SIZZLING RIVALRY IN COOL ROOM

ORIGIN fever has taken hold, even in the cold room at a Burleigh Waters butcher shop where it’s mate against mate as Queensland try to head off a feared blue rinse in the series.

The shopfront window at Lovedays Quality Meats is decked from floor to ceiling with balloons, streamers and … colourful snags.

Owner and butcher Andrew Loveday said he used food colouring to create batches of maroon and blue pork sausages.

“It’s a bit of fun to have with the customers,” he said.

“We’re split down the middle in terms of workers. We’ve got two NSW and two Queensland workers. There’s always a bit of friendly banter and that flows on to the customers.”

He said for games one and two the barbecue favourite was insanely popular, and because tonight is the last chance for Queensland to regain some pride, he’s confident the snags will be a sellout.

“We could have a crazy number of people wanting more,” he said.

Employee and NSW fan Luke Newman added: “Definitely made the most of it when we won the series. We loved the win, it was a long time coming,’’ he said.