Over three decades ago Arthur Beetson gave birth to State of Origin football with the most famous fisticuffs in rugby league history.
On that innuagral night in Brisbane, Beetson grabbed Parramatta team-mate Mick Cronin and let loose. No more would the Maroons be the whipping boys.
Beetson had shown the way.
Last Wednesday night at ANZ Stadium, New South Wales skipper Paul Gallen put a left and a right on the chin of perennial niggler Nate Myles.
For Gallen and the Blues this was their turning point. A moment in time just as important as Beetson’s uppercuts to the face of Cronin. Sure, this all followed a swinging arm that had Myles rightfully bemused. But as soon as Myles stepped up and pushed the Blues captain, all bets were off.
The frenzy since Gallen’s one-two has been downright overkill.
If you have not worked it out yet, the National Rugby League and State of Origin football are two completely separate beasts. There have been and always will be two different sets of rules.
That’s why Origin has worked for so long.
This writer isn’t such a caveman that he can’t see that this is a different era.
But to say that Gallen and Myles’ spotfire last week has besmirched rugby league’s good name is lunacy. It’s why over two million people tuned in, and why even more will watch Origin II.
There is nothing healthy about being punched in the head. But rugby league is a brutally intense sport. When so much is on the line and men’s livelihoods are at stake you will always see friction.
A punch can kill.
But so can a 120 kilogram man running back into a defensive line at a million miles an hour and hurling himself into a swinging arm.
Or perhaps even a defender leading with their head?
What are we really talking about here?
State of Origin is not politically correct, and it isn’t for everyone. But neither is MMA, midget tossing or ice hockey.
It wasn’t just neutrals baying for Gallen’s blood. As you’d expect, Queenslanders were in uproar. How could one of their own be set upon by an animal like Paul Gallen?
But where were those same critics when Parramatta and the Sydney Roosters came to blows two days later at Parramatta Stadium?
Then there were others worried about helpless children around the country being “brainwashed” by the actions of these gladiators. So worried about their kids watching Origin that they fully expected them to go to school the next day and smash their mate in the nose.
What a cop out.
When the infamous Melbourne Cricket Ground brawl of 1995 took place, this writer didn’t hit anyone at school or at footy the following Saturday morning.
The funny thing is last Wednesday’s scrap is far from the last fight we will see in Origin football, so why the whingeing now?
This is State of Origin and this is our game.
You don’t have to like it and you don’t even have to watch it.
But more chance than not you’ll be watching Game II come June 26th.
Positive Rugby
Guest
The NRL have now acted appropriately and made punching an automatic send off (at least for 10 minutes).
BOB_Down
Guest
Whens last time you played in a pub league. 1 in 5 or so games we play each year end in punches being thrown.
BOB_Down
Guest
Yet the same mother let their kids watch all sorts of violence in movies, TV and video games. I watched the game with my boys and used it as a teaching opportunity, differences between fight on the streets, in junior sports etc. If people stop their kids from playing league because of this they were always looking for an excuse or were never going too. The game is a physical sport, where you are more likely to be injured in a tackle then through foul play.
Luke M
Guest
It's going to be funny when next time a fight breaks out in an origin match, the 2 guys start throwing punches to the stomach only, and only after they have negotiated correct stance and signed off on a "no responsibility for pain caused" waiver to begin said fight.
The Spectator
Roar Guru
2nd punch takes myles legs and only tate arriving held myles up, myles, only a Q.errrr can overlook his actions to bag gallen.. its all good big GAL aint gunna run , he is coming to suncorp knowing all the bla bla , looks worried..
Jimbob
Guest
Agreed! I'm just waiting for the do-gooders to get on the Tamou train. A ban from Origin for a minor drink driving and unlicensed driving offence???!!!! The NRL has lost the plot!!!!! Won't someone think of the children????
trent
Guest
Do what they do in ice hockey, if players have an issue with each other, get it sorted early on, get it out of the system then get on with the game.
Aduardo
Guest
Man, the so called logic on display in this article and these comments does my head in. It's like listening to school kids on trouble on the bus. I love league. I know it's tough. I know it's aggressive and maybe even violent. But spare me all the 'nanny state' false logic. You can't punch people in the head in league, full stop! That's why they banned the shoulder charge!
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
No problem mate as I said there is merit in some of your points, but with regards to Gallen v Myles, it really has become a cyclone in a thimble. :)
Damn Straight
Roar Rookie
Only the deluded Curtis.
Bigben
Guest
Everyone watches Origin because it is on a Wednesday night! Intentially attacking someone's head is bad mkay. Some of us love footy for the footy!
Blaze
Guest
Still haven't heard nate miles whinging about it unlike some around here.... You would think if anyone had a problem with the dust up it would be him.... But nope... Though all the grubby tactics he has thrown into the opposition in the past, his stance on shrugging it off and leaving it on the paddock has actually made me reconsider my opinion of him... He may still be a grub, but at least he is a gentlemans grub... -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
max
Guest
The dog hit Myle's head in the tackle with a clenched fist swinging arm and then king hit him when he wasn't ready. There is nothing about that that is a fair fight, which is quite welcome in footy. That is the difference! The scumbag should have sent from the field and have been given a long strectch on the bench the same as Danny Williams was. If you can't realise the difference between a good stink and this cowardly behaviour then that is quite pathetic.
seven dollers worth
Guest
Snowmann, we just want to see footy, not Grubs assulting other players.
Renegade
Guest
But they idolise the dragonball z characters and immitate them in the backyard don't they??
Positive Rugby
Guest
Fair enough and I have said enough about this now and will henceforth post no more. My aim is not to hurt the game (as if I could do that anyway) as I do really love it, especially origin (just not as much as union) and wish it all the best. We may disagree but we have that in common. Any later posts were done earlier (if you know what I mean).
Positive Rugby
Guest
Its clearly fantasy, State of Origin is clearly real. They can tell the difference.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Wrong numbers have actually increased as has female participation. Soccer has been the major participation sport for as long as i can remember ,just as it is in the USA.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Couldn't agree more.
snowmann
Guest
I don't understand the backlash, people are carrying on like they saw a footy match in between a cage fight or something. People need to pull their skirts up and don't watch league if its too "violent".