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Over 100 years of history tells us that Queensland cannot enjoy a reign of glory in both rugby codes at the same time, but will the Maroons and Reds over the next five days finally prove otherwise?
When rugby league began in Australia in 1908, it was argued that to divide the players (into professional and amateur) would be to split rugby into two feeble halves.
In Queensland in particular, with its much smaller player and spectator numbers, a very real risk existed that Australian rules would, over the following decade, be able to surpass the level of support of each of the competing rugby codes.
The intervention of the first World War never fully resolved that question.
Though the Brisbane club rugby union clubs continued through the war and big crowds attended the inter-state and popular AIF games in 1919, by the start of 1920 the QRU’s dire financial position sent the code into free-fall and then, entirely out of existence.
With the state’s complete rugby resources behind it, not least the schools and country areas, the prospects for success of the Queensland rugby league team rose sharply.
In 1922, the Maroons defeated the Blues for the first time.
In the next 15 matches (1923-26), the Tom Gorman-led Queenslanders defeated New South Wales 12 times, winning four inter-state series in a row (1923-26).
The Maroons’ success appeared to vindicate the theory that Queensland could more than hold its own against other states, but only if there was one major football code – a thought that was at the forefront of debate in the autumn of 1928, when a movement began to revive amateur rugby union.
“The Brisbane Courier” immediately speculated: “Whether Queensland can continue to support two codes of rugger, and at the same time maintain her well established prestige as a rugby-playing community, is a problem that only time will solve.”
The Maroons won further series in 1928, 1931 and 1932, but below the level of established players and clubs, the effects of rugby union’s return were impacting.
From 1933 until the birth of State of Origin in 1980, Queensland won just three more series (the last in 1959).
Though the lure of big money contracts from Sydney clubs had much to do with that, its impacts on the competitiveness of the state team would have been lessened had there been no rugby union.
Conversely, the greatest period of success enjoyed by the Queensland Reds coincided with the Maroons hitting rock bottom, when they failed to win a game from 1976 to 1980.
In May 1976, the Mark Loane-captained Queensland Reds destroyed the Waratahs 42-4, sending the Ballymore crowd delirious. The Queensland XV went on to beat New South Wales at every meeting until 1980.
These heydays of Queensland rugby in the late 1970s included memorable home victories over touring teams (notably the All Blacks in 1980) and made famous, names such as Paul McLean, Tony Shaw, Chris Handy, Paddy Batch, Stan Pilecki, Brendan Moon, Greg Cornelson and Andrew Slack.
Tonight, the Maroons begin their quest to win an unprecedented sixth State of Origin series in succession.
A full house at Suncorp will urge them on, all the way.
Four days later, the same ground will again be near on-capacity with Queenslanders hoping to carry their Reds home to victory over the seven-time Super Rugby champions Canterbury Crusaders.
Currently, Queensland sit atop the Australian conference and the overall standings – a victory over the black-and-reds will speak volumes.
What odds Queensland hosting and winning the Origin series (July 6) and Super Rugby final (July 9)?
That would well and truly, lay some old theories to rest and leave both rugby codes in New South Wales looking a decidedly lighter shade of pale.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.