‘Let anyone play’: Radical change only way to save State of Origin

After an extremely tame State of Origin opener, there’s only one way to save the whimpering showdown between NSW and Queensland.

COMMENT

As far as classic Origins go, last Wednesday’s was about as pulsating as a Senate estimates hearing.

Take nothing away from NSW’s sterling victory, but the opener at Suncorp Stadium was hardly a stone cold thriller that left us quivering on a defibrillator machine sucking a cigarette.

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With its flat crowd, sloppy completion rate and regrettable lack of anything in the ruck that could lawfully carry imprisonment, the game was so free of fizz that even an ebullient Andrew Johns claimed “it wasn’t a genuine Origin” and “more like a good club game”.

Two decades ago, such a tepid tussle in the interstate series would’ve been an outlier only seen in dead rubbers or LA jaunts.

And sure, series openers can be traditionally scrappy affairs as teams wrestle with nerves and fresh combinations.

However, it’s undeniable that such drab affairs like game one have grown in frequency in the interstate contest in recent years.

The State of Origin series opener at Suncorp Stadium was one of the most tame Origins in history.

Sure, Origin still has plenty of runs on the board from decades of memories and medical interventions, and that’s why the concept continues to rate its socks off and give the AFL the sh*ts.

But despite throwing up heart-stopping bar-room brawls like last year’s gripping decider, it’s gradually becoming a spreadsheet exercise eroded of all its romantic traditions, i.e. good footy and violence.

Somewhere along the line, Origin fell victim to the NRL’s social contagion of safety-first, self-preservative games played in spirits diplomatic enough to bring peace to the Middle East.

With coaches treating it like a club fixture by picking their reliable favourites for unimaginative game plans, it means a war of words is now as rare as a good old fashioned softening-up period.

Where stink merchants like Mark Geyer and Carl Webb would guarantee fireworks before wizards like Allan Langer and Andrew Johns took over, now everything’s so polite and overcomplicated the players can barely hold on to the pill.

Yep, the only ‘Origin Fairytale’ in 2025 is finding anyone impressed at full-time who isn’t a Land Rover-driving mum or left-wing social commentator.

And with the concept suffering a crisis of personality, it’s time for some hard truths.

Unless we want Origin to become as memorable as a 6pm Friday night game in round 23 against the Titans, it needs a colossal overhaul to restore its missing magic and chin music.

And the only way to achieve this is to fling open the borders and let anyone play.

State of Origin is crying out for more spite between NSW and Queensland. Photo: QRL

You may think otherwise, but it’s clear the one thing holding back the Blues and the Maroons rivalry is that it involves too many Blues and Maroons.

The palpable discord between Sydney slickness and Queensland grit is no longer cutting it, and we can’t keep relying on Liam Martin and Spencer Leniu to pick a fight in an empty ring to restore it.

As such, it’s time for Origin to sportswash away its effete devolution with an injection of Kiwi flair, Pasifika power and Pommy vaseline.

Blood in Addin Fonua-Blake and Joey Tapine for the Blues and throw the embattled Maroons backline a bone with Jahrome Hughes and Herbie Farnworth.

Imagine if Addin Fonua-Blake, Herbie Farnworth and Joe Tapine could play State of Origin.

Then pick James Fisher-Harris and Nelson Asofa-Solomona on opposite sides and brainwash them about the injustices of hand grenades and bashing Kurt Gidley.

Then just sit back and marvel as this tired concept roars back to life.

Many will argue introducing anyone and everyone to Origin risks corrupting the fabric of the beloved concept, and fair enough.

But you can’t protect Origin’s magic dust if there’s no Origin.

Of course, such a radical change will require a slight tweak of eligibility laws.

Origin heritage is currently based on your state of birth and where you were raised, however the new rules will stipulate that any player can qualify simply by reciting their state’s team song.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona is suited to the brutality of the Origin arena. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Yep, it’s basically the same eligibility rules Queensland already use now anyway, meaning this change simply addresses their unjust advantage of having a three syllable song like ‘Yippi Yi’ just because they’re all illiterate.

Then to make it fair, split the Pacific Islands between the two states; NSW can have New Zealand, Queensland can have Tasmania.

Giving the states carte blanche over the Pacific not only formalises the current free-for-all, it means Origin can be reborn with a fresh face reflective of Australia’s multicultural society.

It also means the concept contributes in the security partnership against China, and let’s see if the CCP keeps up their carry-on when faced with ‘Back Fence Spence’.

- Dane Eldridge is a warped cynic yearning for the glory days of rugby league, a time when the sponges were magic and the Mondays were mad. He’s never strapped on a boot in his life, and as such, should be taken with a grain of salt.

Originally published as ‘Let anyone play’: Radical change only way to save State of Origin