Tony Webeck - From the Editor's Desk
AT the risk of costing myself millions of dollars, I’ve come up with a sure-fire ratings hit for prospective television networks looking to get their hands on anything to do with rugby league.
Forget “Wag Nation” and “Keeping Up With The Kardashians”; league‑loving men of this fine country need a reality show they can call their own.
I’m going to call it, “Keeping Up With Origin”, a behind-the-scenes look at the two most passionately supported teams in Australian sport.
The vociferous nature in which we have been consuming absolutely anything to do with State of Origin I makes me think if we could string it out over the entire season we’d pull in viewers by the millions.
Blues coach Ricky Stuart would be perfect as a patriarch trying to hold the family together, with secret meetings and ‘bonding sessions’ with the boys.
That awkward annual phone call to Jamie Lyon to see if he really, really, really, really doesn’t want to play rep footy any more would be compulsory viewing, even if it did only go for 17 seconds.
“Killer, it’s Sticky.”
“Hey Stick.”
“Want to play Origin?”
[A long pause builds tension when really it’s just the way of those from Wee Waa.]
“Nah, not real keen, mate.”
“Thanks mate. Still right for our 8.53 tee-off Wednesday morning?”
“Yeah sweet, see ya then.”
Less than a decade ago concerns were raised following New South Wales’ third straight Series win that unless Queensland became competitive really quickly that the concept was in danger of losing its relevance. In the late 1980s, when Allan Langer joined a team that boasted names such as Lewis, Meninga, Miles, Belcher, Backo, Lindner and Walters (Steve, Kevin or Kerrod!) I clearly recall going to school wondering whether NSW would ever win again.
Well, here we are after six years of Queensland dominance and the passion for Origin seems only to have grown exponentially.
Maybe Origin is at its best when Queensland are the ruling party, but I can’t help but feel that in 2011 the tide started to slowly turn. The build-up to Game Three was extraordinary and if Queensland hadn’t produced the best half of football seen anywhere since the Kangaroos annihilated Great Britain to lead 38-0 at half-time in the 2004 Tri-Nations Final, perhaps the run could have come to an end.
But that’s a massive ‘what if’. The truth of the matter is that Queensland are that good and the Blues are going to have to find a way to reach their level.
We’ll dissect every possible scenario between now and next Wednesday and as they deliberate on the man of the match we can start the banter for the sides for Game Two.
It’s the best reality TV on the planet.
And another thing… For the ultimate State of Origin experience next week be sure to grab a copy of the official State of Origin I program from newsagents everywhere on Monday. There are features with the key players, official team lists, interviews as well as flashbacks to classic Origin moments. A must have collector’s item.
