We are no longer the lords of rugby League. The eight years, and counting, of humiliation and heartache visited upon us by Queensland in State of Origin has brought about a change in the attitude of the NSW faithful.
Our golden age from 1990 to 2005, where we won 10 series, lost four and drew two, has been erased from memory.
The Blues suffered through the embarrassing 1980s where spirited Queensland teams dominated. The Maroons driving force? 50 years of interstate defeats. Followed by a mass poaching of all Queensland talent in the late 1950s.
The long-held Origin series was no longer a fair fight after the NSWRL flexed its financial muscles, thanks largely to the poker machine. By the end of the 1990s the Blues were back on top.
At the start of the 2006 series, New South Welshman talked about the death of Origin. We arrogantly affirmed our superiority over an inept Queensland team who had failed to notch up a series win since 2001 – they retained the shield in 2002 after a draw.
We did not see them coming and they made us pay for our arrogance.
Queenslanders now sit comfortably, showered in glory, yelling ‘Queenslander’, ‘eight in a row’ and already proclaiming ‘nine in a row” without a minute played in 2014.
Never in their history has Queensland’s attitude seemed so similar to that of a New South Welshman. Never have they appeared so comfortable and assured of their place in rugby league. How could they not? I certainly would, but have all these victories dented the Queensland passion?
One week out from the 100th Origin game, in a time where Queenslanders should be climbing over each other to watch the continued misery visited upon the Blues, there are still unsold tickets at Lang Park. Game 2 in Sydney has already sold more. Some may cry ‘but the tickets have increased in price’, and that would be true, but they have only been brought into line with the prices down south.
Queensland can’t be blamed for falling into this mentality. If the Blues where playing for their ninth straight series victory, I think the game would also be suffering. As shown by the average crowd of 68,000 that turned up for Game 1 in 2006, following three straight series victories. Instead the game has gotten bigger and better on the back of angry, passionate, victory-starved New South Welshman, with a renewed hatred for those north of Tweed.
Since the 2010 whitewash, a low point for the Blues, the game has grown. People cannot get enough of Origin. With a record of almost 216,000 people turning out across three games last year, compared to 180,000 in 2006.
This increased participation isn’t coming from the Queensland side of the house. They have never had any problems packing Lang Park until now. Every blue-blooded New South Welshman wants to see the moment when the Blues can break the curse and again hold the shield.
Those born and raised in Blue who would claim to support Queensland have gone into hiding. They proudly publicised their defection in the pre-2006 era, claiming they love the underdog and hate the arrogance of NSW.
We would shake our heads and look at them with indifference. In today’s environment they are looked at with disdain, they are quickly shut down, they are abused as traitors and fools. It is no longer a safe place for those who subscribe to the State of Choice, not Origin, and that’s how it should be.
We should thank the Maroons for humbling us. For teaching us that losing and desperation creates ‘Queensland passion’ in us. For ensuring this contest will go on dividing us for decades to come and, most of all, for giving us endless reasons to hate them.
So come on Blues, no complaining about being disillusioned. Let’s get up for our boys and keep building towards a passionate NSW Origin culture we can be proud of.
magila cutty
Guest
Twodogs, you display what ought to be embarressing ignorance reguarding fluride. So yoi know, the earth is not flat and you can't fall off the edge.
angela merkel
Guest
Will you come back to this comment to eat humble pie if the blues lose? I won't be holding my breath!
Albatross
Guest
The worlds most prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, has indeed classified fluoride as a neurotoxin, categorising it alongside arsenic, lead and mercury. Not sure, but perhaps that is why there are so many Freddie Mercury types down in nsw!
PD
Guest
Doing research by watching reruns of the X-Files unfortunately doesn't give you any credibility. It does however give me an insight into the simplicity of your intellect. Go get em Fox Mulder!
twodogs
Guest
No bongs here PD, nor poor hygiene. Also my teeth are quite strong. It's not what I truly believe but a matter of research and digging for answers for the truth cannot be found unless you ask. Always accepting what the masses say as gospel may lead to blindness although one can still see.
Clyde Monk
Roar Rookie
You already did tell us Mitch!
Clyde Monk
Roar Rookie
True that. But carry on. A+ for entertainment.
Jackson Henry
Guest
Serious? I'm Yahoo Serious. A start would be just asking any Queenslanders you know.
Mitch Moore
Roar Rookie
Qld even cancelled a training session because they are 'so in-synced with each other' .If that isn't arrogance i don't know what is. QLD have to be careful they have every right to be arrogant for winning 8 in a row but before they know it there arrogance will cost them and they will be left with their heads in the sand wondering what went wrong. Realising that they should've not become so cocky because loosing sucks. The past 2 years QLD have only one by a field goal and one extra goal(1 and 2 points). We have such a calm cool and collected kicker now, things will be different this year, the blues will win.Everybody laughing now just you wait , i will come back to this comment and say i told you so.
Mitch Moore
Roar Rookie
Qld even cancelled a training session because they are 'so in-synced with each other' .If that isn't arrogance i don't know what is. QLD have to be careful they have every right to be arrogant for winning 8 in a row but before they know it there arrogance will cost them and they will be left with their heads in the sand wondering what went wrong. Realising that they should've not become so cocky because loosing sucks. The past 2 years QLD have only one by a field goal and one extra goal(1 and 2 points). We have such a calm cool and collected kicker now, things will be different this year, the blues will win.Everybody laughing now just you wait , i will come back to this comment and say i told you so.
PD
Guest
Ahh twodogs, get off the bongs. If that is what you truly believe, I suspect your hygene is very poor, and your belief in such propaganda is akin to the belief that the immunisation of young children increases the risk of autism. Please... You're not meek and non threatening because of government intervention; your disposition is resultant of too many nights inhaling the burnt biproduct of green vegetable matter...
Shane Bell
Roar Rookie
Yep I am definitely not a word smith. Thanks for pointing out my stupidity Clyde. It's more annoying when people let you continue making a fool of yourself.
Clyde Monk
Roar Rookie
'close to parody' i doubt that was intentional, more a freudian slip.. but its bloody hilarious seeing folk put their foot in it.
peeeko
Roar Guru
The whole hand grenade story is a lad of. You can't seriously claim it's still having an effect?
peeeko
Roar Guru
Interesting you say "we",
yung
Guest
argggghh, as long as inglis is playing, nsw is winning too :)
yung
Guest
omg, greatest finish of all time! bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha
mill
Guest
Blaming natural disasters and the GFC for poor origin ticket sales? What a crock. Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in, and our stadium has 30,000 more seats to sell than Suncorp, yet we aren't having trouble selling tickets. Your excuses are just that, excuses. There is also a big difference between growing up with QLD'ers and deciding halfway through life that you are going to switch from supporting NSW to supporting QLD, which is the kind of defector being referred to here. Finally, no one cares that your uncle/father played reserve grade in the 70's, it is completely irrelevant to the conversation and comes across as bragging, although I'm not sure why an uncle playing reserve grade in the 70's is something to brag about. I went to school with 3 blokes who were signed to major clubs growing up, so what? It is meaningless and irrelevant.
WoobliesFan
Guest
+ 1 Yawn Qld will never be as arrogant as NSW..... Not in our DNA. We hate you, we respect you and we'll beat you again.
ron brennan
Guest
we are nith people when you get to know uth, and tho thowwy your team keepth on loothing, I realith we are a little bit backward, but thum day, we will be ath thmart ath new thouth waleth, thankth for lithening and enjoy your footy.