In the 1980s, King Wally Lewis virtually was State of Origin.
In the nine series he played, he won six and only lost three. The two one-off matches in 1980 and 1981 he won as well. Queensland were standing up to NSW and he was their leader, and they followed.
In the ’90s, Gus Gould termed the phrase “out-Origin Queensland” and that’s what NSW did.
The word of course did not exist, and nobody quite knew what it meant exactly, but they bought into it, and NSW did out-Origin the Maroons. The Blues dominated the ’90s and had worked out how to play Queensland, and how to beat them.
The 2000s had more of the same. With Gus coming back for more success and greats like Andrew Johns and Freddy Fittler playing for the Blues, NSW overtook Queendsland on most series wins. It was 12-10 by 2005.
Then the great Queensland team emerged. The best of the best, and they dominated, winning eight series straight and 11 from the last 12. Johnathan Thurston, Darren Lockyer, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk. They will all become Hall of Famers. These were simply great rugby league players.
But now in the wake of that great era, is State of Origin becoming boring? In an era when the game has become more sanitised and cleaner, is rugby league’s showcase losing its spark?
How many future all-time greats were on display on Wednesday night? The halves on both sides – the playmakers that make it happen – are all good enough players, but none of them will become greats in the sport.
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
The match itself was a good game of rugby league, but nothing more.
The defense from NSW was superb in the first half, and then when Queensland hunted as a pack in the second half to turn the match around, the Maroons were quite simply outstanding.
So it was a good match with some excellent moments. However it just lacked that special something that great players bring.
There were no big hits that will live in the memory. No Mark Geyer vs Wally Lewis, or Terry Hill vs Gorden Tallis moments, no get-off-your-seat or did-you-see-that moments.
Dane Gagai produced an exciting intercept but every intercept will get somebody excited. That Origin moment just didn’t happen.
That’s not to say that there weren’t great players on display. James Tedesco and Kalyn Ponga will end up as great players barring injury.
But how many more that were playing on Wednesday will end with that tag? Probably nobody.
Was the Origin boring? According to Paul Vautin it was a great game of rugby league. But Fatty said this about Origin One in 2003, and that wasn’t a memorable game played in the sand at Suncorp. It was a good game, just like this one.
So Origin boring? No, but it did lack something.
We will wait to see if NSW just add a bit of spice to proceedings in the next match, or they could be back where they have been since 2005, watching Queensland raise that shield for yet another time.
Tom G
Guest
Evidently you don’t watch English rugby.. it makes our side look pedestrian... that’s why they beat us 3-0 in Australia a few years back. I can appreciate both rugby codes equally those who don’t obsess about the failings of the one they don’t watch. I never understand why people who just dismiss a game make a comment on it much less the performance of just one side.
Kick n Clap
Guest
Steve, You cant say that about NSW & even the State of Origin compared to England RU? England RU are just big team with no plan -B.
Col in paradise
Guest
Cleary is rubbish....
Col in paradise
Guest
Cleary a terrible pick...most out if form halfback..one dimensional...
matth
Roar Guru
I thought it was a great game.
matth
Roar Guru
Teams always lack some cohesion in attack in Game 1.
Beardan
Roar Guru
Please don’t get me started on banks.
johnnoo
Roar Pro
less tv advertising and sponsors and players trying to make money and just playing for the love of elating new or old like the 80's and less of sports business attitude and a more for love and semi professional attitude of the 80's where throwing cans on the field and Wally this wally that insults at the scg, and calling nsw cockroaches .. No one is calling nsw cockroaches on mass. It's as if gen y and millennials don't want 80s and 90's stuff like wally a w****r and cattle dog and cockroaches and cane toads and beer cans being chucked out on the ground. they want ads shoved down there throat and batch's blues..
johnnoo
Roar Pro
No spirit, just endless tv advertising and sponsors and corporate world trying to make money out it and the players to eg big match fees.. There's no spirit, just players and companies who wanna make lots of money.. At least cattle dog had true spirit it wasn't a money making gimmick.. No idea why fans keep coming back to it to be drones to be sold products to for two hours... Suncorp was just draped with advertising.. Spirit, what spirit? All i remember is trying to be sold cartons of VB and cheap airlines tickets and four x beer..
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Boring? Boring isn't the right word. It isn't what it used to be that is for sure. Not talking about the cattle dog garbage. But it was more brutal. We hear the game is faster, and it might be, but it is all relative. Origin was always faster than regular round games. The spirit of Origin is what is going. This wasn't a classic game. People who say it was are either using recency bias or think a small margin makes a great game. It was the 46th time an Origin match has been decided by 4 points or less, so ultimately it will blend in with the majority of other games. As i wrote somewhere yesterday - this game wasnt a well executed game by either team. Both teams bombed multiple tries, neither team constructed sets well and built pressure through territorial dominance and smart play - there were only two drop outs (1 if you consider QLD should have been penalised for dragging Morris in goal). The game missed a smart player - just one would have done. QLD dominated for about 15 minutes in the second half through strong defence, but that was it. There was talent and skill on show, sure. But as opitmised by Haas playfully rubbing the head of his QLD clubmates in the heat of battle, the spirit of Origin is dying.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Is State of Origin getting boring? When QLD keep winning, yes! LOL It can't be nighttime forever. Sooner or later the light has to break through the darkness and a #Blue Dawn will emerge! Go the Blues!!
Nat
Roar Guru
I respect where you are coming from re the advertising but how does that take away from the game itself? 3.5m viewers would indicate it attracts the league fans but a whole lot more who do not usually watch/follow NRL with specific interest.
johnnoo
Roar Pro
It's become like the super bowl with endless advertising and commercials it doesn't feel like the footy anymore, it's just endless hyperboles and ads.. It doesn't feel like NSW vs QLD anymore just shameless commercialism and ads.. It feels pointless like a glorified club game or city vs country.. AFL was right to ditch its origin.. And players injured during the series harms the NRL clubs etc eg Klemmer out now.. Test footy actually has some meaning, it's not all about advertising.. The average fan couldn't care less about origin if you ask me, i don't care remotely anymore if we lose to QLD, globalization a global world not just two states playing.. Storm 2017 side and roosters 2018 side and tonga 2017 side are all better than both NSW and QLD 2019 sides..
Larry1950
Guest
Yep Big Daddy, I was thinking that too. It's not compulsory viewing so if there's something else exciting happening around Taree on a Wednesday night TR, why don't you do that, do they have bingo or indoor bowls at the local hall to keep you happy. Sound like someone who, if they won $1M in lotto, would complain you had to open a bank account to get it.
U
Roar Rookie
Exactly. This will go down as one of the better origin contests. It encapsulates origin in one game. The Blues being hyped by the media as usual, they get a lead and stop playing attacking football, then the maroons come back to win in the closing minutes of the game
U
Roar Rookie
Not for the general public. For many, origin is the only footy they watch all year
U
Roar Rookie
I don’t remember it ever being described as the best players there are. It’s the best from the two states. And the fact that origin’s popularity monsters that of the international game, it shows that people want to see QLD v NSW
U
Roar Rookie
Hell no!! If you can’t watch that game from Wednesday and enjoy it as a very tense and exciting one, you’re not a league fan. We always get these kinds of articles come origin time from Blues fans or foreigners. They just don’t get it. But the proof is in the pudding. The sold out stadium, the huge TV ratings and the fact that non footy fans actually will make the effort to watch origin shows the interest is still there.
Larry1950
Guest
Only if you're a frustrated NSW supporter because you think NSW should win now that the Qld dynasty core have all retired, this was going to be your time in the sun. Seriously though, I just noticed on a newsfeed yesterday that the first origin game was the most watched tv program of 2019 so isn't that your answer.
Albo
Roar Rookie
You must be kidding ! This weeks match was as good as any played as a series opener. You don't think 3.5 million viewers won't be tuning into game 2 ? You don't think players like Tedesco, Ponga, Cook, Mitchell, Turbo, Jurbo, Murray, Munster, Haas & Fifita won't become SOO legends over the coming years ? And if you can't appreciate what Cleary offers to the NSW side, you best not even bother tuning into SOO for the next decade , because you will be mightily disappointed !