It’s tough being a Queenslander, known for our bubbly personalities, friendliness, hard-working attitudes and our ability to always find ways to have fun along the way.
But most importantly, we are incredibly passionate about whatever we do in life, including rugby league.
So it’s no surprise then that the 2013 series has been approached with the same passion and vigour that has been used since the beginning in 1980.
It’s been eight years since Darren Lockyer swooped on an errant pass late in the game three decider in Melbourne to seal a memorable Queensland win, the first of many to come, but we were just happy we’d finally won it, it had been far too long.
The build up to that series was, in hindsight, bordering on despicable. NSW media writing copious stories boasting and making the claim that victory in the 2006 series would see Origin “die”.
How wrong were they?
Eight years on, they haven’t won a series, gone 6-15 in games, and were even whitewashed in 2010.
Not once in those seven years has anyone from Queensland claimed another series win would spell the death of Origin, and we’re not about to start now.
Teams for game one have been named, and the media is having a field day already.
But you don’t see the Queensland media panning the selections of coach Meninga, instead there will be praise of his forward thinking.
Inspired selections of Daly Cherry Evans and Josh Papalii to get them around the team and now as possible cover for JT and Ben Te’o.
Chris McQueen on the bench offering versatility. It’s a team compiled by a man who knows what he’s doing and has the full backing of his state.
Now we look at NSW. Disaster strikes just 24 hours after team is named with Kurt Gidley being ruled out with a foot injury, numerous articles on who wasn’t picked, why weren’t they picked, how dare they not pick him.
Now I understand New South Wales is on edge a little, lose and it’s eight in a row. But when Queensland never looked like winning, we got behind our team, we backed the selections, we got excited.
But now that the roles are reversed since the early 2000s, Queensland is taking a much different approach to origin then what New South Wales did. We enter the series with excitement, confidence, but respect that we face a formidable foe once again.
We won’t go around saying Origin is dead, because we’re too busy being excited to be conceited
Symbolsoup
Roar Rookie
Yeah we only won coz of the refs, we didn't actually leave the sheds and score any tries or make any effort at all. The truth is, you make your own luck. Nice to see your objectivity, by your standards, QLD are nuffies... Please - look at the scoreboard! Bloody manly fans.
Symbolsoup
Roar Rookie
It depends what you mean by raised as he went to Toowoomba Boys Grammar School... That's in QLD. The real fuzzy question at the moment is what happens to players from other Australian states that have absolutely no affiliation with either NSW or QLD? Should they be disadvantaged financially even though they can represent the country? VIC, SA, NSW, NT, TAS... And what happens to the ACT players, of which there would be heaps - or is that in NSW? This will become more an issue when a WA team comes into the comp. IF I were from one of the non SOO states, it may sway my decision between Rugby and League if I were a player that had both options. What does everyone reckon?
eagleJack
Guest
While I too am sick of hearing about Inglis, can we please stop comparing him to Peter Sterling. Inglis was born and raised in Bowraville and played his first senior game of footy in Newcastle. Sterling was born in Toowoomba but raised in Wagga Wagga. A comparison to Sterling would be Sam Thaiday. Born in Sydney but raised in QLD. Inglis is a Maroon now. That's fine. But please don't bring up Sterlo as a comparison.
Gaz
Guest
Spot on Johonno, they make excuses, blame the refs, truth is once Qld players started to play for Qld game over. Sick of hearing about Inglis coming from NSW he made his decision same as Peter Sterling did. NSW had pokies we had chook raffles, only reason. Now the chooks have come home to roost - game on!
manlyman
Guest
Last year qld only won due to the refs ruining the game the years before nsw were in a position too win it but let them.selves down with silly errors concieding soft tries at crucial times! Inglis and his re-bound try will never be forgotten as the biggest sham! Hodges obstruction Bs try! Playing in melbourne? But this year this time the favour swings in our favour if we get game one then it is ours predicted player of the series. Fifita or Watmough
Johnno
Guest
-- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Johnno
Guest
When WLD was getting flogged in the old interstate series (I was one of those poor sad supporters sitting in the old Lang park grandstand watching), we always said give us back our star players and we'll give you a run for your money. Fast forward to now and we still have a great series and we are still talking about SOO and what a great series it's going to be this year. We have the best competition and I'm glad SOO is still around. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
A.A
Roar Pro
Gaz got it, it's not just a core group of players who have got us 7-0, it's the approach to the games as well
Gaz
Guest
The point is - Queenslands spirit of course. Some think it's a myth - 7 Blot - some myth!
really?
Guest
Sounds very conceited to me. I really don't see what the point of this is other than a 'ha ha look how good we are!' boast.
Dingo
Guest
Very true,as an avid Blues fan I respect Queenslanders for always getting behind their team even when the chips are down,great attitude :)
Upfromdown
Guest
Sounds conceited to me. From memory there was plenty of cries from QLD that origin was dying when they had lost a few in a row. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.