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As expected, NSW was roundly and loudly booed by the 52,498 Suncorp crowd when they took the field first on Wednesday night for the Origin decider. But class act Mark Gasnier had the right idea.
He was the only one in the 17 man NSW squad to clap the Origin-retiring Darren Lockyer when he ran on alone to a thunderous reception from the faithful.
What better way to defuse the parochial Suncorp crowd than for the arch-enemy to recognise Queensland’s favourite son by clapping him on in unison.
Besides, it was the sporting thing to do for Origin’s most-capped footballer. Mark’s uncle – the Immortal Reg Gasnier, “Puff the Magic Dragon” – would have done the same under the circumstances.
Class is in the blood.
And had NSW captain Paul Gallen moved 20 metres to his right to shake Lockyer’s hand before the national anthem, even the most parochial of Queenslanders in the crowd would have stood and applauded the gesture.
But the moment was lost.
There was still time for redemption. Had the NSW squad stayed near the race to the sheds for another 15 minutes, they could have formed a guard of honour as Lockyer, and his record sixth series-winning team, headed for the showers.
Again, an ideal chance to win approval from the parochial – moment two lost.
And lost on an incredible 2.5 million viewers nationally on Channel 9, a rating that thumped MasterChef.
Can you imagine the on-air salute to NSW from commentators Ray Warren, Peter Sterling, and Phil Gould – and especially from the dyed-in-the-wool Queenslanders Wally Lewis, and Fatty Vautin?
It would have been priceless for recognising sportsmanship.
But rugby league isn’t the only code to miss the moment. Rugby had a golden opportunity in August last year.
It was champion Bok lock Victor Matfield’s 100th Test cap, at another cauldron – Loftus Versfield – with a parochial 52,000.
I suggested to the ARU it would be a sporting gesture for Wallaby skipper Rocky Elsom to go out of his way to shake Matfield’s hand in mid-field to recognise his milestone before the national anthems.
Not only the sporting thing to do, but an ideal way to defuse the parochialism that is just as rampant at Loftus, Matfield’s home ground, as it is at Suncorp, Lockyer’s home turf.
Having agreed it was a top suggestion, it never happened, and the Wallabies copped stick all game before losing 44-31.
Niceties aren’t a sign of weakness. Just the right attitude.