Mal Meninga’s Maroons would relish going to Sydney next year and giving NSW another State of Origin thumping, according to Queensland rugby league boss John McDonald.
McDonald, Queensland’s inaugural Origin coach in 1980, declared Queensland would “get on with it” after confirmation Sydney’s ANZ Stadium would host games one and three of the 2013 series.
The ARL Commission revealed a new five-year rotation for the best of three-game series on Tuesday.
NSW will host two home matches next season and in 2016, while Queensland will have two games in 2014 and 2017. Victoria Major Events Company are in discussion with the ARLC to host a game in 2015.
Brisbane had been slated to host two matches in 2013, but the ARLC, which took control of the game in April, changed that after the NSW government outbid Queensland to secure games one and game three at ANZ Stadium.
Maroon legends Wally Lewis and Gorden Tallis slammed the Campbell Newman Liberal National Party government – believed to have been in expensive negotiations to bring Manchester United to Brisbane – for handing over an Origin game, but McDonald and Meninga took the news calmly.
“We’ll enjoy the challenge of going to Sydney and giving them a thumping in 2013,” said McDonald, who is stepping down from the top job.
“We’ll just get on with it, win the series again and NSW can please themselves.”
Meninga, who has won every series since taking over in 2006, bristled at the prospect of facing his former Canberra and Australian teammate Laurie Daley with the added motivation of two games in Sydney.
New NSW coach Daley suggested Queensland would be “filthy” at the news.
But Meninga said it would bring the best out in his champion side.
“We were hoping for two games (in Queensland), but it’s not going to be so we’ll just get on with it,” he said.
“The game should always come first.
Daley dismissed statistics showing NSW enjoyed overwhelming success against Queensland at ANZ Stadium.
“We want it (ANZ Stadium) to be a a rotten place for Queensland to come and visit and we need to sell it out,” he said.
“Every little advantage is worth something but it won’t decide the result if we don’t prepare and play well.”
Meninga conceded that his record breaking Maroons faced a challenge with NSW “right on our heels”
“We’ve had a little bit of success in Sydney in 2007, 08 and 09 but the last two years we’ve stumbled a little bit down there.
“We haven’t played to our potential at ANZ Stadium recently so that’s going to be really critical next year.”
Lewis took a swipe at sports minister Steve Dickson for handing over an Origin game to the enemy without a fight.
“Anybody that doesn’t fight hard hard to maintain a bit of loyalty and support for Queensland, I don’t believe they’re real Queenslanders,” said an upset Lewis.
An angry Tallis suggested voters would not be happy.
“I tell you what,” fumed Tallis, “if there was an election right now, I know what would be happening.”
Queensland stalwart and Origin original Chris `Choppy’ Close said it didn’t matter where Origin was played.
“I’ve always said we’d play them in a carpark if they wanted,” Close told AAP after the news broke.
“If they want to play (Origin) at Woolies’ carpark in Broken Hill, then bring it on.
“We’ll turn up with the same attitude, the same team and no doubt there’ll be the same result.”
Bigjohn
Guest
Personally I am looking forward to watching the tears trickle down little Laurie Daley's face , when he finds that having two home games has not helped at all.
Craigie
Guest
Little bit upset but makes it more of a contest. Izzy coming back probably evens it out?
Renegade
Guest
LOL that's gold!
mushi
Roar Guru
Yes because they'd never played rugby league prior to heading to Melbourne... or found the caps lock button
Confucius
Guest
Stormtrooper I know you are only kidding but of course Cronk, Smith and Slater (to a lesser extent) were young stars who played most of their junior footy in Qld who somehow miraculously avoided playing in their home state but moved to cold weather Melbourne because they liked the climate and perhaps a few extra $$$$ (we all know how that worked out). Inglis of course played his junior footy in Northern NSW..
Keep smoking it stormy
Guest
"Stormtrooper 4" should read "Stormblooper4eva" LOSING THE PLOT.
ThomasCrown
Roar Rookie
There would be no Origin if not for NSW, dont make out QLD had the bigger hand in creating it. If not for NSW League in Qld would of probably died in the 80's and no Origin. Dont forget we help create Origin to help Qld and prevent them going broke, and the thanks we get is "rats n scum" grow up.
stormtrooper4
Guest
I DON'T KNOW WHY QUEENDLANDERS ARE SO PROUD OF THE LITTLE SHOW PIECE CALLED ORIGIN? YOUR BEST PLAYERS WERE DEVELOPED IN MELBOURNE BY THE STORM, SO WE SHOULD BE TAKING CREDIT FOR ALL YOU STATE OF ORIGIN WINS AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. YOU WOULD'NT HAVE HALVE THE WINS IF IT WASN'T FOR COOPER CRONK, BILLY SLATER, CAMERON SMITH AND GREG INGLIS. THE ONLY OTHER GOOD PLAYER IN THAT TEAM IS JONATHAN THURSTON AND THAT IS THANKS TO THE BULLDOGS
soapit`
Guest
judging by the courier mail this guy must be the one guy in queensland not throwing a wobbly over it.
oikee
Guest
NSW dont own the tonker toy. Dont ever think somehow you can wiggle that one. You bought the NRL grand finals, you wont be buying origin you oxygen thieves. :) If it wasn't for Queensland their would be no origin.
Confucius
Guest
PS The 9 home game lead emanated in the 1980s when it meant a lot to Qldrs and there were no Qld teams in the NRL. The year the Broncos came in 1988? the SOO was in Sydney twice for the first time and drew 26K and 16K respectively so obviously Sydneyites preferred to watch it on TV then.
Confucius
Guest
This was when the game meant more to Qldrs and NSW people wouldnt go to the game but that was back in the 80s so ancient history. The games are now interesting so validating it from the 80s is ridiculous...
Confucius
Guest
The arrangement for Melbourne games was signed in 2005 for 3 games (06/09/12) and NSW who were dominant at the time so gave up a game first and because they were struggling to fill Homebush for 2 games a year. The Vic deal ended this year. The deal in the 90s when NSW was dominant involved the Vic govt providing incentives to get southern regional NSW people to come to Melbourne to fill the MCG and spreading the code to Victoria, What is not acknowledged that there is no reason to change the BSB chain to SBS (Sydney /Brisbane/ Sydney) because NSW wont get a 2 home game for 3 years when Qld had the same thing happen to them. It doesnt pass the smell test.
formeropenside
Guest
NSW did it to themself, and now expect Qld to clean up their mess (or at least make us pay for it). Why Qld and NSW would ever play a game in Melbourne confuses me. If the silly Victorians have not seen the light and given up AFL yet, they never will.
Ken
Guest
I replied to you above asking for a solid reason for your issues with this decision, not seeing that you'd done so here. I still don't agree though :-) You've pointed out that it all balances out in the long run as long as both teams give up home games regularly. In the recent past 06/09/12 this has held true but the way these decisions have been made (i.e. seemingly with little forward planning) shows that this is more good luck than good management. The winds of money and politics have seen neutral state of origin games fly in and out of fashion. Surely you could concede that it's a defendable policy to not let the rotation get out of sync in the first place? The recent history shows that both sides are 'even' based on 06 and 09 series (although I believe NSW lost out from the Melbourne games in the 90's - old news though) so nobodies nose should be out of joint by changing now.
Ken
Guest
Your post and the others against this decision are just spin as far as I can see. Please check the recent past and scheduled future and get back to me with a solid example of how Queensland are being hard-done-by. It makes sense that when a neutral venue is used it doesn't interfere with the rotation - this is a good policy.
Renegade
Guest
Mate, you do realise QLD have had more origin games at home than NSW......so this rubbish about NSW not being able "to bare the fact that QLD have 2 games" is a bit of a myth buddy. We've given you plenty of turns with the tonker toy, to the point where QLD now thinks they own it..... ;)
Mals
Guest
Stop your whinging Queenslanders. In the history of State of Origin you have had 9 more games played in Brisbane than Sydney so you are still well in front!
Confucius
Guest
The RL have said that the 2015 game when Qld should have sent a game to melbourne will be a neutral venue so nothing has changed except NSW manages to rearrange the draw next year to suit itself and even up the series...
Confucius
Guest
This para should read By that formula, Qld didnt have 2 games at home between 2007 and 2011 (again at home twice in those 2 outlier years).