State of Origin kick-off shame: Won’t someone think of the fans?
Game III is scheduled to kick off at 8.05pm but let’s be honest, we’re more likely to see an Alfie Langer intercept as water boy than that actually happening, writes Matty Holdsworth.
Opinion
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Tonight’s State of Origin 3 is scheduled for an 8.05pm kick-off but let’s be honest, we’re more likely to see an Alfie Langer intercept as water boy than that actually happening.
Cue the outrage when 8.05pm rolls around and vision of NSW and Queensland players still huddled in the sheds and we get a delayed start yet again.
By the time the players finally take the field and get through the national anthem it’ll be closer to 8.30pm than the scheduled time.
As guaranteed as a Joey Johns’ sulk when the Blues are clean swept, punters on social media will blow up deluxe.
I’m fully in their camp.
I want to see Big Tino Fa’asuamaleaui running full pelt at the Blues before 8pm. I want to see the fire of new boy Corey Horsburgh and series hero Lindsay Collins before 8.30pm.
We want to see Daly Cherry-Evans lift the shield before 10pm.
But that won’t happen.
Channel 9’s coverage starts at 7pm AEST, meaning for more than a full hour Johns, Gus Gould and co drone on in attempt to promote a dead rubber not being a dead rubber.
It’s going to be a long hour.
For me, I actually enjoy a Wednesday night Origin. It’s the night I’ve always associated Origin with and love that it breaks up the week.
And working in media I get why Channel 9 has the kick-off when it does to maximise advertising revenue. But fair dinkum, isn’t it more important to get as many kids’ eyeballs on the screen to grow the game at a grassroots level than counting coin?
Someone at Channel 9, will you think of the children?
Will you think of the tens of thousands of fans who attend matches and have to travel home afterwards?
Will you think of the thousands of hungover Queenslanders who needed that extra half an hour of sleep come Thursday morning?
We’re begging you, just bring it forward.
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