INTERSTATE RIVALRIES KEEP PAIR ON TOES
THERE’S not the big hits but touch football’s own State of Origin is every bit the grudge match that its rugby league counterpart is known for.
Queensland and NSW will go toe-to-toe across various levels, headlined by the open men’s and women’s matches, from today in Redcliffe.
“The intensity and the fast pace, it matches league in that,” said Queensland’s Peter Norman.
The Gold Coaster, 27, has bragging rights on the line with his partner of 18 months Danielle Davis, who will also be in action and describes herself as “NSW through and through”.
“A lot of the girls that play for Queensland, we play with for Australia as well so it’s nice to split back into our states and have that rivalry where it’s just completely like Origin, it’s on,” Davis, 24, said.
“Moving up here from NSW has made it a little bit interesting for this series as well. I have only been up here for six months.”
Of their own banter, Norman added with a laugh: “She carries on a lot more than me with that rivalry.”
The series opener will be played today, with games two and three held tomorrow.
NSW are the defending champs from the open men’s division while Queensland’s women won last start.
The series comes off the back of the inaugural NRL Touch Premiership, which will expand in 2019.