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.
Brett McKay
Expert
I omitted golf today. and Doomben races on Sat too.... And you're quite quite right too, poor choice of words ;-)
Sean Fagan
Guest
I agree with your point generally, but in the case of the rugby codes in Queensland through the 20th century, they were drawing upon the same finite resource.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
'Mother' and 'bucks' should never be in the same sentence Brett! I can think of a few others you may have missed though...
Brett McKay
Guest
I was going to say Stripes, the site has never had such an ethusiastic endorsment!! Great piece Sean, the mod north of the Tweed are certainly enjoying, if you'll excuse an obvious pun, red-letter days in the rugby codes currently ;-) A mate of mine is up in Brisbane currently, partking in the mother of all buck's weeks: Origin last night, Suncorp double-header tomorrow night, Suns debut on the coast Sat night, and then Reds-Crusaders to finish on Sunday. Take that, Melbourne....
Johnno
Guest
Sports if history is a guide is all bout winning and losing cycles. Aust cricket team dominant for 15 years recently until last year. W.Indies 75-95. Blues origin 92-94. So it is all about cylcles. If memory serves me right, origins future was going to be looked at after 2006 series , only thing that saved it form being reviewed was QLD won right on the been in game 3, people were saying origin is boring NSW winning all the time, how times have changed, so it si all about cycles. Only a few years ago 2008-2009 the reds were terrible in danger of being thrown out of the super rugby comp they were awful, but with a management change and new coach and good young players coming through they are a force again. So it is all about cycles. Same with Eng cricket team they were awful, for about 15 years-2005 then came good so it is all about cycles, the bulls in rugby were awful to and then they have done well the last 4-5 years, St george illawara dragons were rubbish to but have come good. Heck jamie soward has become a half decent player still don't no if he will be picked for game 2 but you see it is all about cycles or winning and losing sport. And no empire is can not be strong forever QLD RLeague will crack and already are a tad NSW has far better chance in Game 2 and series than last year now with a full time coach.
redhead
Guest
Go quade, go will, go digby, go the reds !!
AJ
Guest
You dont select players based where they come from when they are playing for the Reds.DD perhaps you should get down and support one of your own Mate because Greg Holmes is from the Darling Downs(Allora) Rob Simmons from Theodore(which he visited this week for flood morale) ,a couple come from Ipswich and the Gold Coast.Many regional Qlders are playing for other provinces such as Richard Brown,Steve Moore,Berrick Barnes etc. Sure the reds dont fill suncorp every week but nor do the Broncos,which would be the logical comparison,not the State of Origin team.
formeropenside
Guest
Well, hopefully the Queensland Bulls can get in on the action as well. It would be nice to have all three codes with Queensland on top.
Sportfreak
Guest
Darling Downs - don't be bitter. Embrace your rugby bretheren and lose the chip
Joe FC
Guest
Good read Sean.
Stripes
Guest
and roar as in soccer, not this website necessarily.
Stripes
Guest
Top article, long live the roar, maroons, firebirds, and especially REDS!
Stripes
Guest
'By contrast the Reds are full of young fellows who most of us in Queensland do not have any attachment too. The reasons for a full house in the Reds game will be Sonny Bill Williams, the new Zealand support in Brisbane for the Crusaders and the balance will be some Brisbane supporters' Be careful not to confuse the idea that you or many people you know may not feel an attatchment to the reds with everyone else. The reds do a tonne of community work, they were the first ones out there during the floods and the players make many trips to regional areas. The reason for a full house is the fact that the currently no.1 team on the ladder is playing the historically greatest club side in the world with the elite of elite players in dan carter, richie McCaw, Brad Thorn, and yes sonny bill who has been playing the house down, and both teams are as exciting as hell to watch. I am not suggesting Union is bigger or better, just Union definetely has its place in QLD And Ofcourse there are a tonne of regional spectators coming in, i grew up in Cloncurry and can attest to the massive amounts of hype it gets, but there is only 3 games a year leaving at most 2 in brisbane. Bledisloe cups have similar effect (but ofcourse losing for the last 8 years doesnt help, as NSW is learning) but the reds are a club side playing 16 games at least a year.
sheek
Guest
Bunratty, I remember a middling class horse winning the 1968 Caulfield Cup quite comfortably - Bunratty Castle. Sean, Balkanisation of Sydney - that's an excellent word-picture to describe Sydney's geographical & philosophical disconnection!
Comrade Bear
Guest
QUEENSLANDER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... and top article.
Darling Downs Friend
Guest
Please look again at the compostion of the Queensland State of Origin team. Most of them are not originally from Brisbane at all. Most have been raised in the regional areas and therefore part of the galvanising feature with the fans comes from having an association with one or more of the team. Additionally most of the guys in recent weeks have returned to areas affected by the floods in the regional areas to just say gidday, nothing more. How many of the NSW team have done the same thing. Wayne Bennett is to take the whole St George squad back to Warwick soon to see how his old home town is going. Great P.R. By contrast the Reds are full of young fellows who most of us in Queensland do not have any attachment too. The reasons for a full house in the Reds game will be Sonny Bill Williams, the new Zealand support in Brisbane for the Crusaders and the balance will be some Brisbane supporters. Few will come from regional areas. just ask the Bus loads of regional Queenslanders will be at the Origin match tonight. To give you an idea of Kiwi support in Brisbane a recent fund raiser of Old All Blacks & Wallabies at Ballymore attracted more than 25,000 a full house and probably 80% of them were Kiwi. The Queensland spirit was also evident in the Firebirds win.... undefeated all season a remarkable effort. Two of those girls Laura Geitz and Clare Mc Meniman hail from Allora and Warwick
Bunratty
Guest
well said!
Sean Fagan
Guest
Thanks Sheek. Is fair enough to suggest Sydney suffers from balkanisation. It's transport system and topography will forever make it so. GWS and AFL are endeavouring to present the west, north-west, south-west & even inner west regions as one, but in reality this is made up of a dozen independent clans, who have never collectively thought of themselves as one - the very expression "Greater Western Sydney" only exists in government reports analysing and forward planning for the region - "GWS" doesn't really exist as a place or community. It's interesting looking at Brisbane - 52K fans to Origin, Reds & Roar all inside six months - appears to dispel all theories about code wars that foretell of how one code will make gain at the expense of another. Seems more the merrier is the rule!
sheek
Guest
Sean, As usual, a delightful read. Queensland is demonstrating the truth that quantity of numbers is not always the answer, but quality of what you have at your disposal. It also affects the way the leaders go about their business. Queensland, because they have smaller numbers to choose from, are considered, frugal & patient. NSW, because they have so many to choose from, are hasty, wasteful & impatient. Queensland nurtures its talent. NSW tosses them aside like chaff if they aren't immediately successful. If there is ever a national rugby comp in the future, Sydney must have 3 teams minimum, one each representing the south-east, north shore/harbour & greater west. Not only do the teams represent geographical & population centres, but also 3 different types of philosophy, it would seem. The north are the perfectionists, the technically correct mob. The south-east are often the entertainers. The westies are the hard cases, who'll play whichever way that will win. Conversely, a single Brisbane team seems to be able to express all the different elements within a unified forum. I'm not sure a single Sydney/NSW team can often be unified. Not only is Sydney geographically divided by one harbour & 3 bays, but also several rivers. Sydney is not only geographically challenged, but philosophically challenged as well. Of course, it wasn't always like this. But it will take a very strong individual, or group of individuals, to bring to heel all the different & simmering elements existing in their game, be it union or league.
meneer
Guest
jeeeez i hope Queensland blitz NSW in origin and the Queesnland Reds face my team (the Stormers) from South Africa, in the final of Super rugby. C'mon Queensland!!!