a load of crap, when Justin Hodges coughed up two tries Queenslanders were calling for his head and now its oh no we always stand by our players.
Al from ctown
Guest
Lol JamesM, funniest thing I have read all day! Haha classic -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
JamesM
Guest
NSW players, i want you to know, there is a little crippled boy in hospital who wants you to win State Of Origin this year. I know this because....I crippled him myself just to inspire you! Mr Burns Motivation :P
Gaz
Guest
No such a thing as a league fan without the origin passion Kerapp. I have my doubts that you are a league fan at all. You are quite correct however about the Qld players going south for better money and who can blame them, you see it was all to do with southern clubs with pokies versus Qld clubs with chook raffles and daily doubles. If you have no passion for SOO, pop into Caxton Street on game night and get some life into you. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Kerapp
Guest
Origin Passion. Let me dwell on that a moment. I guess it is there just as it was 31 years ago at Land Park, Brisbane, only in today's age with many more dollars attached for all immediately concerned. I think that the rules were changed over the years to allow the best of our Pacific neighbors to participate, whereas wasn't it supposed to just rectify the fact that crack Qld players were going to Sydney clubs for better money, yet coming back in the Sky Blue jumpers to bash their old Brisbane mates?? Well, fair enough that is state of origin I suppose - the pinnacle of Rugby League - and I always thought the Australian jumper was the thing. My beef is that the NRL competition suffers by losing it's best players to the Origin even though these men are showcased on TV screens world wide in the League world. The NRL might also be better served to have a rest period weekend for ALL clubs before the SoO game to even things out a bit more. Pity about the 3 game tie also. I figure 2 would be enough but then who am I? Just a league fan without the Origin passion.
Dingo Bob
Guest
And yet NSW are still losers
The Barry
Roar Guru
Knock off the nsw doesn't get it Qld does rubbish. Qld have won 5 in a row because they have had a "once-in-a-generation" group of players come through at the same time...nothing to do with spirit or passion. Thurston, Smith, Slater, Inglis, Folau, Tonga, Boyd, Myles, Shillington, Hannant, Hodges and the rest all came through from about 05 onwards. Up until 06 guys like Lockyer, Price and Petero's Origin records were terrible. Did Lockyer only discover QLD passion in the latter half of his career ??? Where was the Qld passion and spirit when NSW (when we had Johns, Fittler, Minichello, King, Hindmarsh, Fitzgibbon, etc) had won 3 in a row....if I remember correctly Qlders were calling for Origin to be scrapped, it was unfair, change the rules, etc. If Lockyer hadn't have scooped up that dropped ball and scored NSW would have won 4 series in a row. NSW won 6 out of 8 series from 1990...where was QLD spirit then ? From 1990 Qld only won 4 of 16 series (two drawn series)...what happened to QLD passion for that decade and a half... Its all a myth.
oikee
Guest
There is your problem, look at the response at your open hearted letter. Mate if it was a queenslander calling out to his mates, this post would have over 100 responses by now. Look, i know your a fan, same as me. The difference for me is that i also cheer our loses. I was proud of our boys even if they lost. They would get patched up and sent straight back into battle, with our hearts on there sleeves. You have much to learn grasshopper. :)
Cicero
Guest
Amy Price
Guest
A noble act, but nsw doesn't get it as qld does and, as much as they may try, it's not something that can be forced or prompted. As a queenslander, I wish they would because I love a hearted origin game; but, I think nsw has a long journey of re-building before they can gain or begin to match the origin passion of Queensland. Until one of them shaves nsw into the side of their head or passionately shouts new south welshman in the heat of the moment, they just don't get it. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
peeeko
Roar Guru
gary, i dont think the author is a player, so your comment makes no sense