Rabbits in fine form as clash lives up to hype

RABBITS summed it up in one.

“It’s going to be a cracker,” said The Voice of Rugby League.

When Latrell Mitchell scored his try we could see what he was talking about.

After sounding a little flat during Game One, Ray ‘ Rabbits’ Warren was back to his superlative best.

“A dynasty teeters on the edge,” he boomed. “A new dawn awakes.”

Greg Inglis was “superhuman”; Billy Slater “the greatest No. 1 ever”.

As for the game itself, it had the potential to transcend sport.

“It is the match that could shape a generation.”

That remains to be seen, but there is no question it was great rugby league, and great television.

That’s the thing about Origin. Channel 9 can come up with all the hi- tech bells and whistles they like in order to enhance the coverage, but why bother?

No holograms or metre readers or aerial drone shots can come close to the drama and desperation of two teams of supreme athletes taking their bodies beyond the limits of normal endurance.

Nothing concocted with a computer program can provide the split- second unpredictability of Origin.

As Fatty Vautin said: “Queensland’s defence is a lot better. They missed 55 tackles in the first game. They’ve only missed five in the first 24 minutes of this one...”

Almost before the words were out of his mouth Josh Addo- Carr jinked his way over for the Blues’ first try.

“… and they’ve just missed six, seven and eight.”

And much as he might drive us crazy, nothing can compare with the theatre of Gus Gould in full flight.

His performance pleading for a penalty try was Oscar- worthy.

“He’s easily going to get there. Easily going to get there. Come on Mr Video Referee. It’s a penalty try.”

Fatty gave it his best shot – “He might have bounced it” – but to no avail.

“Great decision,” said Gus. “Brave decision.”

Before kick- off, as he was interviewing Kevvie Walters “down in the bowels of the Queensland dressing room” Fatty had said, “I wish I could get out there”.

But that’s another thing about Origin that can’t be beaten. The wheel turns and, as Rabbits said, “a new dawn awakes”.