State of Origin Rugby one way to keep fans and broadcasters happy

State of Origin rugby is the perfect spectacle for imperfect times now that Australian rugby has suddenly become a blank canvas.

Melbourne Rebels five-eighth Matt Toomua would be eligible to wear the No 10 shirt for a Queensland side if rugby looks to put on a State of Origin match. Picture: Getty Images

State of Origin Rugby is the perfect spectacle for imperfect times now that Australian rugby has suddenly become a blank canvas in need of some edgy experiments.

The best bred in Queensland against the best from NSW would spin Brumbies duo Tom Banks and James Slipper into Queensland Reds jerseys again, and Brisbane State High old boy Matt Toomua might be a Melbourne Rebel-turned-Red for a day.

You could find Reds locks Izack Rodda and Angus Blyth in sky blue because of their NSW birth quirks before the eligibility fight starts over their Year 12 schooling being done in Queensland.

You won’t have to “sell” the merit of Origin footy to Queensland coach Brad Thorn, who played 11 State of Origin games for the Maroons in league as a teammate to Darren Lockyer and co.

It is Origin, so sideline Kiwi Rob Penney from NSW coaching duties for the day and bring in NSW great David Campese, who did actually apply for the job.

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Fanciful, controversial, unworkable, in a health crisis like this … Origin Rugby is all those things but when a new normal emerges, it may have to be debated to help save the code.

Rugby Australia is doing a fine job to formulate a 10-week domestic season from early April now the teams from the five nations that make up Super Rugby can no longer travel overseas.

The logistics are immense just to organise venues (empty, of course), transport, a draw and a long list of health protocols.

Even then, like the NRL and AFL, it will be fingers-crossed that the Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels and the reactivated Western Force can play without interruption. Already, it’s obvious that the money-spinning Wallabies-Ireland Test series (July 4 and 11) is under serious threat and that would be another huge financial hole in RA’s finances.

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That’s where Origin Rugby comes in as a potential alternative to enliven fans and capture viewers for broadcaster Fox Sports.

Former Wallaby Daniel Herbert was still Reds general manager in late 2016 when he was a strong advocate of the Origin idea. He will be a new RA board member on March 30 and said on Sunday there would be a time to raise the Origin concept.

“It’s not the time to fly it up the flagpole when everyone is in survival mode but when things calm down it may be right to revisit the concept,” Herbert said.

“It’s possible rugby is staring at a very fragmented season so looking at content for broadcasters and fans will be a discussion.”

The arguments that hosed down the Origin concept chatter when it last flamed in late 2016 have all been jumbled by the alarming health situation:

• Rugby is not a simple Queensland v NSW divide like rugby league: This is still true when the Brumbies are so strong and the Rebels also exist. You would be selling an Origin clash to receptive players as a panacea for the code.

• No room in a crowded calendar: This argument has evaporated. The season is a blank canvas. Turn the day into a Wallabies’ trial double-header — Queensland Origin v NSW Origin and Junior Wallabies v The Rest.

• No real interest: Rubbish. In times like this, creative minds solve health and footy problems. Fox Sports would love it and, with no sevens being played, it’s a vehicle to watch the magic stepping of wonder Maurice Longbottom.

• Contract muddle: Desperate times can unravel anything to free players for this or perhaps this is the reason for not taking a 10 per cent pay cut this month.

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