Imagine how State of Origin history would have to be rewritten if Greg Inglis had played for his rightful state of NSW rather than his adoptive state of Queensland.
Imagining is all that poor old Blues fans can do after six straight years of Inglis-inspired train wrecks.
So on the grounds that self-delusion beats whingeing any day, this is what would have happened if Inglis’s record 13 tries were deducted from Queensland’s scores and instead awarded to his state of origin, sorry birth (not to mention upbringing, first team and first senior club):
* Game one of the 2007 series, in which Inglis scored two tries, would have been won by NSW 26-17 instead of Queensland 25-18. Game two, a tight affair in which Inglis crossed the line once, would also have been won by NSW 10-6 instead of Queensland by the same score. Meaning the series would have been a 3-0 Blues-wash rather than a 2-1 Maroons win.
* Game one in 2009, in which Inglis scored two tries, would have gone to NSW 26-20 instead of Queensland 28-18. This, too, would have reversed the series outcome. Old result: Queensland 2-1. New result: NSW 2-1.
* Game three of the 2011 series, in which Inglis scored two tries, would have been won by NSW 32-26 instead of Queensland 26-24, again delivering the series to NSW 2-1 instead of the other way around.
In other words, three of Queensland’s current “streak” of six consecutive wins should have gone the other way.
His controversial six-pointer in Melbourne last month would have reversed that result, too.
So NSW should be heading into Wednesday night’s Sydney showdown one up in pursuit of back-to-back series wins instead of one down trying to stop seven consecutive losses.
Queensland’s longest winning sequence should be three, not six, and its superior record of 16-12 series wins (since 1982) should in fact be an inferior record of 13-15.
Is this sour grapes? Damned right it is.
Do these figures bear close scrutiny? Hell no. It was the Queensland team that got Inglis in position to score his 13 tries, and giving all of his points to the Blues is an utterly unfair imponderable.
It’s the sort of gibberish disgruntled fans resort to in times of deep despair, and helps make sport what it is.
But we all know the story of how Inglis came to be the biggest cane toad in history to have hopped from NSW north into Queensland.
Most hop south or even west, anywhere to get out of the joint.
Quite a few have hopped against the geographical tide of the pestilence and, like Inglis, ended up wearing maroon jerseys.
But none has inflicted as much damage.
Blues fans have always had trouble figuring out the exact sense in which Inglis qualifies as a Queenslander.
He was born at Kempsey in NSW.
His first club was Bowraville Tigers in NSW.
His first senior game, at the age of 16, was for Newcastle Hunter in NSW.
His first pro contract, signed at age 15, was with Melbourne Storm in Victoria.
Inglis doesn’t seem to have emerged as a Queenslander in any form until his first under 18s game for the Brisbane Wombats in 2004.
So maybe under Queensland rules that was his “origin”, which would now make him seven years old. They’ll be packing him off to school any day.
It does leave you wondering what might have been if Inglis played for a different brewery.
Let’s find out, Queensland.
Do the right thing and give him back.
Dash
Guest
Hahaha, "that tosser "? If he wasn't any good no-one in NSW would give a rats patooie about Qld selecting him. Hahahaha
Dash
Guest
Well said. NSW have a long and distinguished history of overlooking exceptional players who may not be caucasian.
Dubble Bubble
Guest
Slater the greatest player? The best attacking fullback but makes a lot of errors. He is more rocks than diamonds but there are still plenty of rocks there.
Real Deal
Guest
Ceebow should change his name to "Soaky wah wah"
Gaz
Guest
What a laugh, get over it. Other than death and taxes the only sure thing is if Greg Inglis scores the winning try tonight it will be in a Maroon jersey. Nothing will change that so nothing else really matters.
The Big Show
Guest
Not just Fijians and Kiwis. What about Benny Elias (Malta) and Hazem El Masri (Lebanon) bwahahahaha. You're nothing but a hater and hypocrite.
The Big Show
Guest
Spoken like a true blue hypocrite!!
Ceebow
Guest
1 Kiwi 1 fijian wow. QLD Fijian = Petro,tuqiri,. QLD Kiwi = bwahahahaha where do i start. Like i said hypocrites.
The Big Show
Guest
Nah NSW is just full of Kiwis and Fijians bwhahahahaha
Ceebow
Guest
hahahahahahahahaha i love it.
matt h
Guest
I don't think alot of Inglis' tries should be awarded to NSW. With your halves I imagine he would not have seen the ball anyway. He would also have been dropped after losing a game and replaced by the Hayne plane train. He then would have been selected again, but at prop and seen 7 minutes off the bench.
Ken
Guest
You might want to check your facts. The original article had it right, Inglis's first senior game was in Newcastle (that's in NSW...)
Ken
Guest
Nope, the Sterling thing is a furphy - born in Toowoomba, raised in Wagga Wagga, he played his first senior footy (and all his junior footy) in NSW. You should note that only the far edges complain about someone like Petero playing for QLD (born in Fiji, raised in Brisbane). Even Folau, who grew up in Sydney but moved to Queensland just before his first senior game, was considered a loophole but at least it was by the rules. Inglis though is a NSW player by every definition of the rules.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
If benadict Ingliss had stayed true he would have been the greatest Fullback/Player the game had ever seen. Instead Slater is the current best player in the world.
The Big Show
Guest
Ceebow, What's the difference, NSW has been poaching players for an eternity. Why don't you go and have a big cry and get over it.
JVGO
Guest
The premise of the article was that his tries (including the dubious bogus ones it seems) would be deducted from Qld and awarded to NSW (you know because he is a NSWmen). But I guess as you are a Qlder this might have been a bit difficult to understand.
Ceebow
Guest
The big show - your a big laugh, there are 2 QLDers in that list which isnt even the modern game of Origin and Sterlo was brought up in Wagga and played his first games in NSW while GI had nothing to do with QLD. And if you wanna talk about mr Nagas or Sterlo which was a life time ago when they played for NSW and are not part of the modern game, QLD atm have 3 NSWelshmen in Thaiday,GI, and Gillett who btw supported NSW only a couple of years ago bwhaahahahahaha. man your list is pathetic compared to the players that have played for QLD and why the hell wouldnt we choose Tamou who grew up in NSW? QLD have been cheating forever fair is only fair. Man thats rich a QLDer arguing about eligibility for NSW.
Ceebow
Guest
Damo- Why would you want that tosser in a Wallaby jersey? He would turn around and say he had a 1 week holiday in NZ and say he is a Kiwi and play for the Allblacks. He is a traitor in the modern game and every QLDer knows it. When was the last time NSW have picked a QLDer in the modern game? While they have 3 NSWelshmen in there team, Greg Inglis,Sam Thaiday, Matt Gillett, hahahahaha Gillett supported NSW untill a couple of years ago bwhahahahaha.
Damo
Guest
Forget the Blue Hypothetical for Inglis. I still dream about the gold one. Inglis in a Wallaby jersey.
The Big Show
Guest
Hey Doug How bout giving all these players back Akuila Uate, Peter Sterling, Justin Poore, Peter Wallace, James McManus, Timanu Tahu, Ken Nagas, Willie Mason, Benny Elias, James Tamou and Hazem El Masri!!!!!