The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Origin is bad for rugby league

28th May, 2018
Advertisement
The Maroons were too strong for the NSW Blues in 2017 Origin's decider. (AAP Image/Darren England)
Roar Guru
28th May, 2018
124
2534 Reads

State of Origin has been dominated by Queensland for the last 12 years, in which NSW has tasted victory in just one series, which has seen my interest be seriously sapped.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a great spectacle, but do we really need three games to decide interstate dominance?

In a time where we are looking to grow the game internationally, with a Test to be played in Denver, Colorado on June 23 between England and New Zealand, the rise of the women’s game and even touch football, what place does this series hold in our hearts?

I’m financially invested in the St George Illawarra Dragons by way of a membership, have been for a long time now, and while I’ll be happy for the likes of Tyson Frizell, Paul Vaughan and Jack De Belin to be picked for Brad Fittler’s NSW team, part of me will be praying they come through the series unscathed, especially at a time when the Saints have begun to show signs of a mid-season slump.

‘Mate against mate, state against state’ may have worked in the 1980s but in today’s era of globalisation, and the need to grow the game across the world, it feels a little old-fashioned. Rugby league has evolved beyond the traditional boundaries of NSW and Queensland, with a successful team in Melbourne, the New Zealand Warriors starting to realise their potential and the aforementioned Denver Test. Let’s just hope that game is a better advertisement for rugby league than the 1987 debacle at Long Beach, California, when Peter Sterling got caught up in the banner as he ran out.

Origin is often labelled as pitting the best 34 players in the game against each other, but I can’t recall Sam Burgess donning the sky blue or James Graham, or Gareth Widdop for that matter. Remember Shaun Johnson’s heroics for the Maroons, or that time Jason Nightingale stole the game at the death?

Neither do I.

We have some brilliant Polynesian players in our game, but they must sit on the sidelines, unless Queensland can get even more cunning with the eligibility laws. It stopped being State of Origin when Tonie Carroll represented New Zealand at the 2000 World Cup, despite having played for Queensland in 1998. Then there’s the fact Greg Inglis was born in NSW, played for Hunter Sports High at the age of 16, but didn’t want to play for NSW and was magically a Queenslander because he signed with Melbourne and moved to Queensland.

Advertisement
Greg Inglis dons the Rourke's drift jersey

Which is it, Greg? (Photo: NRL)

This concept began in the early ’80s due to Queensland whinging when things weren’t going their way. It also worked for Wally Lewis, whose unremarkable 37-game club career saw him elevated to Immortal status; great at Origin and okay at Test level, but certainly not an Immortal if you compare his club career to the likes of Reg Gasnier or Norm Provan.

Tonga’s success in the 2017 World Cup had me more excited than anything I’ve witnessed in Origin since, I dunno, the stapler incident featuring Michael De Vere, Brett Hodgson getting rag dolled into touch by Gorden Tallis, or maybe Shaun Timmins’ field goal back in 2004. These were great moments in Origin history, but the success of a previously dormant Tonga side did more for the game than Origin ever can.

Jason Taumalolo switched allegiances, then Andrew Fifita followed suit because he wanted some attention too. What about Kevin Naiqama openly crying during the Fiji national anthem? One of the most memorable sights in rugby league and a wonderful advertisement for the game and what representing your country means to players, especially those from the Pacific Islands.

If the Denver Test is a success it could lead to future Test matches and perhaps even NRL games – or at least trials – being played in the USA, exposing the game to an audience of over 300 million people. We could even lure some athletes down under to throw the ball over the grandstand at Henson Park ala Manfred Moore.

But seriously, there are some brilliant athletes over there, and many NFL hopefuls don’t make the final 53-man rosters, which is where rugby league can come in – but we need to take more games there.

I’ll support NSW again this year and following the rep retirements of Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston, and the injuries to both Jarryd Hayne and Mitchell Pearce, I feel NSW has a great opportunity, but I’ll probably get more satisfaction following a successful Test match at Mile High Stadium, involving neither NSW or Queensland.

Advertisement
close