State of Origin cauldron awaits as Panthers, Dragons clash lives up to expectation

HAS the game ever craved a State of Origin series more, than it does today? The next six weeks is perfectly timed for a code that’s been spluttered under a doona of drama for the past three months.

Nathan Cleary was outstanding in his final audition before Origin selection.

HAS the game ever craved a State of Origin series more, than it does today?

Rugby League is built on divided opinions and views.

But few would argue that the next six weeks is the most perfectly-timed elixir for a code, which for the past three months, has coughed and spluttered under a doona of drama.

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Nathan Cleary was outstanding in his final audition before Origin selection.

From the blundered women’s competition to the polarising referee crackdown, if ever the game needed to press pause and take a big deep breath, it’s now.

Saturday night at Penrith Stadium, an Origin entree’ was served in more ways than one.

Firstly, the match officials, led by lead referee Gerard Sutton were crucial to the brutal intensity of the match.

Referee brothers Gerard and Chris Sutton allowed the game to flow. Pic: Phil Hillyard

Thankfully, they allowed the 34 players to push the boundaries and battle - just like Origin - highlighted by just six first-half penalties.

Secondly, Nathan Cleary, whose only cloud of uncertainty which hovered over him for a Blues jumper was his conditioning, delivered in a match of Origin-like speed.

“That first half was as about as fast a half I’ve ever played in,’’ Blues halfback favourite Nathan Cleary told 2GB moments after the match.

And yet he finished with a try, three tackle busts, two offloads, a line-break and just three missed tackles.

Saturday night, with 11 Origin candidates on show, it showed every league fan what an Origin jumper means to the players.

Penrith forward Trent Merrin, superb for his side with 130-metres, summed what a call from Brad Fittler tomorrow would mean, saying simply: “It would mean everything, to be honest.’’

Typically, State of Origin is viewed by most league fans as a necessary evil.

Origin selectors have a few extra headaches from the clash.

Six weeks of football, watched through squinted eyes by fans who wait in hope that their favourite players survive - and return to club football uninjured.

Not this year.

There’s an excitement that is usually spared for September. There’s a thirst for something new and a break from being forced to #talkupthegame.

Penrith’s thumping win doesn’t need talking up.

Origin won’t either.

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