- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
When I woke up this morning, there was a chill in the air – a chill for a Queenslander, mind you. Our southern friends laugh when we mention the word ‘cold’ but, to me, that means one thing – State of Origin is coming.
Endless articles have been written about Origin. I should know, I’ve read them all. Origin is something I’ve lived and breathed since I knew what football was.
For the 33rd time in the history of the game, two sides will enter battle for the shield that has been held aloft by some of the greats.
Some say Origin has lost its shine, its spark. Some say that it’s a pointless endeavour, since Queensland have dominated for the past seven years. Not me.
Whether you are from New South Wales or Queensland, it means a lot to league fans. There’s an inordinate number of Blues fans in my workplace (what was wrong with NSW that caused you to leave?) and after speaking to them, you couldn’t tell they’ve been done in year after year.
The enthusiasm is the same, no matter what colour you don.
It’s the theatre of legends, the stage for those to rise above the pack and create a legacy. Immortals are born on the battlefield of Origin, such is the toughness required to succeed.
Darren Lockyer, Peter Sterling, Wally Lewis, Andrew Johns, Mal Meninga, Laurie Daley. All of these men have shed blood, sweat and tears on the field for their state and at one time or another, rose to the top.
No matter what team you support, get excited, it’s coming.
Maybe it’s players like Trevor Gillmeister or Terry Lamb. Gorden Tallis or Mark Geyer. Each fan has their own story of what Origin means to them.
What does it mean to me? It means hands-down the hardest games of footy each year.
A few years ago, Andrew Gee dislocated his finger in the middle of the game. You know what the trainer did? He snapped it back in and Gee kept going. He didn’t even flinch, nor did he hesitate to inject himself back in the game.
Show your colours, league fans. Show the nation and the world why the three game series ranks up there with the best in the world.
The annual derby evokes the same passion that you see in El Clasico, or the Wallabies versus the All Blacks.
What do I expect to see on June 5? I expect to see a seasoned, battle hardened Queensland team take on a young, fresh and enthusiastic NSW side hell bent on ending the almost unbelievable streak etched into the record books.
Who will win? I don’t know. One thing I know as a fan is brace yourself, it’s almost that time again.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.