Ah State of Origin. The teams are picked at the start of next week, there’s no putting off writing about it any longer.
Who will be the NSW halves? Is Justin Hodges playing his final series? Is Josh Dugan going to be the Blues fullback? Who cares?
Oops! Did I actually type that? Sorry. I am sure that 95 per cent of our rugby league readers here at The Roar are devouring every word written about these pertinent league matters and don’t come here to bear witness to ambivalence.
More State of Origin:
» State of Origin News
» State of Origin team news
» Pick your own NSW Blues team for Origin 1
» Pick your own Queensland Maroons team for Origin 1
I think the halves will be Trent Hodkinson and Mitchell Pearce, okay? And I am flabbergasted anyone would want Justin Hodges to retire – his footwork is pure poetry, a man who can beat an opponent with little more than a nudge and a wink.
And Dugan, yes. He might go down more than – hey, I’m not touching any of the metaphors that just popped into my head – but he’s one of those blokes who seems to be playing a different game than everyone around him. Those fellas belong in Origin.
But my interest in these matters is purely professional. I’m interested because you’re interested. In my spare time, I really don’t care who wins State of Origin and have only a passing interest in who plays.
I ‘get’ Origin, before you dismiss me as a cockroach naysayer. I know why it appeals to the great majority of rugby league fans. It’s just that I can’t get excited about a game between two Australian states.
In the past, we’ve addressed how the NRL is outgrowing Origin, by virtue of the many players coming into the competition who are ineligible for it, and because the attempts to widen the fan-base beyond NSW and Queensland.
Now, I can see that there is a danger here – if the people love Origin, and the NRL outgrows Origin, then League Central could leave its core audience behind, it could outgrow its own fans. We can’t have that.
But what if the next generation of rugby league fans feel the same about State of Origin as I do?
Let’s think about it: they will stream their favourite radio and TV on the internet, they’ll have enormous access to European and American sports, they’ll not read newspapers or even watch the local TV bulletin.
Will their sense of identity be tied to where they live in the way 20th Century people were? Or will their sense of identity in a connected world be tied more to their interests, their politics, their tastes and their heroes?
Is it possible that a game between two Australian states, fighting over some long-forgotten chip on the shoulder, will cease to mean anything to them?
Actually no.
Rugby league will have to stuff up very badly for State of Origin not to get bigger and bigger. It has a culturally iconic status that guarantees its continual viability – it’s an event and people are drawn more than ever to events.
But as is the case with many parts of popular culture, that which attracts the casual fan alienates the geek. You’re not really a Van Halen fan if your favourite song is “Jump” and you’re not a real rugby league anorak if you like Origin the best.
These are the people why know every member of the first South Queensland Crushers team and can tell you exactly how Joseph Paulo qualifies for four countries. Origin, to them, (um, to us) is as plain as a Sao biscuit. It’s the K-Mart of rugby league.
I agree with everything in this piece by colleague Steve Russo except the bit about playing it at the end of the year. Origin pays our bills, I accept that. I’m all for our bills being paid.
Which is where we come to last week’s column. Evidently, the scare mongers have even got to Broncos coach Wayne Bennett, who has cautioned against allowing Origin players to represent tier two countries.
Except, he didn’t put it like that. He said it was bringing in Islanders – a sure sign he has been misled. Josh McGuire will play for Queensland a month after representing Samoa.
Is that what you people are scared of? Queensland being allowed to pick Queenslanders?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Who cares about a close game.Entertaining football is what is needed.
Merve
Guest
Did you note that the Parramatta urine sample swap was all over the telegraph for days but failed to rate a mention in the hard copy Sydney herald or even an on-line mention in the Canberra Times. This is the same reason there was a near one page spread on Spandau Ballet on page 3 of the news in the SMH who were appearing in Sydney the following week and whose ticket sales were only slightly faster than SOO1.
Merve
Guest
How are they going to guarantee a close game with no shane hayne or harrigan. Who can forget Hayne's attempt to get Qld over the line in the last 5 minutes of last years SOO1.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
As long as they continue to focus on Test football, Origin will take care of itself.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
How about Chariots of fire? Have the 2 teams running in slo-mo up the Gold Coast beaches. By the time they finished, the teams would be worn out and the spectators asleep. I'm in favour of no themes, no, music, no performing artists, no parade of heroes, no anthems -- it's not an international event. I like to watch a game of league, so prefer the teams run on, the ref places the ball and blows the whistle. The rest is pure rubbish.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
I have been supporting the Australian side since before Origin started. I still do both. Pretty sure I'm not in the minority either. The sooner people realize that they both rely on each other the better, that's assuming we all want a healthy game, moving forward. It's kind of like playing game 2 @ the mcg. The biggest reason they're playing in a totally unsuitable stadium is for the Jones factor. "Lets take our showpiece event into the heartland of the enemy and also put it on to the screens of 3 million homes". I look forward to the day tonga v new guinea has the same impact. But the reality at the moment is that the NRL generates a shedload of money from the way they're currently running the show. Can't see it changing. The other reality is that we're getting near the stage where we almost have an oversupply of quality talent. Some of these guys that don't qualify for either of dominant states feel left out, they want a venue where they can compete against the best also. At the moment the systems aren't in place, but give it time and it will happen.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
What else can Origin do for the code that successful Tests can't? Trusting Channel Nine to lead the way doesn't fill me with much confidence.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
SOO has had its ups and downs over the years,even when tests matches were for many of little consequence.As no doubt the code will expand nationally and more players developed in the non heartland states,SOO may lose a little sheen.But it will still rate its head off.It will still be a worthwhile offering to FTA stations. It is becoming pretty clear the way of the future for rugby league is the International path.That' s where the sponsorship,crowds ands prestige lie.The 2017 RLWC is another cog in the machine ,to make the code,a truly international one.Players are now getting the message that playing for your country is the highest honour.Adnittedly SOO is the most demanding and competitive. The preliminary matches in Europe for the RLWC qualifying rounds are currently being played.Small steps maybe,but small steps for a long march. The UAE even if they wanted to enter ,have been stymied by union authorities in that country.Hmmm should one be surprised in view of past track records.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Beautiful matt...
The Barry
Roar Guru
But nerval I place club footy ahead of both origin and tests...so cutting the NRL season by four weeks doesn't work. Tests have a dedicated weekend and an end of season window. I don't know why the season needs to be shortened.
Jay C
Roar Guru
Nowhere near it. Look at TV ratings. Last year Origin came first and second. It's like 2 Melbourne Cups and an Aussie Rules Grand Final. Every year, out of the middle of nowhere. There isn't a sport in Oz that wouldn't kill to have something the calibre of Oz. And half you nongs just complain about it. Will be interesting to see the next TV deal if the rights for Origin are packaged separately to NRL just how much it is worth on its own.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Like Mascord...?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Go Glebe.
Jay C
Roar Guru
I don't think anyone disagrees with you that there is potential in a well organised International game. It just won't come at the expense of Origin. I know you aren't a spoiled child Slei, you have great insight and a massive passion for the International game. It has just been coming across as petulant. The best way forward is growing Test football, not shrinking Origin. The 4 nations at the end of last year was a tremendous success. We should be building on that, not trying to diminish something that is very meaningful to the majority of league fans. And also gets a lot of casuals watching the game, which is also important.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That's not tragic. Tragic is supporting a team that was kicked out of the competition forty years before you were born. And still expect them to make a comeback. Go Glebe.
Russell Johnson
Guest
I can get excited about SOO Steve, but where is the story about the UAE and yawnion?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
lol
killaku
Guest
I wonder if in the next few years if Origin will as big once Queensland and Nsw is full of Kiwis.Origin will go down like a house of cards
Dav
Guest
lol, as a Queenslander, origin had been peaking for 8 years ....
Justthetip
Guest
Mascors you have completely missed the point. NSW (really it's Sydney) see the rest of the country as mere space fillers and don't even realise it. The rest of the country would rate them as the most disliked. Queensland is origin. Qld is Muhammad Ali, total passion and belief in their ability while know one else ever thought they stood a chance against the NSW champs or George Foreman. The rest of the country are starting to gobble up origin because they want to see NSW lose. They might stereotype qld as hick country but prefer that to nsw arrogance. The first 2 games of origin last year were a pathetic endorsement for the game and it's a disgrace it was allowed to be refereed in such a way. The most talent laden game there is being allowed to grind to a halt was terrible marketing for rugby league. NSW are so easy to dislike. Its disgraceful the quality of halves coming from NSW since Johns retired. Right now thurston, cronk and cherry Evans are all better than any NSW halves since johns. Mbye, Morgan, Milford, Ben hunt all look far better prospects than Moses, brooks and even jack bird. It's time for Sydney to lose clubs so new terrItory can be marked and new players discovered. Resources out into Sydney clubs aren't producing the stars the game needs and smart business nous would be to reduce a couple of clubs ( which will have minimal effect on juniors) so Perth and NZ can increase rugby leagues presence and find more crowd pleasing stars.