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Before I begin, I must state for the record that I am a rugby league novice.
Three months ago, if you had asked me what the 40-20 rule was, I would have thought it had something to do with a pie-eating contest and you had remembered the brand name incorrectly.
But last night’s game between NSW and Queensland was my first ever experience of State of Origin; and it blew me away.
I have been to AFL grand finals, A-League grand finals, but this was on a whole other level.
More from State of Origin 1:
» Five talking points
» The big issues examined
» The Liebke Ratings
» Laurie Daley drops a post-Origin bombshell
To walk into one of the great cathedrals of Australian sport, drenched in a deep blue light, with music to rival any Hollywood blockbuster blasting from the rafters as over 80,000 New South Welshman roared when their heroes appeared on screen was a truly awe-inspiring sight.
Unfortunately I couldn’t tell you if the game was good or not. Only that from a purely mutual standpoint I enjoyed not only the play on the field, but the atmosphere off it.
By the second half I had been lured in by the Blues fans around me and joined them in cursing out the referee after Josh Morris’ disallowed try.
I was on my feet as NSW fought to win the game, cheering and screaming along with some of my fellow adopted statesmen.
And this brings me to the crux of my point. For the life of me, I cannot remember being that excited at an AFL game.
Now this may be because I am a Fremantle Dockers supporter and our AFL season rivals the Newcastle Knights in terms of misery, but Origin is definitely doing something right.
Like a magpie to a shiny object I was almost immediately transfixed by the rock and roll atmosphere, a fact that is in stark contrast to the spectacle at some recent AFL grand finals (Meatloaf, need I say more?).
And this is where the AFL is falling behind, relying on the codes undoubtedly entrenched loyalty in Victoria and other footy strongholds.
Admittedly, it’s hard to put on a light show in the middle of the day for the grand final, but you have to give the fans something. I’m not expecting a Super Bowl half time show but give me something!
And there needs to be a discussion because the NRL seems to know what it’s doing. Game 1 saw the highest ever viewing numbers from down south.
Maybe it’s a sign the AFL needs to reconsider the idea of representative footy? But that’s an argument for another day.
I get that it’s easy to market State versus State for League, but I came to that game expecting to have a few drinks with an old mate and laugh at a sport I didn’t get. I left cursing out the ref and screaming ‘we we’re robbed’ with Blues fans.
The NRL did something right, and it won a new fan. Now I just have to decide which club team to go for
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