The build up to the 2017 State of Origin series was a time of hope and joy for Blues fans.
Yes, the Queenslanders had built another mini-streak, but all signs suggested a new era of New South Wales success was about to commence.
The Blues boasted an enormous and devastating forward pack, headlined by man mountain Andrew Fifita, and were tipped to steamroll the Maroons up front.
State of Origin 1 wrap-up:
» GORE: Inglish massive for Queensland, but they didn’t get the calls
» The funniest State of Origin ratings on the internet
» How the Blues fared at the MCG: NSW Game 1 player ratings
» How the Maroons performed: Queensland Game 1 player ratings
» State of Origin highlights and match report
That is exactly what happened in Game 1, and the jubilation down south could barely be contained. Well do I remember the podcast of this very site crowing over NSW’s virtuoso display, and Queensland’s ponderous response.
The kings were dead – long live the new kings!
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We all remember how that series turned out. At the crucial midpoint of Game 2, the Maroons turned the tables and then, even after losing Johnathan Thurston to injury, they rolled the Blues in Game 3 to take their third series in a row.
This script was written long ago and it now seems to play repeatedly almost every year: early NSW expectation and optimism, met by a maroon-tinged dose of painful reality.
A small opportunity was spotted after the 2011 retirement of Darren Lockyer, the progenitor of Queensland’s dynasty, but it was missed.
The 2014 NSW victory sparked hope of a new dawn, but in 2015 a ‘too old’ and ‘too slow’ Queensland proved it to be false.
After Mal Meninga moved on, there was speculation the glue that had held Queensland together would fall apart. It didn’t.
The point is, NSW have had their opportunities over the last decade to take back the balance of power, but each time they have fallen short.
Now, 2018 represents perhaps their greatest opportunity yet.
Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith are gone. Their fellow tormentor, Billy Slater, is now also out for at least Game 1, if not the series. The side is full of debutants and single-digit reps.
AAP Image/Julian Smith
NSW, meanwhile, have assembled one of the most in-form and potentially electric line-ups in years. “Finally, Freddy has picked on form!” is the cry of so many commentators, and they are right.
Although it’s been said before, this year (perhaps more so than any other since 1995) the Blues can truly be said to have the most dominant side on paper.
Tonight is the moment for NSW to demonstrate that potential – the greatest chance in years to dominate a weakened Queensland and restore hope for the future by going on to take the series. A Roar article on Monday assured us that the Blues will annihilate Queensland, and they should. But herein lies a great and terrible risk.
Imagine if the script repeats itself again.
Imagine if the Blues fumble yet another chance. The scars from 2017 were bad enough; they required purging almost the entire team and its culture. The damage to the NSW rugby league psyche would be enormous.
It is not outside the realm of possibility that if the Blues do not claim this year’s series, they may never dominate the Origin arena again. Sure, they’ll win one game most years. They may even steal a series every now and then. Upsets do happen.
But if this Queensland side, at arguably its lowest ebb in eleven years, can muster the strength to yet again beat a team of in-form superstars, they may well secure psychological supremacy over another generation of Blues for the foreseeable future.
No pressure.
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