By MICHAEL BYRNES
LOSING series after series after series has undoubtedly affected the psyche of those associated with the NSW State of Origin machine.
For several years now, the onset of Origin fever is heralded by stories in the SMH (like this one by Michael Chammas) of how much Origin means to the players, how much they love each other, how much victory means to their families, bromances between this player and that player — and on it goes.
With all the prognostication about the reasons behind Queensland’s decade of glory, the one that no one south of the border wants to give credence to is the notion that State of Origin simply means more to Queensland than it does to NSW. And while the accusation itself is utter rubbish, it has clearly hit a sensitive spot within the Blues family. The Blues seem to believe they need to reassure the public that Origin means as much to them as it does to the Maroons, enlisting the media to spread that message on their behalf. Assumedly, that is why these stories appear on cue year after year. Or is it the players who need the reassurance?
If these stories emanate from within the NSW Origin organisation, the Blues would be best served by ending the practice immediately. Addressing the accusation, even indirectly, lends it credibility it doesn’t have. In the process, the overt camaraderie comes off as contrived. The media focus north of the border isn’t about how much passion the Maroons have — that’s always been a given. Up north they talk about how much they (still) hate Gallen and
what a cheap-shot merchant Klemmer is. It’s just as predictable and contrived as the NSW Origin coverage but at least they’re not trying to sell belief to themselves through the papers.
As much as the media wants to spin the Origin rivalry as based on hatred and passionate love of state, there is probably as much animosity between the Roosters and Rabbitohs players as there is between the Queensland and NSW players. The marketing narrative about Origin might be all about hatred but the selling point of the contest today is the unparalleled speed, intensity and physicality that separates these three games from all others on the rugby league calendar, bar none. That intensity isn’t driven by hatred but by the reputation that Origin has deservedly earned as being the toughest arena in existence for the code — its ultimate proving ground (continued below).
The raw intensity of Origin can’t be replicated or conjured out of thin air. Despite the elite players involved, international rugby league has been unable to muster the same blowtorch conditions that push players to their limits in every minute of every Origin contest. I assume this is also the reason why AFL’s Origin concept is no longer in existence — if it was the true pinnacle of the sport, it would never have been consigned to history.
This is why calls to modify rugby league’s Origin concept should be treated with the greatest skepticism. Others want in on the act for a reason. Anyone with the slightest inclination to tinker with the concept should constantly remind themselves: the raw intensity of Origin can’t be replicated or conjured out of thin air.
