State of Origin III: Distinct lack of hate between NSW and Queensland this year

THIS has been the most unusual Origin campaigns in years. Relations between the two camps, NSW and Queensland, have never been more cordial, writes PAUL KENT.

Maroons captain Cameron Smith at the Queensland press conference on Tuesday.

QUEENSLAND players turned up to Tuesday’s press conference in a militant mood.

They sported RLPA caps planted firmly on RLPA heads.

Forget anything about Origin.

This has been the most unusual Origin campaigns in years.

Relations between the two camps, NSW and Queensland, have never been more cordial. Hardly a word in anger said publicly. Not a punch thrown on the field.

The most we have heard is Andrew Fifita complaining of sledging in Game II, while not saying what exactly offended him.

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Soon after Smith fronted the Queensland press day in his RLPA cap the biggest issue in the game at the moment, negotiations for the Collective Bargaining Agreement, got underway.

Some are suggesting certain journalists sympathetic to the RLPA cause were urged to ask Smith questions about the current negotiations.

NSW players don Rugby League Players Players Association hats at a team picture at their Kingscliff camp on Tuesday.

If so, we are a pretty simple lot. Just the cap would have been enough to prompt at least one question.

It had the desired effect.

Hours after Smith began beating the drums of war the RLPA staged a walkout stunt. Confirmation came via an NRL spokesman, hoping the RLPA would come back to “continue to negotiate”.

Or did they walk out?

The RLPA argued it was no stunt and not even a walkout.

“The meeting was over,” RLPA chief executive Ian Prendergast said. The RLPA had presented its case, Prendergast saying, “When a meeting is over you get up and walk out.”

The RLPA believe the NRL is positioning the union to make the players appear greedy.

They have already backed down on claiming leagues club funding, contra, a portion of wagering and digital costs as part of the game’s total revenue.

Yet they have been portrayed as walking out after the game said he could not meet the demand for a fixed percentage.

Meanwhile, the game finds its own conflict.

Maroons captain Cameron Smith at the Queensland press conference on Tuesday.

In the absence of any genuine news out of Origin other than injury updates, there came a small voice in the wilderness.

A plea from St George Illawarra to protect an investment worth many hundreds of thousands of dollars as Origin devours the NRL competition once again.

The Dragons reminded NSW that Tyson Frizell suffered a fresh rib cartilage injury and that his welfare was paramount. Read into that what you will.

Naturally Frizell is desperate to play against Queensland.

He is one of many who know Origin is so big it is barely worth writing anything else through June unless you want to occupy ground next door to the sports details.

It is a problem nobody can find a universal solution for, though everyone has an opinion. Which, of course, is typical of our game.

Origin’s impact on the competition is immense.

The perfect example of its toll lies tattered at the feet of North Queensland coach Paul Green.

He lost Johnathan Thurston when the half limped off with a calf injury against Wests Tigers in round six.

Thurston missed the next three games for the Cowboys but made it back to the field for the next available game. A Test for Australia.

Where he injured his shoulder.

He was out again, missed Origin I in Brisbane, and made it back for the Cowboys in round 14.

He was stood down for the Cowboys’ next game against Melbourne because he was in Origin camp and then he headed out for Queensland where, with a shoulder held together by elastoplast and hope, it all went ping and he was operated on last week, season over.

James Tedesco hurt himself in Origin II and hasn’t played since, missing two Tigers games, but will line up for NSW next week.

Same for NSW skipper Boyd Cordner.

Cordner played Origin I and bravely backed up three days later against Brisbane, but did not play again until Origin II.

There he injured his calf and has missed every game since and now he tries to make it back for the Origin decider.

It is the real toll of the cost the players are fighting for.

We just need to decide is what’s fair.