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Queensland? Queensland is over

7th June, 2018
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Maroons look dejected. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Expert
7th June, 2018
71
4614 Reads

Queensland? It’s over. Over like the credits at the end of Spartacus.

Now – it’s not over in terms of Queensland ever winning State of Origin again. Because that can happen. That can easily happen. Probably will happen, a time or two, into the future.

But in terms of Queensland so dominating State of Origin series against the beleaguered NSW Blues, well, baby, it’s over.

Over like Umpire Dicky Bird calling “over”.

Why? Because it’s over, man. Over like everything, eventually, is over. One day the mighty golden white-hot gas-filled thing that is our sun will cease to be a thing, a sun, a star, what have you.

And one day – and it happened Wednesday night – the Queensland Maroons will cease to dominate the NSW Blues and thus so own the storied State of Origin series.

Because it’s over.

Over like Seinfeld was, eventually, over.

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Because nothing lasts forever, except for various rocks and minerals which, you know, last quite a long time.

But Queensland?

Queensland is over.

Greg Inglis

(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

No it’s not. Queensland isn’t over. Queensland’s a ripper. Queensland is where you can go on holiday and drink a beer and snorkel about in the aqua-blue waters of Great Keppel Island.

But Queensland’s dominance of the State of Origin series is done, done and done.

Not to say Queensland won’t win games. Because the Maroons players are very much the equal of those trotted out by the NSW Blues.

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But that’s where it’s at: equality. Like Origin used to be.

They are not guaranteed to win, as Queensland teams piloted by four of the greatest rugby league players there’s ever been were just about guaranteed to win.

Of course they weren’t guaranteed to win.

But sweet Jesus and Mr Lillee: Queensland has won 11 of the last 12 series. I mean… that’s pretty skinny odds. It’s Winx odds. It’s just about guaranteed.

But now? No. Because it’s over.

In 1984 the Australian cricket team lost Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh and Greg Chappell – along with a dozen or so quality cricket men who took the South African rebel gold – and the Australian cricket team had a mid-80s slump.

Queensland won’t experience that. Queensland won’t slump. But Queensland is about to know a period of… de tente.

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And that’s something Queensland won’t be used to.

For how would they be? Since the middle of last decade they’ve trotted out the greatest league team of all time, a star-studded squadron sporting four or five of the greatest league players there’s ever been.

Not any more. Indeed only Greg Inglis remains from the storied superstars. There’s no Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater or Cameron Smith.

Sure, Billy be back. And the great GI is among the greatest there’s been.

But even his example on Wednesday night – rushing up on Tom Trbojevic, throwing little incidentals in 80 minutes of long-limbed, rock-n-roll rugby league – wasn’t enough to beat the Blues.

You sensed Inglis was looking to inspire his men. Because someone had to do something. Because the Blues are just as good, if not better, than Queensland.

And Queensland is back in the pack.

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Admittedly the pack contains only one other rider.

But that guy is surging. And feels his time is now.

James Tedesco

(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The Blues? Were pretty cool. Even when Inglis was niggling, they just kept on playing footy.

Even when the Maroons forwards roared out of the line like Vikings, putting on big shots, huge, physical bits of kit, the Blues just kept on playing footy, channeling their coach, cool Freddy Fittler.

Channeling their five-eighth, James Maloney, the gnarly little throwback who simply doesn’t care if he makes an error, he just keeps on playing, competing.

Damien Cook’s sniping out of No.9 was frightening for the big Queensland forwards.

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James Tedesco’s feet flashed like so much strobe.

And none of the Blues looked, in the eyes, the window to the soul, like they feared losing.

Like they feared Queensland.

Because the Blues know this Queensland. And they respect this Queensland. But they don’t feel inferior to this Queensland.

And they looked like they had this Queensland’s measure.

And that’s why it’s over.

Over like the Assyrian empire.

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Over.

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