State of Origin lacking classic spiteful build-up as Blues and Maroons play nice

WHERE did all the spite go? This year’s State of Origin will be remembered as the friendly series. Let’s hope that changes, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

NSW's Boyd Cordner and Jack Bird during NSW State of Origin training at Cudgen Leagues Club, Kingscliff. Picture: Brett Costello

THIS year’s State of Origin will be remembered as the “friendly” series.

No one in the NSW Blues side has been slammed for being “disrespectful” or walking off during a Cameron Smith victory speech.

No one is calling fans north of the border “two heads”. No one is saying “Wally is a wanker”.

There’s no Mal Meninga to complain about “rats and filth, lies and arrogance”.

Or Ricky Stuart blowing up about referees.

This is more like a build-up to a Scone polo tournament. Everyone is being so nice.

You wouldn’t meet two better blokes than Laurie Daley and Kevin Walters.

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Even Johnathan Thurston didn’t abuse Mitchell Pearce this year.

Now Nate Myles is gone, who do we dislike other than Will ­Chambers?

Queensland have no dirt on our skipper Boyd Cordner, other than that he once shared a flat with Todd Carney.

Not even The Courier-Mail ­headline writers can find a reason to bag him.

Mitchell Pearce and Blues celebrate a NSW try in State of Origin I.

State of Origin was a contest built around hate and animosity from the moment Arthur Beetson planted one on the chin of his Parramatta Eels teammate Mick Cronin 37 years ago.

Then there was the night Les Boyd broke Darryl Brohman’s jaw. (Not that we condone that.) And the game when Ray Price and Chris Close slugged it out on the SCG.

Paul “The Chief” Harragon bashed up Marty Bella. Mark Geyer stood toe-to-toe with King Wally. Paul Gallen whacked Myles.

Maybe we should blame Big Mal in that he has done too good a job with Australia’s Kangaroos.

Somehow he’s turned old enemies into close comrades.

Cameron Smith actually likes Aaron Woods. And vice-versa.

Darius Boyd gets on with Josh Dugan. Dave Klemmer is tight with Josh Papalii.

Even Queenslanders now respect Andrew Fifita. The world has gone officially mad.

We devote paragraphs to James Maloney and Billy Slater having a wrestle because it’s as inflammatory as it gets in a tame series.

It hasn’t gone unnoticed with former skipper Gallen, the man who used to stoke the fire.

“I’ve noticed it big time,” he said.

Maroons star Cooper Cronk Blues gun Aaron Woods pose with the State of Origin shield earlier this year.

“Not everyone wants to say what they actually think.

“When (Tim) Glasby got sprayed in the paper, players from NSW even apologised to him.

“I found that a bit friendly and a bit weird considering what The Courier-Mail has done to NSW players for years. Freddy (Fittler) and Joey (Johns) said the same as me.”

Fittler was critical of the Blues for lacking a killer instinct in game two.

“We showed compassion towards Tim Glasby. I thought that showed no sign of killer,” Fittler said.

“We just don’t have it. Even the look sometimes in the eyes of Queensland.

“Andrew Fifita comes off and says players were sledging him. So what? Save it for the next game.”

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This isn’t quite what the great Ron McAuliffe had in mind when he launched Origin footy in 1980.

Goodness gracious me. We even have players from both camps aligned on the pay dispute and wearing the same RLPA caps for publicity shoots.

This gentlemanly behaviour is OK. There’s nothing wrong with being nice and gracious.

As long as it’s thrown out the window at 8.10pm on Wednesday night.

We want a good old-fashioned Origin game.

We want some madness and some spite. Some sledging and a bit of biffo. Something.

Shake hands and have a beer ­afterwards. And go the Blues.