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The NRL’s showcase matches of the season are the three State of Origin battles, but the AFL is still hesitant to do it themselves. And it’s simple to tell why.
Game 1 of Origin was a fight of attrition and much to the delight of NSW fans, they won the fight.
Along the way, injuries were aplenty and NRL clubs will feel the wrath of these injuries in the coming weeks.
Possible injuries is the main reason the AFL won’t have an Origin Series, especially in the middle of the home-and-away season.
Could you imagine the backlash if Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood and Steve Johnson all got injured playing for their state instead of their team, which has paid them millions over the years?
This is the equivalent of what has happened to Melbourne Storm. They have lost their three superstars in Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk for an extended period of time, especially Cronk, who has been ruled out for at least two months.
This has put a huge dent in Melbourne’s finals hopes, let alone Premiership aspirations. They will now have to look to their younger players to keep them afloat in June.
Yes, the fans want AFL State of Origin, but the logistics and risks involved are too big to ignore. I’m sure your opinion of Origin would be dampened if your team lost one of its best players for a large period of time.
One thought is to put the AFL Origin series after the premiership season has been completed. This has many issues too.
AFL players are pushed to their limits all season long, and need a break from footy to reload for the next year. Also, the players are on a strict pre-season program that monitors workload. Having three full games of tough football in the midst of that throws all consistency out the window.
The AFL will have to continue to weigh up the pros and cons of State of Origin, because there are many reasons they would want it.
Like always, the money the AFL could generate from having a full MCG would be huge. This shows the careful consideration the AFL has done in deciding not to bring back Origin. They must be enticed with the money, but they are also very wary of the backlash from fans if their favourite team gets struck with injuries.
Like most AFL fans, I would love to see Origin back on the calendar, but I just don’t think the risks associated with it are worth it. Just because it works in the NRL doesn’t mean the success would translate into the AFL arena.
Maybe it’s best just to choose Blue or Maroon and enjoy the toughness of NRL Origin, and look forward to the AFL’s showcase match on the last Saturday of September – the grand final.
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