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State of Origin is right around the corner. While Origin fever will hit Queensland very soon, I will not be one of those excited for it’s arrival.
As a North Queensland Cowboys supporter, it’s the one period of the year that we dread. I’m sure there fans who feel the same when they see their teams lose key players on representative duty for a large part of the middle of the season.
Mid-season is a important part of the year for any code, as it slowly sorts out the wheat from the chaff and provides a good indication who will be the top teams come finals time.
Around Origin time, both the quality of the games and the competitiveness of some teams are compromised. The representative period jeopardises many teams chances of making the top eight. Aside from losing players to Origin duty, players who play Origin also face a considerable injury risk.
A prime example is Johnathan Thurston’s injury in game three of Origin last year. As a result of the injury, the Cowboys lost some of their games at the tail end of the season and finished in seventh place.
Aside from the effect on club football, I must admit my interest in Origin is waning now that Queensland win so often. It’s still fiercely competitive, but interest is always higher when wins are traded back and forth.
With the first match less than two weeks away, I have realised that I just don’t care about it as much any more. I would prefer to see the Cowboys win a premiership than another Queensland Origin win.
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