If we’re really being honest, it’s little secret that Queensland, over the years, has the wood over their southern rivals when it comes to State of Origin.
As much as it pains me to admit, the old Queensland adage ‘New South Wales just don’t get Origin’ may just have some truth to it.
Are NSW fans passionate? Yes.
Is there enough talent in the Blues to beat Queensland year after year? Absolutely.
So, what are we missing, does New South Wales get Origin?
Recent form suggests the Blues win Origin games – and when they win, it’s convincing. Think back to Perth 2022, where NSW won 44-12.
Or 2021 where New South Wales blew the Maroons off the park 50-6 and 26-0 consecutively.
However, when Origin becomes an arm wrestle, a battle of wills and attrition, NSW tend to come up short. They stay in the fight, fans hope for a miracle, a Tedesco 2019 moment that rarely comes.
While the Maroons find a way to grind out famous Queensland-style victories when it matters most. Underdogs every year, victorious more often than not.
Queensland spirit is not a tangible thing, in fact, it’s not even real. It’s a myth and here’s why. Maroons coaches and selectors have less talent to choose from, based on sheer numbers.
The dominance of the Smith era is over; however, Queensland has always had a pick-and-stick mentality, which led them to choose a certain type of player. An ‘Origin player’.
Players that aren’t necessarily breaking teams wide open in clubland. Players that grew up with work ethic rather than an abundance of natural talent and ability.
Cameron Munster of Queensland celebrates a Queensland try. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
The names of Nate Myles and Dallas Johnston come to mind, or Reuben Cotter and Tom Gilbert of recent fame to name a few.
These are men who suit the Origin Arena, and their work rate and attitude are rated higher than athleticism, tackle-breaking ability, and natural god given talent.
Queensland often has the right mix of generational talent, playmaking brilliance and these nuts-and-bolts players that bind them together like glue.
NSW on the other hand, have an abundance of athletes to choose from, which muddies the waters of selection year in and year out.
Every year, there is a young NSW player whose brilliance screams to be picked, lighting up the competition to become the answer for a Blues team that repeatedly struggles with the riddle that is State of Origin.
In previous years NSW have experimented and failed with exceptional talent from the NRL, with names such as Nathan Merrit, whose underwhelming origin appearance came with a glowing reference from his great mate and state rival Greg Inglis, only to be manhandled by the maroon defence on debut.
Jarrod Mullen, the heir apparent to Joey; his confidence was torn to shreds by Meninga’s men – and who could forget the most recent prodigy, Siosifa Talakai, who practically could not be tackled during his barnstorming 2022 season?
Another stifled debut from the brilliant Queensland defensive unit. X-factor in clubland, seldom transfers to the Origin cauldron.
Quite often, the reliance on club combinations and uncovering the next superstar, distract selectors from picking the right type of Origin player to do a job on Queensland.
You see, hard work trumps talent and athleticism. Attitude and loyalty surpass strength and speed.
Grit and mentality are key and this is what Queensland breeds with their selections. NSW understand this, but it is forgotten somewhere along the process of selection and build-up to a series.
Based on the QLD formula, here is my Origin Squad:
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Brian To’o
3. Tom Trbojevic
4. Bradman Best
5. Josh Addo Carr
6. Jack Wighton
7. Nathan Cleary (c)
8. Jake Trbojevic
9. Api Koroisau
10. Payne Haas
11. Liam Martin
12. Hudson Young
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Cam McInnes
15. Mitch Barnett
16. Haumole Olakau’atu
17. Junior Paulo
The above squad defies all logic; NSW logic that is. Club combinations are out the window. X factor won’t get you a spot unless you show heart and are in form.
This is a team picked on Grit, attitude, work ethic and intimidation. X factor comes and goes, and sometimes doesn’t appear at all during an 80-minute grind.
This is a team that will work for each other, tackle anything that is maroon and will not take a backward step.
Please tear it to shreds in the comments, but this is the team to out-Queensland the Queenslanders.
aerial lizard
Roar Rookie
He might play now Tino and Dane are unlikely to be there.
Maso
Roar Rookie
Nick Cave and his mates just love their footy :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Over the past month he’s the form six of the comp…
Lord Ted Said
Roar Rookie
Your a bad seed, badseed.
Lord Ted Said
Roar Rookie
Burton is evolving as a player. And kicking well generally. Not small either.
Lord Ted Said
Roar Rookie
Funny I was watching him against the warriors and it occurred to me that he still goes ok. He and Jurbo are very similar.
Maso
Roar Rookie
Money is everything. TV rights is what makes the NRL what it is. No way ABC can afford this product.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Egan is creative but won't have the resilience for Origin. Same with Brayley. Robinson would tough it out and do the job. But I reckon its time for premiership winner Mitch Kenny. He is as fit as Edwards, tough as nails in defence who keeps the middles sawn up every week, and gives great dummy half service.
Badseed
Roar Rookie
The Blues best hope is to give SOO coverage to the ABC. With so many Easts shareholders and ex players on their payroll, the current broadcaster keeps giving us enough duds to stymie most series. I know guaranteeing media jobs and SOO spots is how the rorters evade the salary cap, similar to the Storm in the Bellamy era. Yet to put Fittler in charge of ruining numerous careers with his selection of players from weak teams and regional sides simply to increase interest is ridiculous. It’s time to let a neutral broadcaster have the rights.
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
Those difficult to define qualities of spirit and loyalty were converted to an unrelenting need to continually ‘payback’ those poaching cockroaches for stealing and using Qld players to beat Qld. This was laid down by Immortals Beetson first then Wally Lewis from 1980-84. It took NSW till 1985 to win its first Origin series. It took an equally passionate Blue in Steve Mortimer to feel the importance of restoring pride to NSW. What Beetson and Lewis laid in terms of the Qld mentality is what current origin players from Qld are directed to. Respect and uphold the legacy standing on the shoulders of those who went before.
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
You need a captain who knows how to “talk” to the referee like Cam Smith did. Never got too excited Api yes, Nathan, no. I agree.
The Barry
Roar Guru
:laughing:
Maso
Roar Rookie
Rocky just doesnt get origin :stoked:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Don’t get me wrong, I love Origin too I think NSW will be better adopting the role of the villain. Interstate footy existed a long time before Origin, but it’s almost like we’re not allowed to acknowledge its existence. We should be embracing the fact that we smashed Queensland over and over and over again. Were the premier rugby league state Sure it’s arrogant and cocky and that often leads to a fall… but that’s how Queensland view us anyway. We may as well try and embrace it. Trying to pretend we’re fighting Queensland for underdog status and trying desperately to prove how much we get Origin, gets us nowhere Don’t forget Apollo won the first fight and also won the unofficial third fight, so he won 2-1 overall… :stoked: :stoked: :stoked:
Maso
Roar Rookie
Mate I see your point, I just love Origin footy so much. I hate QLD, but I love how QLD approach it. There are so many factors that go into it, and there are significant cultural differences as you've also pointed out. I like the idea of Apollo vs Rocky, but in the end Rocky wins. Leaning into that hubris is almost like putting up the white flag. Here QLD, have your moment and we will play the role of the villain. No thanks.
The Barry
Roar Guru
That’s a pretty good team. I’m not sure what makes it a Queensland style NSW team Wighton cannot get picked at 6. He’s not remotely the best option at five eighth. I’d have Hynes, Burton, Moses and maybe Luai ahead of him. Bit concerned with Paulo’s form as well. He looks like he’s playing at half pace at the moment I think Cam Murray should be at lock and Yeo off the bench. Yeo was great playing a running middle forward role in game 3 last year and forgetting about the sideways running ball playing Overall though I think NSW needs to forget about trying to “out Queensland” Queensland. We ve been trying poor impressions of Queensland for 40 years and it’s not done much good In origin terms Queensland sees NSW as the big bad. For years we stole their best players with dirty poker machine money, picked a Blues team full of Maroons and used their best to beat them. We kept them oppressed and under the boot for decades. That’s the basis of their motivation and the “hate”. How much of that is myth v reality is irrelevant NSW doesn’t have that. We can’t feel the same way about Queensland as they feel about us. When we try to imitate it, it’s a poor copy Every time a NSW player gets picked we get current and former players saying things like “he’s tough. He’s got a big motor. He’s made for Origin” Queenslanders don’t carry on. They expect whoever gets picked to just step up and do the job. It doesn’t matter if it’s Artie Beetson or Adam Mogg. Invariably they go out and get the job done Queenslanders also put Queensland first. We don’t. For most Blues it’s club first. I’d trade 10 Origin series wins for one NRL premiership. Queenslanders wouldn’t. NSW fans will be arguing about who gets picked and whether they deserve the spot. We’ll be trying to force our club loyalties aside. Queenslanders won’t NSW needs to move away from the idea that we should or even could out Queensland, Queensland. We’re Apollo Creed, not Rocky. Let’s embrace the hubris
Brett
Roar Rookie
Good read Maso If I can just add two more facets: Everyone remembers Joey’s “NSW doesn’t get Origin” meltdown, but few remember his response when Vautin asked him if he’d like to take over as coach - “I just don’t need that kind of stress in my life”. The NSW media absolutely torpedoes every series (often before it begins) to the point that even Andrew John’s passion can’t stomach it. Contrastingly Slater did the unthinkable and dropped Gagai, who really only uses the NRL to warm up and down for Origin, and the Qld media called it brave. But the other thing holding NSW back? It never thinks it’s fighting against a bigger brother, up against the odds, having to pull off a miracle. Queenslanders like Tom Dearden are just overcome with the honour and the responsibility, and for 80 minutes they’re desperate to be worthy of it. So while Joey’s eyeballing the journalistic meat grinder, Allan Langer doesn’t care who’s laughing - he’ll fly around the country to run drinks if he thinks it might make a difference. Somewhere in there is the spirit that apparently doesn’t exist.
Maso
Roar Rookie
6 is a tough one. No one really stands out but Wighton is proven in the origin Arena. I have Moses over Nico but he is definitely putting his hand up for selection!
JayTee
Roar Rookie
Well written and a perfectly articulated representation of how a lot of Blues supporters feel. The only thing I don't agree with is Wighton, I just don't think he has the game breaking ability we need at pivotal moments. I'd have Nathan & Nico, 2 players that can kick and make plays if the other gets injured and marshalling the big forward pack around the park.
Sportstragic
Roar Rookie
Great first article Maso. Thanks. And good luck to you on the roar site. As a QLD tragic my 1st pick would be Jurbo. Then Murray 2nd. And captain. Yeo unlucky to be on the bench. You have some real competitors in your team which i dont like :laughing: And like a lot here have said, you need a utility. Lots of injuries in origin. Wighton would be an ideal utility but then who would play 5/8. I reckon McInnes would of played a lot of origins if he was a QLD player too.