The question is being asked, is this Queensland State of Origin side the best rugby league side?
To compare it with great club sides, or even national teams is obviously ridiculous. But it is reasonable to ask, is it the greatest Origin team ever?
Given that the question comes on the back of an unprecedented eight straight series wins, can it even be considered as a single “team” over those eight years?
Eight players from that first winning series appeared this year, Justin Hodges, Brent Tate, Greg Inglis, Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, Matt Scott, Sam Thaiday, and Nate Myles, and Mal Meninga has been coach throughout the period. Add in the likes of Billy Slater who had played before, but missed selection, and an argument can certainly be made that the team has regularly had enough of the same players to give it continuity.
How then does their winning record stack up?
Queensland dominated the opening ten years of Origin. After winning the two one-off matches in 1980 and 1981, Queensland won six of the first eight three game series with 15 wins from 24 games.
With the likes of Dale Shearer, Wally Lewis, Alan Langer, Gene Miles, Greg Dowling, Marty Bella, Mick Hancock and Meninga regularly lining up against Gary Jack, Mick O’Connor, Andrew Ettingshausen, Brett Kenny, Peter Sterling, Wayne Pearce, Des Hasler and Mick Cronin, (I could go on much longer) winning any game, let alone a series, for either side, was a major achievement.
There was a win a piece in 1990 and 91, but then the Blues took over. In fourteen series between 1992 and 2005, Queensland won only three, drew two while New South Wales dominated to take the trophy nine times, with 23 games won from 42 starts.
Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart, Glenn Lazarus, Paul Harragon, Nathan Hindmarsh, Andrew Johns, and Brad Fittler proved too good for Petero Civoniceva, Shane Webcke, Steve Renouf, Gorden Tallis, Wendell Sailor, Darren Lockyer and Mat Rogers.
Enter the current Queensland side.
17 wins in 24 games does give them the highest win ratio of any era.
From the 2006 series, only Gallen, who played off the interchange in game three, is still in the Blues line-up. Apart from perhaps Jarryd Hayne, Mick Jennings, and Robbie Farah, NSW have struggled to find any lasting combination of players to challenge the Queensland juggernaught.
While they have certainly had many good players, can New South Wales really boast a substantial number of players of the calibre from either of the two earlier eras?
Does this lessen the achievements of the Queensland team, or serve to highlight just how dominant it has been?
Personally, I lean towards the latter assessment.
I have watched every State of Origin match, even the “exhibition” game in LA.
As a Queenslander, I have a certain fondness for the 80s teams led by Wally Lewis, but I cannot think of any side, Maroon or Blue, which has had the depth of talent and balance that the current team has demonstrated.
Most of us remember the players of our youth with a certain fondness that is never replicated in our more experienced (and perhaps more cynical) years. Big Mal has always been my favourite player, with King Wally just behind, but now, Inglis, Thurston, and Slater rank up there as high as any.
Could NSW have picked better teams during the past eight years? Perhaps.
Has NSW picked bad teams 24 games in a row? Definitely not. They have won seven games, and been less than a converted try behind another five times.
By any measure, they could have won several series. What has stopped them is what separates this Queensland team from any other.
This Queensland side has a mental toughness and unfailing belief in their ability to win that I have never seen at this level before. Their ability to dig deep, and do what is needed most at the crucial times has seen them come from behind, or hold on at the death, time and time again.
It is not just a belief held by individual players, but held throughout the entire squad. They know it, and perhaps just as importantly, their opponents know it.
That is why they are the greatest Origin team of all time, and I for one am thankful for the opportunity to watch them every chance I get.
GeorgeG
Guest
How'd Carney, Adam and Josh work out for you?.
Adza
Guest
Thurston over Langer. Smith over Walters. Slater over Belcher. Mal over GI. Lewis over everyone.
Jake
Guest
Whilst Sterling was Born in QLD he grew up in wagga i think, if it was as black and white as where you were born Thaiday would be playing for NSW aswell, Its not becuase ingliss was born in NSW, he grew up in kempsey/Macksville and played all his junior footy there, he was pursuaded by Meninga to betray his heritage becuase of the BS where you played your first game at 16 at.
wozza
Guest
I said selectors not the team
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
Please ... NSW won game 1 ... QLD game II and Qld only just won game III ... Remembering NSW had disruptions with players injured ... They where very competitive, cosidering they had new recruits and a new coach - albiet a tried and noted player in his day - And, where up against a team with some of the games best and most experienced players ... That's what's wrong with Blue supporters - They ;shoot their team in the back when they really need their fans backing and supporting them ... Talk about DUDS !!! :-/
wozza
Guest
Wally , big mal and co woulda put this lack lustre nsw side on a hot plate and burnt em both sides ...the current Qld side is good but nsw is its own greatest threat at moment coz they keep picking the same DUDS in the same pivotal positions ...if anasta was a chef the nsw backline would have starved to death and they've got another equally as poor playmaker in Mitchell PUSS bungling his way through each game now ....I'm true blue but it peeses me off to see the ignorance displayed by nsw selectors in recent years ....
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
Peter Sterling was from Toowoomba, but chose to play for NSW, just as Greg Inglis has chosen to play for Queensland ... There are also a few NZ's playing SOO ... Alligience to the State and or Country they decide is pertinant to them ???
oikee
Guest
I think it is time that Queensland put the call out to take on all comers from around the world. Any country, any-time, with a prize pool of 17 million dollars if they can win a 3 game series. Look, to promote the game, you need some great ideas to sell your product. I am sure the Queensland team could and would be happy to take on NZ, the Poms, even America. The winner of NSW v QLD can take on challenges from any country. That will create some interest, get tongues waging.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Sorry guys for that comment on GI. QLD are the best team of all time, no doubt.
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
Honestly ... You couldn't possibly say that Greg Inglis was the difference in the Qld team this year ??? if he has a weakness it his Inconsistency - He has a tendancy to go missing ... Moments of brilliance, indeed he has,- There at try time, but he really couldn't be deamed a great play maker or a natural orchestrator or leader on the paddock like, Smith, Thurston, Slater, Cronk, or Lockyer, Lewis, Johns, Fittler, Daley or even Sterling ... Perhaps that will come with maturity.
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Except they have done it with the best ever player to play league and he is a NSW boy. Even with average halves NSW would have beaten QLD if Ingliss was legitimate.
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
I'm a rum drinker Jake - Bundy Rum that is !!!
Renegade
Guest
I think its fair to say that they are the greatest state side of all time...can't add much more to that.
Raugeee
Guest
I really hope NSW pick A Reynolds and Sutton next year. When QLD inevitably win, will all you Blues fans be calling for their blood? I think, on stats, we have to agree that this QLD team is the greatest ever. From 1985 - 1991 QLD only won one series with 2 games in Sydney. This team has won 3 series with 2 games in Sydney. Phenomonal. They have overcome every adversity thrown at them, including the NSWRL robbing them of a home game this year and lopsided refereeing.
Chappy
Guest
I think you should have a special mention for Mitch Pearce's contribution to QLDs success and the selectors who continually select him.
Scott Capell
Guest
How sweet it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May you continue to dominate State of Origin for many years to come!!!!! So proud to be a Queenslander!!!!
Jake
Guest
Nice comment. Maybe next time take it easy on the Fruity Lexia over lunch........
Jake
Guest
Stop talking about how bad NSW are as opposed to how good QLD are. You can only play against the team you are up against. A champion of any era is a champion. Fact, no other SoO team has won 8 series straight. Easy as that.
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
DITTO !!! I'm hesitant to compare the past to the present, and although I am prone to a good dose of melancholy, Slater is #1 - thus far ...Who would know if the greatest of the past SOO players could have endured 8 straight series - They didn't of course, that says it all ... The record stands and it is in the lap of the God's as to whether they will succeed next year ... My hope is that those players who represented our State this year go on to have as successful lives as they have had careers ... Success and fame in sport is farcicle and fickle - success at life takes far greater skill ... So many Super Stars of League fall off their mantle !!! After all they are but meagure males and as far as their families are concerned what they contriubte at home is by far, more important then the occalades endeared to them by commentators and fans.
madrid john
Guest
Apart from Belcher over Slater, +1