It was a history-making night in Townsville on Wednesday, with the regional centre hosting its first execution of a sacred cow since the sacking of Neil Henry.
State of Origin was announced dead on the QCB Stadium turf at approximately 10:10pm on the night in question, the concept’s lifeless corpse found crushed beneath disappointment and Tom Trbojevic’s stampeding boot.
With New South Wales’ 50-6 blitzing of a second-rate Maroons exhuming long-held fears this concept is nothing but boys against elitist men, it signalled the romance of the contest had left this world forever – for the 124th time.
For those uninitiated, the Blues’ rapid ascension to an unassailable 1-0 lead is the latest in Origin’s long history of faking its own death. But unlike the 123 times previous, this time it’s for real.
As such, the famed interstate construct was laid to rest in an impromptu service chaired by Pastor James Bracey before a congregation of rum-sedated mourners, its tombstone etched with the following:
“Here lies the remains of Origin, the holy fixture ruthlessly desecrated before its Far North acolytes amid breathtaking sadness and palatial stadium WiFi. RIP: Pending legals.”
While burying Origin after one shellacking was described by some as premature, there really was no other option. Mainly because Annastacia Palaszczuck figured if she couldn’t give Townsville a fair contest for the fixture’s $8 million price tag, she should at least give them a state funeral.
David Fifita of the Maroons (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
State of Origin’s passing is a stunning fall from grace for the interstate behemoth, especially after it was declared to be in rude health following a nauseating backs-to-the-wall win for the Maroons in 2020.
But while it proved it could survive the rigours of rule changes and Covid-19, it seems the concept has again shown it cannot withstand its kryptonite: a meek Maroons. And to a lesser extent, a head shot crackdown. And Kyle Feldt.
Early signs indicated the night was set to deliver a fateful blow when the Blues shot out to 20-0 lead, and once the Maroons’ only points came from Kurt Capewell outstripping Tom Trbojevic for agility, we knew something grave was already occurring.
From there, the Blues broke from tradition by not having a bad player on the park, with every walkover try for Brad Fittler’s men nailing Origin’s coffin shut with pins extracted from invisible grenades.
Queensland were powerless to stop the rot, with health authorities even calling upon contact tracers to locate a roving Tommy Turbo after he took it upon himself to humble the entire Queensland side, including bench and strappers.
What resulted in Townsville in the aftermath was scenes of absolute carnage, with the Maroons camp resembling a war zone of browbeaten and broken spirits – and that was just Tent City.
But with Origin flatlining again, the question must be asked: what exactly causes the four horsemen to descend on State of Origin?
Other than being helmed by a Stefanovic, Origin is usually accused of jumping the shark whenever both New South Wales and Queensland reach the base level of their pantomime profiles, and/or Choppy Close goes berko.
With the Maroons finally delivering a performance of integrity and honesty – that being, by claiming underdog status and actually playing like it – and New South Wales living up to their own hype, the concept’s narrative has been fully realised, and thus is no longer deeply satisfying for Queensland or advertisers.
From here, Origin can only be revived via two methods: a stirring triumph by Queensland at The Cauldron, or Mal Meninga picking an imaginary fight with the Daily Telegraph.
PB Meister
Roar Rookie
QLD get thumped and it’s the end of origin… again. Seriously? Scraping the bottom of the creativity barrel.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Game one Townsville, sold out Game two Brisbane, sold out two weeks ago It's only the lethargy of the NSW based supporters that threatens Origin
Steven Harris
Christ it was 4.50am Friday get over it.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
Steven Harris – i cannot believe that I read how you read that article
elvis
Roar Rookie
Outer Queensland?
elvis
Roar Rookie
Being born in a stable doesn't make you a horse..
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Was just taking the P in regards to Pauls comment mate, sorry if it didnt come across that way :thumbup:
matth
Roar Guru
Not really. Early yesterday some wag said he was up early in NSW - 10 past 5. Or in QLD 50 to 6.
matth
Roar Guru
How can I be the only one with a sense of humor today when my team got smashed? I was joking. I find the whole eligibility thing a small storm in a very large tea cup
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Complaining about keyboard warriors after getting on to complain about a "stupid" article...
KillaKanga
Roar Rookie
Looking at pictures is not reading
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
Gee JA. Mud heaps in Sydney? I can recall many times when my father took me to Lang Park when I was a younger and hopefully better looking bloke, and you couldn't work out which side was which because of the mud on the jerseys. Mind you, many younger fans wouldn't know that the playing field area was originally a swamp (yes, I know about the cemetery). There are pictures of the Milton Drain trying to get rid of stormwater.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Not sure wether Dane is crying about this or celebrating.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
They didn’t abandon their Queensland competition. They had to sacrifice the lovely sunny Brisbane winter for the cold & wet Sydney suburban grounds which resembled mud heaps. They came south to have any chance of rep selection as similar to Australian cricket selectors, if your residential postcode commences with a “2”, you have a distinct advantage.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
It was the "Game of Thrones" speech that put the Queenslanders off their game. Both fans and players were in shock and failed to notice there was a football match on. He's bored everyone to death over the years and this was the cherry on the top.
Davico
Roar Pro
Gee, go have a cuppa and a couple of deep breaths champ.
Davico
Roar Pro
Nobody cared about state games prior to the SOO concept though! State games were used as a stepping stone to National selection and the Queenslanders who were playing in the Sydney comp, getting paid far more than they would in the Brisbane comp, were happy to play for NSW because they knew they had a better chance of getting selected for Australia. That is not the case however anymore. I get that players may feel an allegiance to one or the other for various reasons, but if you want to call it State of ORIGIN, then it helps if the players come from that state. Both states are guilty of picking players that they should not have, but just change the name if people want the best vs the best.
Davico
Roar Pro
It is hard to read anything you write. I am guessing they did not teach either Grammar or punctuation where you, did, done.learn
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Matth can you please read up on the eligibility criteria prior to warriororring on your keyboard, you may find it amusing I find it amusing:stoked: on a side note does anyone know how to spell warrioring
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Well, off you go Loser,find somewhere else to Whine.