State of Origin, NSW versus Queensland, the best against the best.
Loved by rugby league fans and even the odd union and football supporter, Australia’s annual representative showdown has outgrown its own preamble.
No longer merely a test of the country’s best talent, State of Origin is now the NRL’s biggest money-maker and a fantastic advertisement for the code.
A fantastic example of this would have been Game 2 last year, not for the game itself, but its reach.
I woke the morning after the match to find a message from a Canadian friend of mine who had spotted the game on a TV in a bar in a town called Waterloo, Ontario.
Now while her description of the game as ‘Australian rules rugby’ was a bit off the mark, the fact that she had been able to recognise the game as Australian is an important stepping stone.
If a small rural Canadian town had State of Origin playing at a bar then the NRL is doing something right.
More Origin
» Laurie Daley doesn’t appoint the referees, but it wasn’t always that way
» State of Origin Game 2: Why NSW will win
» State of Origin Game 2: Why Queensland will win
» State of Origin Game 2: Expert tips and predictions
» State of Origin key questions: NSW edition
» State of Origin key questions: Queensland edition
Of course, as a concept, it is not perfect.
Player burnout, while set to be addressed in the form of a stand-alone weekend, is a concern.
Clubs such as North Queensland, Melbourne and Brisbane are traditionally hit hard and need to ensure they have enough wins in the bank heading into the Origin period to remain in top four contention.
They’ve been joined this year by Cronulla, with four crucial outs, including captain Paul Gallen and playmaker James Maloney. The Sharks had the bye last weekend but had they been forced to play you could have almost pencilled in a loss.
Many in the game are also concerned that Origin steals a lot of the spotlight from the premiership battle itself. With many clubs drawing byes over the Origin period, the rounds preceding each representative encounter tend to be low-key affairs.
However, it is the media coverage bordering on obsession that is most concerning.
Extensive coverage is fantastic, don’t get me wrong, but from late May to mid-July, everything in rugby league seems to be connected to Origin. Every player performance is reviewed with Origin in mind, will he be fit enough? Does his form warrant selection?
It’s almost as if the NRL premiership doesn’t matter. NSW versus Queensland is an important game, yes, but the premiership suffers an identity crisis at the same time every year.
How to address this?
The NRL has a fantastic opportunity to shake the competition up by taking games in the rounds preceding Origin to rural and perhaps even international locations.
Friday night’s game between Souths and Wests saw just over 11,000 and St George’s clash with Melbourne roughly 7000.
But with a host of star players missing this was always going to happen. And with most Sydneysiders focusing on Origin this would have been a great chance to take a game to the country.
Bathurst, Mudgee, Coffs Harbour, Wagga Wagga and even Albury would have all been worthy recipients. And then there are the non-league areas such as Adelaide and Geelong.
Even if crowds remain low it would at least give the premiership a much-needed boost during Origin.
So while we gather around our TV sets on Wednesday night to witness another titanic battle, let’s hope the NRL takes notice and doesn’t forsake the clubs and players who aren’t involved in the representative scene.
Mitcher
Guest
What ever code you happen to be warrior-ing for... It's difficult to argue there is a 'massive problem' given the absolute commercially successful freight train origin has become.
Republican
Guest
A shame the SOO status and standard is not sustained or evidenced at the international tier of the game. The Kangaroos don't inspire me in terms of League and they should. Australia struggle to defeat NZ these days - a nation of only 4.5mill where the code is hardly more than niche. SOO is divisive in respect of the international game while the criteria of origin in farcical. League is a game more and more dominated by PI's and Kiwis in this nation and as such its diaspora is representative of a specific sub culture rather than a broad sporting culture more and more. I believe this is something the code should be very concerned about especially when you consider the decline of the grass roots of the game in the Sydney region and if they truly aspire to the code being truly national - which it clearly is not.
Mike
Guest
Unfortunately with every upside there is a downside. As far as SOO goes that means the NRL comp. suffers. There will be a new schedule that I think kicks in next year where the middle game is played on a Sunday. That will mean the SOO period goes for at least 10 days less than currently. That is still not ideal but at least is an improvement.
baldie
Guest
It is not a problem that city of 4.5 million that is supposedly the rugby league heartland cant sell out the biggest game of the year? That is a massive problem.
Agent
Guest
The NRL doesn't want people in WA following league. Move to Sydney or Brisbane if you want to follow it! (tongue in cheek, having a dig at NRL's lack of expansion plans)
M hughes
Guest
1500 under capacity is not a problem
Phillip
Guest
It is if one lonely housewife is watching Aussie rules rugby
Johnno
Guest
A Magic weekend in Perth would be good, or host it at the MCG. Somewhere to get hype but in a non-league heartland.
Richard Maybury
Guest
"I mean why do we tolerate such tepid NRL crowds?" I fully agree, if Sydney cannot support the game then maybe clubs should be moved to new areas where they can do more good.
Patrick Sills
Roar Guru
SOO needs stand alone weekends. The NRL's biggest concern these last few years has been player welfare, yet they throw a game with the physical demands of origin, only a few days before the next round. Key players are missing up to 5 games during origin due to being ineligible or being rested the next round. It's also not a good look when the Broncos QLD cup side runs out to a half filled Suncorp the Friday night before Origin. I somewhat agree with taking games to the country, but i fear if we keep taking the game away from home then the supporters that live nearer the stadiums will 'give up'
Slickeel
Roar Rookie
The SOO is the biggest sporting beast in this country. Working in WA at a construction project, the game has more than taken hold and is now converting AFL supporters who never had an interest before to taking sides and having a favourite NRL side to follow. No longer are the TV's showing blanket AFL. RL is very popular in the west and SOO has helped push this trend as well as South Sydney playing in Perth. I do believe we should delay the NRL comp for 1 month. Play 3 Origins a week apart followed by a test match weekend including international games between Pacific Island nations. Taking the best players away from clubs is punishing those clubs with the most representatives. 2 points missed during origin can make or break the clubs making it into the finals. I would also like to propose the introduction of 2 wild card players for both Qld & NSW which then gives the best players in the comp a chance of playing in the SOO. This may keep players like Semi Radradra in the game long term, rather than looking at Rugby. Any addition of top line players will only enhance the game and therefore more bye in from players outside of the two states. Having Semi playing for NSW and Sam Burgess playing for Qld. How can anyone say that would damage to the game. Just my two cents. Go Qld....
Richard Maybury
Guest
Maybe but Rugby League is growing in Canada. They have just entered a team into the English competition and whilst they will start off from lowly beginings they have the opportunity to work there way up into SL. Not the highest standard for sure but you have got to start somewhere. One thing is for sure. there is more recognition of Rugby League in Canada than there is for AFL and that has got to be a good thing.
Richard Maybury
Guest
And how many people watched game 2 last year ? Nearly 100,000 right. So much for keeping Origin in Sydney. Might as well use it for the massive PR tool it has become and take Origin to new areas.
BrainsTrust
Guest
The code war between NRL and AFL is the biggest myth in Australian sport. They dress up the phony code war but its all for show and designed to promote each other. AFL wants to promote the NRL because the players are worse than its own in behaviour and parents don;t want their kids to play the sport. Can anyone remember when you had a lot of other sports in the news in Australia and televised on free to air. The problem I have with Origin is the NSW players, if it was a genuinely important sporting contest, they would be training hard for it not looking for their bonding of booze and prostitutes session before the game. Willie Mason showed how truly important Origin was by going to a brothel at 4am in the week before the game. The media treat it like the ultimate sporting contest and fool the public.
Snickometero
Guest
Just a quick correction... Waterloo, Ontario isn't a "small rural town". The Regional Municipality of Waterloo had a population of more than 507,000 people at the time of a 2011 census. Going off of that outdated piece of data, it would still be the 7th largest population centre if it were in Australia right now.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
You know...I hear a lot of talk about taking games to rural places which is a well-meaning thing...but, like, how about we fix the crowds AT HOME first?! I mean why do we tolerate such tepid NRL crowds?! Alas there is no simple solution that ppl would also agree on.
Phillip
Guest
too bad the best don't play in SOO. Australian rules rugby’ was a bit off the mark, the fact that she had been able to recognise the game as Australian is an important stepping stone. Yeah right 1 person in small rural Canada , maybe take SOO to Calgary or Toronto Im sure they will sell out 100000 tickets to see the aussie rules rugby.
baldie
Guest
Lets keep this in perspective. SO1 did not even sell out. Not enough people in Sydney wanted to watch it live.
Nick Penpagarea
Guest
NRL can even bring those games preceding State of Origin game to Pacific Island Countries like PNG, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands etc.
Gavin
Guest
How good are code wars -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.