I love Queensland. I love the weather, I love Brisbane, I love the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, the Country Towns the northern tropics and countless other things. However, the one time I don’t love Queensland is during State of Origin.
Now before you thrash around claims that I am a Sydney-sider and New South Welshman in disguise, I’m not.
Born and bred in Brisbane, travelled all around Queensland, had holidays on the nearby Gold and Sunshine Coasts and lived in Rockhampton for a couple of years.
I am a sports fan, I particularly love football (soccer). I proudly support my local sides; Brisbane Roar, Queensland Reds, Brisbane Lions and Queensland Bulls.
But there is something about the Queensland rugby league that doesn’t click with me.
I don’t have anything against rugby league, I actually played the sport a few times in my school years, and watch it on television.
But there are some serious attitude problems that don’t sit with me in terms of the Broncos and Queensland Maroons.
I started to pay attention to State of Origin in 2002. The forst Origin game that i watched from start to finish was the epic 18-18 draw in game 3, 2002. I remember yelling my head off at Dane Carlaw, egging him over the line.
It was a great moment and I was proud to be a Queenslander. The next three years was difficult as a newly converted fan of Queensland rugby league.
I became aware of a certain New South Welshman called Andrew Johns who I openly despised. We had no answer to him in the first two games of the series of 2003, and he would always pull something out of the bag.
I was ragingly jealous of the New South Wales fans. We would end up losing that series.
The next year, hopes were up again and at 8-8 in game one I was praying that Lockyer could pull something out of the bag. Sadly, it didn’t eventuate, and a forward of all people in Shaun Timmins would score a drop-goal.
We won the second game, and I had my mates around to watch the third game. Another crushing defeat, some old veteran called Brad Fittler charged Lockyer down to score a try at the death.
Wasn’t Lockyer one of the best in the competition? Anyway, even the best can have a rough day.
The next series I heard that Johns was out of game one, giving us a huge chance.
With the game locked at 20-20, up popped a little Matty Bowen with an intercept, YOU LITTLE BEAUTY! The trophy coming back to us at last! But no, Johns was back for origin two and three and to be frank he dominated those two matches better than anyone I’ve ever seen, and it still remains.
2006 State of Origin. Brett Finch won the first match with a field goal, bringing back haunting memories of Shaun Timmins a few years earlier.
However, Queensland stormed over New South Wales in the second match and confidence was high leading into the third.
Late in the game, a stray pass pops up into Lockyer’s arms and we win!! Amazing, finally a win!
However, since then my allegiance in rugby league has changed, here are the key moments attaining to that change:
– Game 2 2007. Queensland win after a blatant forward pass is allowed for the match and series winning try.
Yet for reason there is no mention of it in the Courier Mail, or the importance it had in the series.
– Game 1 2008. After New South Wales are comfortably the better side in a surprise victory in the opening game of the series, Mal Meninga can only complain that New South Wales weren’t back the ten and the referees need to blow more penalties.
– Game 2 2008. The referees do exactly that. The same referee who officiated the first game blows a 11-3 penalty count. Meninga clearly influenced the referees with his post match whinge.
– Game 1 2009. Jarryd Hayne is controversially disallowed a try in the opening minutes of the match. The video referee looked at the replays for at least two minutes then ruled no try.
The fact is, if they are going to need to look at a decision for that long there is clear doubt. Hence it is a benefit of the doubt try. It would have shot New South Wales out to a possible 8-0 lead, with confidence high.
Queensland went on to win the game with a very solid display. Queensland media label New South Wales a bunch of whingers.
Highly ironic considering the nature of the decision and the fact the Meninga clearly complained about decisions the series earlier.
– The infamous game 3 2009. New South Wales ended up winning the game but it would be the final two minutes that would forever be remembered. This game is probably the largest contributor to my change of allegiance.
The ‘Dog Act’ calls from Queensland were embarrassingly incorrect and showed both arrogance and ignorance. Steve Price knees Brett White in the head during a tackle in the 78th minute, causing White to get pretty annoyed with him.
They are both at each other’s throats and start swinging. White knocks Price out cold he is then fallen on by Trent Waterhouse. Upon watching the video it becomes obvious that Waterhouse was going to try and separate them.
However Price was knocked out just as he arrived collapsing underneath him, giving the impression that Waterhouse tackled him.
Yes, Waterhouse should have been more focused on separating his own player however, there was nothing cheap about the whole incident, as the knockout blow was administered by White who Price was fighting.
It was the next part of the match that was about cheap shots.
Cameron Smith bombed the ball up, with fullback Kurt Gidley bravely claiming the ball. With the ball in the air, Thaiday tackled a New South Wales player from behind, resulting in him being sent off. Tackling someone from behind; that’s a cheap shot.
Gidley caught the ball and was then seized upon by four Queensland players, who were all punching him.
Four-on-one against a fullback who had done nothing wrong; that is what known as cheap. Creagh was also sent off in the resulting scuffle.
The Courier Mail’s claims of cheap New South Wales were pathetic and untrue. From this game on, I was to follow the NSW Blues.
– Origin 1, 2011. The pre match discussion was embarrassingly arrogant from Queensland.
The whole “we’ll smash them” attitude was pretty immature. As usual, Meninga would have a pre-match whinge to the referees, begging them to keep it clean and prevent any dirty tactics from NSW.
Instantly, the referee is then expecting dirty tactics from NSW, which is what Meninga hopes to achieve.
An entertaining game takes place, but it isn’t without the usual head scratches in favour of Queensland.
Josh Dugan is tackled in the air – that’s a penalty – but nothing from the refs. The first pass in the second half is called forward, replays show it was flatter than a pancake.
Cameron Smith then proceeds to throw every second pass forward without any punishment.
So there you go, the last five years of pathetic one-eyed-ness, arrogance and ridiculous favouritism has been enough to turn a passionate Queensland fan into a New South Wales fan, even at a time when it would seem to be mighty attractive to be a Queensland fan.
train
Guest
yeh and nsw might win!!!
danski
Guest
I've always considered NSW RL and NRL as an evil coallition. Kind of like the EMperor and Darth Vader in Star Wars. This means that you my (not-so) good man are Lando Calrisian. But there will be no opportunity to redeem yourself TRAITOR!
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Great stuff roarlover34. You would have had a whale of a night with your buddies last night, with a NSW victory and all. You should have got the camcorder out, and filmed your banter with the boys - and then posted it on You Tube. What a laugh that would be - well maybe for game 3 - can't wait !!!!!
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
I remember it well. Manly down 10 points to 4. A big bomb goes up, and Stuart is smashed illegally by Crocker and (you guessed it) Slater. He is taken from the field, and does not return. Controversy at its best. Melbourne go on to convincingly win the game. But hey presto - justice is served and Melbourne are stripped of the premiership for blatantly breeching the salary cap. How's my memory now ?
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
Jack Gibson was voted as the coach of the century a few years ago. He was an innovator who revolutionised both coaching and training methods. He took teams that had buckleys chance of making the finals, and turned them into premiership material. Bennett is a good coach - but lets face facts - the bulk of his premierships with the Broncos were with a team that was made up of more than half of QLD's origin stars. St George have been minor premiers, and had played in 5 grand finals without winning prior to Bennetts arrival. They looked as though they were going down again last year when trailing the Roosters at half-time. All I can say is thank God it was the Roosters we were playing, and not Canberra, or the Tigers - because I reckon it would have been six GF's without a win. Do yourself a favour and ask Wayne Bennett if he believes he is the best coach of all-time. His answer will be NO - it was Jack Gibson.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
Then we'd lose 50-0...
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
You sure have a selective memory! Didn't Melbourne get the better of Manly in the previous season's grand final by 34-6?
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
Jack Gibson was not a better coach.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
I guess that's why the Sydney Roosters are still raiding the Ipswich Junior Rugby Football League, eh? Look at all of the Queenslanders who are keeping NSW clubs competitive. The Bulldogs would be a poorer side without Barba. He's a QUEENSLANDER! That's just one example. There's so many more examples I could give you.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
"Thurston last year got nothing after blowing up at the referee with a series of expletives on the weekend prior to origin." Are you referring to the Cowboys vs Manly match in 2010? The referees made a heap of errors that cost the Cowboys the match. I was convinced then and I'm convinced now that the referees were not neutral The fact that a touch judge called a forward pass when he was too far away to make that call -- the other officials didn't call it and they were in a better position -- is all the evidence I need.. The referee deserved to be shouted at for costing the Cowboys the match. If the blokes who run the NRL had any brains then they would have suspended the touch judge and referee for a year and investigated the case for the possiblity of match fixing. "I have never seen evidence of NSW favouritism by the judiciary." Go back to the 1995 Origin series and you'll see plenty of it.
roarlover34
Roar Pro
forgot to mention that Price has broken a couple of players legs with his 'chargedowns' so he is hardly the family man saint that you claim he is
roarlover34
Roar Pro
"you think it's funny to see someone hurt." C'mon QLD fans have the same mentality, Hodges, Hunt Thaiday have all caused injury then dished out high fives, both states think an injury to the other person is somewhat amusing. Do you think the first thing that went through everyone's mind when Weyman punched Daniel Conn was "Oh i feel sorry for Conns family". Please, state of origin has some roughness about it. ps QLD are even worse, a rare breed of sore winners
roarlover34
Roar Pro
yeah NF, i probs would support a new NRL team in Brisbane. I don't like the way the Broncos don't want a second team. Is it out of fear??? Another brisbane team would bring a great rivalry. It was also decrese Brisbane Broncos talent pool becuase at the moment they can choose their players from the options of the whole city unlike in Sydney where there are 10 teams competing frok players
Choc
Guest
Who gives a crap where GI's allegiance lies! It's his choice and he's chosen the right State. You either choose between an apple and an orange, and no one in their right mind should tell which one you should choose. You Blues supporters talk about guts and bravery like you understand what it represents, on the contrary you don't know anything that belies the word GUTS (gutsy to you) 'cos you seem very happy to bag GI for doing what he wants to do. How would you feel if someone told you what to do instead of you making your own decision and choosing your own fate? GI is undoubtedly a brave person to leave NSW for QLD and deciding his own destiny. There’s a reason GI did what he did and if you’re brave enough ask him instead of criticising him! By the way! I will wait for the day when a Blues player gets knocked out cold on the field, and I hope who ever (QLD player) knocks him out and stands over his pathetic form and gloats over his convulsing body. And I will remember and say that one’s for you (Blue supporters). You’re all a bunch of losers for thinking it’s funny to see a person hurt! Have you ever given any thought to Steve Price’s family? Did you even think of his wife amongst the crowd of onlookers? Again how would you feel if that was your sibling! You people make me sick! You should be ashamed for calling yourselves SOO supporters, ‘cos you’re nothing but a horde of Fanatics! The differences between us is we’re QLD supporters and you sore losers are Blues Fanatics.
NF
Guest
roarlover If there was a 2nd Brisbane team would you casually support it's easy to hate the Broncos you know the only one, now if the South QLD Crushers were still around I'm sure it would of being the perfect rugby league team for you to support alongside Brisbane Roar, Queensland Reds, Brisbane Lions and Queensland Bulls as your teams to support. But the Broncos wanted Brisbane to be a one-team town and didn't understand the concept of derbies an all Brisbane derby would be fantastic but they failed to see that and like that the Crushers were gone.
roarlover34
Roar Pro
god i hate the broncos too, it's good to hear another qlder he shares my disliking for them. Yeah, since it's inception all the even and uneven calls have probably balanced out. But what has swayed my opinion is the last 5 or 6 years. And no it's not just reereeing calls which have swayed my opinion. It's the fact that the Qld media doesn't acknowldege them as a good peice of help but if the blues bring it up they are 'a bunch of whingers'. As for the soccer nut, u wouldn't understand the inception of origin claim, i do. The NSWRL used to poach all of QLD players to play in the competition. Tired of been left with dry stocks qld challenged them to a state vs state match which eventually turned into a series. I can certainly understand where the hatred of NSW came from becuase of all this poaching leaving QLD rugby league dry. But those days are over, time for a new approach. I'm not saying don't hate NSW, i'm saying find a new reason to. In regards to been favoured by the judiciary, that's a lie. Thurston last year got nothing after blowing up at the referee with a series of expletives on the weekend prior to origin. No suspension at all. And he doesn't have a clean record. Uate did have a clean record, yet was still very close to been suspended. Hayne was suspended earlier this year for nothing. That was the slightest headbut i've ever seen. I have never seen evidence of NSW favouritism by the judiciary.
Queensland 4 ever
Guest
I really didn't want to comment but I had to. For starters please stop confusing QLD followers and Broncos in the same light. yes there are probably more Broncos followers that are Queensland followers but they don't represent us all. I am a true queenslander and despise the broncos. Being a soccer nut you may not understand the inception of origin and the amount of controversial decisions gone against queensland over the years. Fair enough you mentioned some that went the other way and I am sure origin has a fair share either side, but NSW from a QLD'er perspective has always gotten some better judiciary decisions and close call decisions on field in the past so I wouldn't use the past five years as the example of queensland whinging yet getting the benefit of the doubt on the pitch. When a team is winning it is easy to make them look arrogant and cocky. When a team is losing it is easy to find reasons other than form. You didn't mention how Brett Hodgson knocked on in 06 and NSW scored and the video ref looked at it for what seemed an eternity and yet was the only person who though he didn't knock on or just plain missed the knock on. A try that with out some brilliance from Thurston and then a picked up ball by Lockyer, no way would queensland have clawed back. You need to look at some old videos my mate before carrying on with this QLD whingers for no good reason attitude. This is why origin started. NSW has always run the comp and still does.
Dan
Guest
Nah, we get them all from New Zealand now ;-) (a fair comment seeing as how the Kiwis have been knocking off a maroons dominated Kangaroos in all the major tournys for a few years now)
Chris Beadnell
Roar Rookie
Interesting post roarlover. If poor refereeing decisions, unfair moments in play, coach's whinges and blatant one-eyed supporting by fans and media are your criteria for switching allegences, I wish you all the best as you devoutly follow your beloved Lions, Knights, Jets, Suns, Brumbies, Titans, Bulls, Cowboys, Mariners, Force, Storm, Broncos, Glory, Blues, Tigers, Tigers, Tigers, Redbacks, Highlanders, Panthers, Swans, Cats, Roosters, Victory, Kangaroos, Rebels, Crusaders, Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Rabittohs and Bushrangers into the future.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
8 out of every 7 people can not count !