As I woke today to the sobering reality of yet another Origin defeat, the eighth in succession, I felt a number of emotions. Sadness, obviously; frustration. But I also felt pride.
I’m proud of the fact that despite the shattering loss, not me, not the house full of mates I had over to watch the match, not my work colleagues this morning, and certainly not the eighty-odd thousand New South Welshman inside ANZ Stadium last night, felt any sense of apathy.
To be sure, that one hurt just as much as the rest of them. We’re now all counting down the days until we get another crack at those Queenslanders, just like we have done every other year, and players like Paul Gallen, Robbie Farah, Greg Bird, and Luke Lewis will all be counting them down with us.
Even after eight years, the passion and will to win is as strong as ever.
Now, compare this to when New South Wales dominated State of Origin and how Queensland dealt with the embarrassment of a few solid drubbings.
Put simply, they gave up. This was only after a few wins – they never had to endure eight in a row!
Queenslanders who live only for Queensland, such as Chris Close and former captain Gorden Tallis chucked in the towel and hinted that the Origin concept was dead when they couldn’t cope with defeat.
How could anyone forget that fateful night in Sydney on the 7th of June, 2000, when Queensland laid down and allowed the Blues to rack up a record breaking 56-16 victory?
Where was the famous ‘Queensland spirit’ on that night, I wonder?
All I know is that we, NSW, will keep coming. We might lose a ninth series next year, and Queensland might make it a decade of dominance the year after, but at least I can say we never gave up. Unlike Queensland.
Egghead
Guest
Theres no pride in losing 8 in a row.
jett michaels
Guest
Are you fair dinkim or what mate ? You're not hurting enough if you start talking about pride this early. Anyway that's my take on it.
blackcaviar&broncos
Guest
Is your name Silky or is that typo. You must be Sulky
Griffo
Guest
If Queenslanders gave up then this streak wouldn't have begun in 2006. 10 points down with less than 10 minutes to go courtesy of NSW getting some very favourable calls and perhaps they would have been tempted to give up. Staring down the barrel of a fourth straight defeat the Maroons scored two tries to win the match and the series. NSW couldn't even force a decider when Queenland went for 4 in a row
fishes
Guest
I would go with Carney and A. Reynolds.
Phantom
Guest
Adam and josh Reynolds. Carney is a option but poor defender and can go missing. Someone should tell farrah to stick to playing dummy half. It's obvious he doesn't even trust he's halves considering he done a heap of kicking. Mediocre kicking at that
oikee
Guest
Hehe. Queenslanders never give up. If i remember correctly, we turned up in 2001 after the beating. The very fact Queensland kept turning up is why we have such a great contest now. Just make sure you keep your word, and turn up for another beating next year, and the year after that, and the,,,,,,,,,, hehe
Dan
Guest
@fishes I agree that there is no sugar coating. There's no blaming the ref, or the streaker, or injuries. They had the game, and had plenty of chances, PLUS the rub of the ref green and they still lost. They should have won by two tries given the posession, pressure and momentum they had in that first half. They couldn't execute and that's the bottom line. I think even Pearce himself would know he ain't gonna be there next year. Maloney probably would have to go as well based on the fact that they just did not work, and they are from the same club team. Who do you go with next time? Reynolds and Sutton?
fishes
Guest
You can't sugar coat this. NSW had the game for the taking. Every 50-50 decision went their way, and they did enough to take the game. A loss is a loss. Laurie Daley and his selections should be scrutinised. But they won't. Because NSW RL is a boy's club. It was clear Pearce shouldn't have been there after last year, but he did because of the family name. Aaron Woods is the worst front rower to ever play Origin, and Maloney arguably the worst 5/6 to ever put on the sky blue.
Paul h
Guest
Congratulations, you are so starved of success you are now taking pride in how you handle defeat. So NSW are better losers than qld, fair point but you have had a lot of practice. We'll just stick with being better winners!