Kayfabe is a professional wrestling term defined as “presenting staged performances as genuine or authentic”.
Think of it as steadfastly refusing to admit that you’re acting while standing on a stage.
Kayfabe is simple stuff. It has good guys (faces) and bad guys (heels) that all commit to their personas to make their sport about something more than the action in the ring and get people invested.
Of all the descriptions of the claim by Dean “Bulldog” Ritchie and others in the media that the 2020 Queensland Maroons side was the “worst in history”, kayfabe was the one that was most conspicuously absent and yet also the most appropriate.
After all, we are talking about a Queensland side that was stacked with grand final winners, grand finalists and Australian representatives.
This is a topic we have covered ad nauseam on recent episodes of the Voluntary Tackle podcast with host Aimon Brown, but given it has continued to be a proposition taken seriously, it is one worth exploring in more detail in written form.
Let’s start with the forward pack, as it’s always the most overlooked part of the game and it provides the platform for any success. Queensland’s starting props across all three games were Josh Papalii and Christian Welch.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Papalii is the Kangaroos’ starting rep, a grand finalist and to many the form prop of the NRL over the past few seasons. Meanwhile, Welch has developed into one of the most devastating props at the Melbourne Storm since joining them in 2015, winning two titles in the past four seasons. That’s not bad if you’re looking for go-forward.
Similarly with the second row and locks, Queensland had Melbourne machine men grand final champions in Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Felise Kaufusi as core starters, while they rotated with Panthers grand finalists and the likes of Jaydn Su’A from Souths through the rest of the series.
But many of the proponents of the “worst ever Queensland side” might have argued that the real mismatch was in the spine.
The Blues picked some in form players with a very in-form Nathan Cleary at seven and the choice between Luke Keary and Cody Walker at six, supported by the best fullback in the game and one of its zippiest hookers in Damien Cook.
But even here, when you break it down, it didn’t actually look that great for NSW.
The Queensland spine included the incumbent Kangaroos halves in Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster. Both players are premiership winners and considered among the most dynamic in the competition, and both had also played together on numerous occasions.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Meanwhile at hooker they had Jake Friend, a three-time premiership winner that has largely missed out on playing hooker for the Maroons and Australia due to the unfortunate fact that he has played the position during Cam Smith’s reign. On top of that, the Queenslanders had the luxury of an incredibly dynamic replacement in rookie of the year Harry Grant. That paid dividends when they decided to use him.
Fullback was considered the weakest position in the spine by comparison, but even there the Maroons had the good fortune of starting with an AJ Brimson, who had just had his best season to date. Brimson got injured and so they had to tinker by bringing in try-scoring machine Valentine Holmes and Souths’ rising star Corey Allan.
The outside backs was where the Blues had what seemed like the clearest edge, but without guaranteed go-forward and reliable combinations and distribution from the halves, it was always going to be tougher than many expected.
This is where the concept of kayfabe comes in. On the Voluntary Tackle we spoke to guests, ran polls and broadly discussed whether claiming this Queensland Origin side justified the “worst ever” billing that Dean Ritchie and those that followed him had given them. The response was near universal that it was so moronic that it was laughable.
The 2020 Origin series didn’t lack talking points. Taking place in a once-in-a-century pandemic that forced it to the end of the season to play in front of mostly socially-distanced stadiums, it was nothing if not unusual. And that’s not even mentioning the return of Wayne Bennett.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Yet, for all that – or perhaps because of it – it struggled to gain media traction and its ratings disappointed.
Ritchie’s column generated responses across the media landscape, with the likes of Paul Gallen chiming in to agree or disagree or just generally rev things up.
For all the reasons above, it was patently stupid stuff, but it achieved the desired effect of a full media cycle of outrage that spilled onto social media and into press conferences with players and coaches.
It was always a stupid claim, but it made for a bit of media theatre. Unfortunately, it also had the effect of setting a narrative up north that the heroes in maroon must rise up against the NSW menace and restore order.
It was so dominant that after the Maroons’ series win, Cherry-Evans made sure to reference the “worst ever” claim before he lifted the trophy.
Following that, Ritchie penned an apology piece that was so hammy it screamed kayfabe.
The question is: did the ruse work? Did the TV numbers go up?
Well, not really. Sure, the numbers trended up through the series to a high of 2.7 million people, but those are still the worst since ratings measuring Origin began.
What’s the lesson here? Probably that if you’re a New South Welshman planning to engage in theatrics to rev everyone up for an Origin that is struggling to make headlines, then you better be damn sure it’s going to work.
kent
Guest
origin has lost what made it great - the "hatred" between states. Knowing that at the first scrum she might be on! Now it is nothing more than a slightly more competitive club game. Now if a player does or says something social media is going boonta with their "disgraceful" act or comments. The very same people (keyboard warriors who probably have never stepped onto a footy field), who want origin and the players to be brutal then complain if they do a brutal act.
mushi
Roar Guru
It is a little brother complex. I valued a QLD jersey over an Aus one. Heck I refused to play a very minor sport for nsw even though I've lived here for longer
matth
Roar Guru
Ashley Harrison, Nate Myles, Dallas Johnston
U
Roar Rookie
The crying below the border was a joy to behold.
Graham White
Guest
He was a formidable prop!
Tommyknocker
Guest
As a Qlder I’ve never bought this QLD has more passion rubbish. I expect most NSW players want to win as much as their QLD counterparts. I believe the difference is in the selection room. I feel as though the NSW selectors just choose the 17 best players in NSW and try to make them fit into a team regardless of balance. The QLD selectors select teams with better balance, mixing forward packs with strike and work. They consistently select players like Jacob Lilliman and Luke Capewell that tend to provide stability rather than flair because the overall health of the team is more important than 17 superstars. If you go through QLD period of dominance it is sometimes surprising how many players racked up a nice Origin career who we know would not have been been looked at by NSW
Greg
Roar Pro
"woods and fifita, two of nsws best ever props, were blamed for not backing up on the inside after the coach left them on too long" The best/worst example of this was Luke Bailey getting hammered by the media after copping a bit of a beating by a young Carl Webb. Completely ignoring the fact that Bailey had been running on empty for some time, having been left on due to injuries elsewhere in the pack, and Webb was fresh. Bailey should've been praised for getting up and going again after each time he got bashed.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Put this down to allegiance, cheers :thumbup:
Graham White
Guest
At least in queensland i dont recall much criticism of those players much at all in our media. The roar forum were pretty critical of hunts debut at seven but this is blue media i think Certainly there was nothing equivalent to the time when brett kimorly had an entire column written about how he was a crap half (only a few years after 2000 nsw most dominant ever performance with kimmorly a standout) or how woods and fifita, two of nsws best ever props, were blamed for not backing up on the inside after the coach left them on too long (the entire series loss was blamed on them and i feel like they were never the same players after)
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
What did the media do to to Hunt, DCE, Milford and Norman in 18 19, know what your saying. Just trying to put some perspective on the NSW fans don't get origin myth :thumbup:
Graham White
Guest
Hope im not doubling down since you said agree to disagree, but i guess the difference is we didnt savage out best players in 2003 to 2005, we didnt even savage ikin or berrigan in the halves. I remember queenslanders getting an origin debut and lifting at club level afterwards (with the occasional exception like gagai and carlaw) but nsw players would drop at club level after media and fan bashing (particularly annoying when it was a nsw bronco). Players say they dont read the media but i seriously doubt it As for upsets i feel like 99 01 and 02 nsw were better on paper and qld got the shield Nsw also seemed better in the 80s but lewis found a way to win single handedly. Even our dynasty there were years we last the forward battle and won the game. Maybe it wasnt an upset to win more often than not, but to win eight in a row was still punching above out weight
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Point 1 you've pretty much made the point I was trying to get across, we savage Mason and Fifita, because we didn't have JT Locky and Smith, we never savaged Joey, Freddy or Craig Wing, hence my cattle point Point 2 I've lived in QLD for the last 30 years and the number of flags that fly are deadset dependant on the result of the previous series. Anyway agree to disagree, the best team generally wins with a few exceptions.... 95, 14, 20 ????
mushi
Roar Guru
I'm just not sure about this player in a gf team = the benchmark rep player. It seems a confused line of attributing team performance equally across each player. How many players have played in or won a GF on the past 5 years. NSW lost because of their coach, not the media or QLDs roster suddenly being good.
Graham White
Guest
I guess the two mistakes that keep getting repeated are 1. Attacking your best player after a loss. I remember fifita, mason, anasta all getting savaged south of the border. Contrast that to queensland during 2003-2005 where they didnt blame players like lockyer smith webcke but talked them up afterwards as they slowly built a team. It was in 2005 after the series nsw remember for andrew johns queenslanders were actually the most convinced lockyer was better than johns. Nsw seem to react like its a scandal they didnt win which comes accross as entitled. Queensland see origin as hard to win and try and build a team that can brat their opposite number one at a time 2. Underestimating queensland. If you lose you shouldnt ask what went wrong, this is the highest level of rugby league in the world. You should ask what went right and how do we build on it to make even more go right next time. Talk north of the border after a loss is often along the lines of ‘that sucks (insert blame of ref even if you got flogged) but did you see player x? If we just find a player in y and z position i think we can win. South of the border its like “this player is immortal” before a game “this player is hopeless kill them” afrer a game. Its quite a contrast
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
They proved they knew what to do between 90 and 05, managed to win a few. Post that it was cattle and on a few occasions it was attitude, what exactly are the same errors we keep repeating, not having a dig just would like to know your thoughts :thumbup:
Steve
Roar Rookie
NSW don’t get Origin. Simple as that. They just don’t get it. After 40 years they still don’t get what it really takes to win a series. I find it fascinating that they repeat the same errors over and over, year after year, and expect a different result. It’s borderline insanity.
elvis
Roar Rookie
If you have good halves the rest don't have to be superstars. They just need to be able to defend one on one, work as a team and run holes. They don't need to be creating gaps or doing fancy stuff.
Tony
Roar Guru
Are you telling me that the Reg Reagan articles weren't to be taken seriously?
criag
Roar Rookie
Bulldog, with all his experience around rugby league, really should've known better! Once the Maroon jersey is put on, past form goes out the window! As for the Blues, players injured and picked out of position didn't bode well.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Good afternoon Nat. Whilst in Brisbane, I would buy both the D/T & C/M. Around SOO time I would chuckle at some of the reporting that was obviously “tongue in cheek” & not to be taken seriously however I wonder what Ritchie attempted to gain by his “worst ever” tag or was that his esteemed opinion? In any event, perhaps his nickname should be amended from Bulldog to Chihuahua to represent his lightweight journalism.