The Sporting Day: State of Origin, Game 1

Throughout the middle months of the rugby league season, three matches stand above all others and always do. They stand out not only within a season but within the storied history of the game. It is state against state, mate against mate as they say and that is the essence of the Origin charm. In a season that tends to develop some sameness come deep winter, State of Origin marks itself as different, as a game that will be remembered fondly by history. And there have been plenty of games and plenty of memories come from State of Origin that most rugby league fans will never forget.

From that evening in 1980 when Artie Beetson led the Maroons onto Lang Park for the new and innovative concept designed to put Queensland back on even footing, the phenomenon of State of Origin has grown and grown and grown and the hallmark moments are as engrained in the memory of rugby league fans as grand final moments and Dally M medal winners. Lewis and  Kenny head-to-head for the first time in 1982, a battle of skill and strength and desire that was eventually settled- for that season- by an errant in goal pass from Phil Sigsworth to Phil Duke. The New South Wales shock at the Queensland domination through ’83 and ’84. Steve Mortimer, on knees and hands raised, triumphant and proud at bringing the shield home in ’85. The Greg Dowling mud sodden crossbar special. The Mark McGaw fingertip grounding in ‘87. The trial in California that same year. Melbourne in 1990 and the O’Connor kick that same year. The rise of New South Wales from ’92 to ’94. The Mark Coyne miracle try. Fatty and the no-names sweeping in ’95. Super League in ’97 and the Origin going head-to-head with the Tri Series. The drawn series of 1999. The return of Alf in 2001. The drawn series of 2002.  The Johns years and the first time Queensland had their nose in the dirt. Freddy. The Timmins drop goal. The Finch drop goal. The Kimmorley intercept.

So many memories from a series of games that today seem to have more meaning than international affairs. The state against state, mate against mate ethos is just so attractive to rugby league fans.

This season another chapter of the Origin tale will be played out for us all to see and it will no doubt be full of character and drama and intrigue and heroism. All the other chapters have and there is no reason to believe this one won’t have all these elements. There is the passion seen in the faces of the likes of Luke Bailey and Steven Price and Danny Buderus. There is the sheer skill of the likes of Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston and Anthony Minichiello. The downright aggression of Willie Mason and Petero Civoniceva and Neville Costigan. The speed of Greg Inglis and Jarrad Hayne. The unknown in Jarrod Mullen, the gamble of a lifetime.

This will be a heavy hitting battle with the game sure to be decided up front. It doesn’t matter how skillful a team is, if they don’t win the battle up front they do not win the match. Teams that don’t go forward get bashed and it is very hard to show your wares while you get thumped from one sideline to the other. Both packs are strong and tough but it looks like the Blues may have a slight edge in size and that may be the difference. The Blues backrowers also come with the skill to run wide which could wreak some havoc.

This will be close, no doubt. Take the points with New South Wales and hope for a game for the ages.

© 2007 Jack Stockton