NSW Trains swipe Queensland with cheeky State of Origin sledge
The Blues need all the help they can get in this year’s Origin series and Transport NSW had a savage message for Queenslanders.
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It’s fair to say NSW footy fans are pretty sick of losing the annual State of Origin series to Queensland.
The fiercest sporting rivalry that exists between the two states has been a landslide for the best part of two decades by those crafty Canetoads.
In the last 18 series dating back to 2006, the Maroons have won an utterly unacceptable 14 of them, which includes a hard to stomach eight straight from 2006 through 2013.
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After consecutive triumphs under Brad Fittler in 2018 and 2019 gave NSW fans hope, the Maroons have hit back by winning three of the past four, including the last two in a row.
So to put it simply, the mighty Blues need any help they can get, and Transport NSW has decided to do their bit for a land mass struggling to maintain its moniker as “the Premier State”.
Earlier this week, Channel 7 interviewed Taylor Owens, who is the voice of the NSW Trains network.
They soon discovered that one of Owens’ recent tasks was to record a special message for the millions of passengers that use the network each week.
“The voiceover artist (was) called in to record an urgent transport announcement ahead of Australia’s greatest sporting rivalry, the State of Origin,” 7 journalist Lucy McLeod said.
The story then cuts to Owens in the studio as she recorded an ice-cold directive at any interloping Queenslanders.
“Can all NSW-born travellers please move to the top carriage to allow room for Queenslanders to take their rightful place down the bottom,” she said in that trademark voice.
Granted, it’s only a small gesture, but NSW will take it as they strive to stop Queensland snaring a third straight series. Again.
Social media users were happy to play along as the face behind one of the state’s most recognisable voices took a shot at Queensland.
“Don’t hit us with top and bottom... last time I saw the map NSW is on the bottom of Queensland,” was one comment on Instagram.
“Rightful place!” another wrote, along with a cry laughing emoji.
“Hahahahaha yessss, that announcement,” wrote another.
“Queenslanders are happy to welcome you,” declared another, in what we suspect is a typical Maroons shot at reverse psychology.
Others were shocked to learn the identity behind the voice.
One wrote: “Never thought that’s actually a human voice till now.”
Another said “I thought it’s a robot behind the voice.”
And more than one was sure a well-known Aussie woman was the voice of trains in NSW.
“I always thought it was Gretel Killeen that did those announcements,” one wrote.
In terms of the footy, Game 1 will kick off at Accor Stadium on Wednesday next week, with huge crowds sure to use the train to get to the ground.
NSW playmaker Jarome Luai is one ready to renew hostilities with the Maroons and particularly their superstar Reece Walsh after the duo were sent off in Game 2 of last year’s series.
Luai and Walsh were involved in a series of heated moments, with the pair sent from the ground after one of the more fiery exchanges at Suncorp Stadium included the two headbutting each other.
After a heavy loss in Brisbane that night, Luai was dropped for the third game and feared his final memories in a Blues jersey would be hearing 52,433 Queensland fans give it to him as he walked up the tunnel in the dying seconds.
It was a wild finish to the game as Josh Addo-Carr was sent to the sin bin for throwing a punch before Walsh and Luai lashed out with their heads a few weeks after the Broncos fullback had pulled the Penrith star’s long mane of hair in the series opener.
The three-time premiership winner called him “a bit weak” for the hair pull at the time, but Luai understands his role and knows he can’t afford to spend any time off the field as the Blues look to win back the shield.
“(Walsh) wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s a competitor because that’s what it takes to get into this Origin arena in the first place,” Luai said.
“You’ve got to have that chip on your shoulder to get here and then it’s about who is able to connect together better and play as a team.
“I think it (the hair pull) was the first game, that’s Origin, man.
“I’m there to do a job, I don’t want to find myself in the bin or anything like that.
“I wear this jersey with pride and I want to do everything I can to get the win, I’m playing for my family and everyone in NSW so that’s where my passion comes from.”
Luai will partner former touch footy teammate Nicho Hynes in the halves for the series opener in Sydney, with his form for Penrith enough to win back his jersey after he was dropped for last year’s dead rubber.
It’s an incredible comeback by a man who had to deal with death threats online 12 months ago.
While the Blues halves seem to be in place, Parramatta’s Mitch Moses may have thrown a spanner in the NSW works on Thursday night after his starring role returning from injury in the Eels’ 34-22 victory over Cronulla.
Parramatta also welcomed back captain Clint Gutherson but it was the return of Moses that appeared to ignite the Eels attack.
Moses had been sidelined since breaking his foot in round 3 but clearly hadn’t missed a beat, orchestrating just the Eels’ fourth win of the season.
Speaking post-game on Channel 9, Moses revealed he hadn’t really started kicking again until Monday this week.
But there was speculation that if he could get back on the field, he’d be in the NSW Blues No. 7 jersey for State of Origin Game 1.
Asked if there was a chance he could have come back a week early, Moses said he did everything he could.
“I tried two weeks earlier but it just didn’t pull up right,” Moses said. “I couldn’t go out on the field and let the boys down.
“I tried to come back early enough, I gave it every chance and tried my best but it didn’t come up right.”
And fans were blown away by the performance, calling for Moses to be parachuted into the Blues team with Nicho Hynes struggling with a calf injury.
WWOS’ The Mole tweeted: “PUT MOSES INTO ORIGIN!!!! Nicho will do his hammy at training tomorrow!!!”
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Freelance sports reporter Luke Robinson suggested: “Not too late to get Moses into Blues camp for game 1! The best option they have.”
ABC Sports stats man Brad Tallon said: “Any chance Nicho is ruled out tomorrow and Moses brought in …”
— with NCA Newswire
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