Nineteen ninety five. That’s the first thing I thought of when I saw the respective teams for Origin I this year.
The narrative is achingly familiar to those of us who are old enough to remember that series.
Queensland denuded of household names, NSW raging hot favourites. Thankfully we didn’t need a Super League War this time.
» Queensland Origin 1 side: expert reaction.
» New South Wales Origin 1 side: expert reaction.
The retirement of Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk from representative football and the omission of Matt Scott and Darius Boyd make it difficult to tip Queensland.
Despite having even less experience with a stunning 11 newcomers, New South Wales will be firm favourites when the series kicks off at the MCG on June 6.
Their side looks fresh faced, picked on form and the result of a deliberate purge of the group that has won just one series in more than a decade.
But here’s the thing: Queensland went into the 1995 series without Julian O’Neill, Mal Meninga, Steve Renouf, Willie Carne, Kevin Walters, Steve Walters, Andrew Gee and Gorden Tallis.
Brett Hodgson is tackled by Gorden Tallis. (Photo: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)
The reason was that players who had committed to the proposed Super League competition the following year (it didn’t end up happening for another season) were excluded from selection.
Sure, the Blues didn’t have access to the likes of Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart and Andrew Ettingshausen but most of the clubs south of the border had stayed in the ARL fold. The Broncos had been at the forefront of the revolt.
Nothing Queensland can do this year would be more of a shock than what happened next.
Legend has it that when Ben Ikin showed up for one Queensland team medical, coach Paul Vautin (then, as now, better known as a TV host) didn’t know who he was. The Blues under Phil Gould had nine Test players to Queensland’s two going into the first match at Sydney Football Stadium.
It was during this match that Billy Moore built a career on shouting Queenslander, when cameras and microphones captured him doing just that as his side re-emerged for the second half.
We were at the MCG for game two. The crowd, just over 52,000, was down on what we are going to get in a week or so but after an all-in brawl, the Maroons won 20-12 to secure a series in which most thought they’d be lucky to lead a game at halftime.
There was no problem filling Suncorp Stadium for the third game, where Trevor Gillmeister signed himself out of hospital and played in a 24-16 win for the Maroons, completing a clean sweep. There were more fisticuffs, with Queensland prop Tony Hearn suspended for eight weeks on a head butt charge.
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As fans, we are sometimes like hamsters on a wheel. We can only see straight ahead, what’s in front of us. Queensland have named a weakened team and they will therefore lose.
Yet if we look at the history of the competition, we will see that emotion plays a much bigger role than it does in normal matches – in fact the entire concept is based on emotion, on generations of perceived wrongs.
The ledger will never be evened. Queensland are the Harlem Globetrotters and NSW the Washington Generals, always foils to the side for which the match is there in the first place.
It doesn’t matter who is on the respective sides next week because it stopped mattering in 1980. The response to NSW’s overwhelming favouritism? I’ll leave that to Billy Moore in 1995.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Both...
Rob
Guest
Before or after peptides?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Really...the Blues need to immortalise players...? I don't see the Blues building bronze statues of every player that's ever pulled on a jersey. Gallen might not be likeable but that doesn't mean he wasn't a good player. You don't get 32 test caps because...politics. Gallen debuted for Australia three years before he was made NSW captain so the politics call is a bit hard to justify. He's also won 2 Origin MOM awards and a Wally Lewis medal. He's got at least one MOM at test level, is one of only two or three players who have scored two 10s by Rugby League Week and has numerous players awards. All because of politics...
Rob
Guest
Different perspective on good players north of the boarder Baz. Like Johns the Blues have to love and immortalise someone.
Neil
Guest
To be fair, in 1993 Qld only scored more tries in the 3rd dead rubber game. NSW scored more in the first 2 games that decided the series.
Georgina Brownvery
Guest
They have very average goal kickers....huge weakness considering how close these games get
The Barry
Roar Guru
What gamble has he really taken...? Ferguson was awful last year, got on the sauce before game 3, ditto Dugan who in addition has been injured and playing multiple positions. Pearce and Hayne are out injured and Morris has retired from rep football. Peats has been injured and two far better options have emerged. Ditto Woods. These changes were all pretty much forced changes. He’s dropped arguably NSW’s best player over the past two series. That’s a gamble I guess.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
TB, I like that Fitler has taken a bit of a gamble. Morris, Dugan, Ferguson, Pearce all decent players but Mitchell, Roberts, JAC and Cleary add real x factor. Hayne is a spent force. It may backfire if they fold in defence, but they might also blow away the maroons off the park!
The Barry
Roar Guru
That remains to be seen...
The Barry
Roar Guru
There were no political games for Gallen’s 32 caps...he was among the best forwards in the game for a decade.
Tom
Guest
I'd argue Wade Graham can consider himself unlucky, and Ferguson is one of the form wingers in the comp at present (happy enough with his exclusion on behavioural grounds though), among others.
Drongo
Guest
NSW a team of stars, Qld a State of Origin team. Have seen it before, probably the same result.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
It's not so much about the new players, but those who they have replaced. QLD might have only 4 debutantes but they all replace legends and no one is arguing that the team is stronger. On the other hand, none of the NSW players missing from last year are stronger than their replacements.
Rob
Guest
Ah yes,The political selection table games we play with our Blue brothers. We loved Paul in his prime as no one snuffed out a NSW attacking raid better. I bet Smithy giggled every time he asked for him to come on tour. Sugars he tried to teach Gal and his solitary mate the teams victory song. Yippee Yippee.......
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
You'd think it would have to be the fastest backline at least. The Morris boys were solid reliable players but never the quickest players on the park.
RandyM
Guest
I have just one question, Who is RYAN MITCHELL?
Wayne Turner
Guest
Great choice. Thought it was a top pick up by my Dragons.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Agreed...but the “we’ve got the best pack” has proved to be a false dawn time and again...
zenn
Guest
There are reasonable concerns about the Blues XVII. One concern regards the defence in the backs that may have been solved by selecting Aitken rather than Mitchell. Another concern is the absence of two big (110kg+) bodies on the bench...Andrew Fifita is available and is much a Blue as Greg Inglis or Israel Folau. Fifita in for Crichton whose time will come. The elephant in the room that is Boyd Cordner's form is the third concern. As Gus suggested, Sims would have more impact. Sims to the bench, Jurbo to start. 1. James Tedesco, 2. Tom Trbojevic, 3.EUAN AITKEN, 4. James Roberts, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. James Maloney, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11. JAKE TRBOJEVIC, 12. Tyson Frizell, 13. Jack de Belin. Interchange: 14. Paul Vaughan, 15.TARIQ SIMS., 16. ANDREW FIFITA 17. Tyrone Peachey. 18th man: BOYD CORDNER IN ORIGIN 2, RYAN MITCHELL/JAMES TAMOU would replace ANDREW FIFITA. The result of Origin 1 will decide what changes are required for Origin 2. Blake Ferguson may come into the side with Turbo going to fullback and Tedesco gone. TRENT MERRIN is also worthy of consideration given his recent form and provides SoO experience. Of course, this will never happen. Now I'm sure fellow Roarers will explain the shortcomings of my suggested changes.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hahaha.... You’re the best Gaz!