A recent opinion piece referred to the Kangaroos squad as the ‘Kangablues’ due to the number of NSW players named in the Four Nations opener.
The reaction on social media from north of the border garnered the exact response intended, but I don’t care which state they represent, they’re Kangaroos now.
Everyone has players they love to hate. Whether it be Paul Gallen, Greg Inglis, Greg Bird, etc., but the fact is, when they don the green and gold, they represent the nation.
Does club or state rivalry mean you won’t fully support a player wearing the national colours?
I am not a fan of South Sydney, nor am I a fan of the Maroons. I loathe the fact that Greg Inglis has torn us up at both club and state level for years and years, but once he pulls on the Roos jersey he becomes a favourite.
I know plenty who see Paul Gallen as the NRL’s ‘bad guy’, yet there are few you’d want in the trenches beside you more in an international footballing war than the Sharks and NSW captain.
Yes, the Blues do have a larger representation than in years gone by, but I will be cheering the Queensland eight just as loudly as the NSW nine.
I’ve strongly disliked Josh Papalii ever since his late shot on Paul Gallen in Origin. Should he put an identical hit on one of the Kiwi big men this Saturday night, I’ll no doubt see it is as completely legal due to the lack of depth perception available, seeing the game through green and gold eyes.
Obviously you’re going to have a little more interest in a member of the squad should he also represent your NRL side. It’s a sense of pride seeing a member of your beloved club side representing this great nation. But is there any real reason to point out which state a footballer would represent come Origin time other than to cause a reaction?
Besides, the majority of the Roos line-up is made up of the victorious Blues side as there are so many quality players unavailable. This side doesn’t truly represent the Origin divide.
Off the top of my head, Nate Myles, Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater are just three members of the Queensland side who are missing. For NSW you’d have to imagine Gallen would be there if available.
For the next few weeks, I really don’t care which club or state a player represents. For the duration of the Four Nations tournament, I am, you are, we are Australian.
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