It will be interesting to see the reaction of the Reds fans at Suncorp tomorrow night believing their powerhouse backrower Scott Higginbotham will be heading south to the Melbourne Rebels next season for three years.
That strikes at the very heart of what it means to be Queenslander.
They are the most loyal and parochial of all the Australian states, even more so than Victorians, who are a law onto themselves.
There’s no better example than the Maroons, who have won the last six rugby league Origin series, and are at short odds to make it seven.
It’s their culture.
Once a Queenslander, always a Queenslander. It’s their way of life and is to be admired. They feed off each other, and believe in each other, that’s why they are so hard to beat.
It’s a pity NSW hasn’t the same culture, nor be as proud of who they are. They are not in the same ball park as Queenslanders or Victorians.
In fact, NSW is cultureless when it comes to football codes.
Only the Sydney Swans come close to having the necessary pride, something the NSW Origin, NSW Waratahs, and Sydney FC simply haven’t got.
Nor will have in the foreseeable future.
But Higginbotham is the story. Or is he?
Are we going to see a repeat of last month’s Will Genia saga of heading west young man to join the Force, and 48 hours later he signs up again with the Reds for another three years?
Only time will tell, but the real story is Queenslanders rarely leave their home state. It’s almost treasonable.
Remember the massive stink when Nathan Sharpe, after 71 caps, left Queensland to captain the newly-formed Force when they kicked off in 2006?
He defected. Unpardonable.
His first game back in Brisbane was greeted with derision, a far cry from the enormous popularity he had earned wearing the coveted red jersey.
On the other side of the coin, Richard Graham walked out on his coaching contract with the Force to go home to Brisbane. And didn’t he cop some heavy flak from everyone bar Queenslanders.
So let’s see how the Scott Higginbotham saga pans out. And what Quade Cooper will do contract-wise over the next few weeks.
There are rumours he’s toying with a change of franchise. But I can’t see it.
Even though he’s Kiwi-born, Cooper is very definitely a Queenslander in body and soul.
And therefore fully qualified for the governing factor: a Queenslander is always a Queenslander.
Happy Hooker
Guest
Not more often, but not much less often!
Renegade
Guest
"Really it is only NSW (read Sydney) that doesn’t really care about the state thing so much. It matters elsewhere." As a NSWelshmen, i can tell you that is absolute rubbish.
Spencer
Guest
I still give the Berrick vodoo doll a slap occasionally.
Spencer
Guest
Wash your mouth out...and then move back to NSW!
Spencer
Guest
Huge Pile is absolutely steaming!
FRugby
Guest
Still think there is not enough Aussie quality talent for a 5th franchise. I know they are trying to spread the talent with salary cap's etc. but in the meantime it weakens our conference. Imagine if the Rebels did'nt exist and their best talent merged into existing franchises. Expansion is good but it has its early challenges, so maybe things will change over the next few years and our established teams are not getting beat by 40 points (Force last week).
Chasingmarley
Guest
Rugby's rusted onto the GPS and CAS schools, the old school networks ruin junior development in NSW. At last count King's school had 3 or 4 run on team Wallabies in the past 5 years.... Are we to believe they offer "graduates" from a program that is much superior to other junior developmental rugby programs? Or can these "graduates" sing from the same Hymn book as those in power at the NSWRU and ARU? (FYI- ARU boss John O'Neill is an ex-King's boy). When was the last time genuine mentoring of Penrith and Parramatta in the Shute shield was offered? In what is the largest catchment area of Jr Rugby League talent in NSW the NSWRU has no impact! Do they think the Islander boys playing RL would not be suitable for RU.... Seriously, whats the reason? Why are they not attending schools and club functions in the West? Simple..... For most Rugby administrators the care factor stops at the Gladesville bridge. Westies, Islanders, Ethnics..... The Western Suburbs is where "they" live and "they" have no apparent place in junior development teams with GPS and CAS boys. Sydney is a much older established culture, it is similar to the English class system where you mix with your own. It is simply far too hard for the toffee noses in the ARU and NSWRU in North Sydney to understand how to develop youngsters who are not from an White/ Anglo- Celtic GPS/ CAS background. Too prove the point, in Brisbane 1st grade club rugby for example, Sunnybank (arguably Brisbanes Parramatta) has won 3 premierships in the previous 10 years, they are the most successful club! The QRU does not bury its head in the sand and this reflects QLDs wonderful egalitarian culture, support flows through to talent and and the inclusive nature of QLD sporting culture excludes no one group of people or regions for any reason. I do not believe the Waratahs will win a Super Rugby final in our lifetime.
Swampy
Guest
Think you'll find equal pride in state in SA and WA as in Vic or Qld. When Ricky Ponting (used to) scored a ton for Oz it was front page news in Tassie. There is immense pride taken in Tasmanians who do well at a national level - even when they are not representing Tasmania. Small state disease I guess - I'd say Tassie was on a par with Qld easily for parochialism. Really it is only NSW (read Sydney) that doesn't really care about the state thing so much. It matters elsewhere. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
murph
Guest
Latho wasn't a GPS boy and, therefore, didn't come the right "stock"
Pecs McGee
Guest
AFL isn't as big in QLD so most of the Lions supporters were jumping on the bandwagon to begin with (though they still get good crowds). The Reds and Broncos are always well supported.
Banger
Guest
The Brumbies cut them remember
Chris of Vic
Roar Pro
As a proud Vic, now living interstate (again) I was disappointed that they chose Melbourne as the name. I have never spent more than a few weeks living in Melbourne, growing up 250kms from the capital. I will still support them because they are Victorian, but rural and regional Vic's often resent Melbourne's narcissistic nature. Jeff Kennet paid the price for being to Centric. I am a passionate fan, but an opportunity was missed.
NF
Guest
Brisbane has a bandwagon culture case in point: Lions 00-05, QLD Reds today. Broncos tend to be a constant but one bad wooden spoon season people would be off there wagon...besides oikee.
sittingbison
Guest
yes marketers specifically did not use the name Perth or WA, or traditional WA colours.
Rugby Diehard
Guest
Love it Bush.
Gav
Roar Pro
It's purely marketing, much like the Western... Force. It's a provincial competition, team still represents Victoria.
Jutsie
Guest
His hitting top form just at the right time this year. You never realise how fast he is till you see him burn speedsters like masanga on the way to another 5 pointer.
The Bush
Roar Guru
If you're not one, you'll never understand... But that's alright, if I was a fairy, latte-sipping-wuss from Mexico, I wouldn't understand either...
Jutsie
Guest
nothing wrong with that, but you should support your boys during the good times and the hard times.
Sprigs
Guest
We don't spread our love around. We give it to our own.