No roomfor sentiment in Origin
It’s been a quiet leadup, lacking the usual spite and petty point-scoring.
Robbie Farah and Matt Scott are acutely aware there is more to life than State of Origin, yet the grieving duo will still experience even more angst or be uplifted when Australian rugby league’s pinnacle event is decided at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
The New South Wales hooker and Queensland prop shared common ground as they mourned the loss of their mothers to cancer between game two and the final in Brisbane, though sentiment will be set aside for 80 minutes as team-mates strive to either snap a frustrating losing streak or celebrate seven successive series wins.
For Farah and Scott the match could be an ideal diversion to their off-field dramas, and perhaps in deference to their suffering the buildup to Origin III has unusually lacked spite and petty point-scoring.
Ironically, one of the most incendiary comments came from James Tamou, the Palmerston North-born Blues prop, and it was the New Zealand Rugby League that would take offence, not Queensland.
Tamou refuelled the eligibility debate when encouraging New Zealand-born players to follow his example and chose Australia Origin over a Kiwis jumper – at least while the rules allow.
‘‘The New Zealand boys who might have been here since they were young might have been too scared, or too concerned about the media and hype about it so I hope some boys might be looking at me and say, ‘Well, if he did it, that’s what I want to do’. ‘‘I hope I might’ve started something there.’’
But between the fair-dinkum Aussies respect has been mutual.
Even the ubiquitous ‘‘underdog’’ tag has gone unclaimed, a surprise considering NSW are presumed to be walking into an ambush when they run on to the old Lang Park.
Not just recent history suggests the Blues will be hard pressed to avoid more heartache at the final siren.
Since the inaugural Origin series in 1980 a team has won the decider away from home on only five occasions – NSW were successful at Suncorp in 1994 and 2005 but lost five other clashes when the series was on the line in Brisbane.
Queensland started their current dynasty in 2006 but for once the Blues hold genuine hope of avoiding another humiliating night where the statues of Wally Lewis and Artie Beetson stand defiantly on the forecourt.
Darren Lockyer, another Maroons legend, is also immortalised in bronze at the venue and it is his retirement that gives NSW an upside they did not experience 12 months ago.
Lockyer’s farewell spurred on Queensland after the series was levelled in Syd- ney and although it is now the Origin swansong of another favourite son, Petero Civoniceva, the big prop is the antithesis of his former captain.
The playmaker was at the peak of his powers when he called it quits. Civoniceva is lumbering toward the finish line – a contribution that mirrors Queensland’s performances so far.
Lockyer has proved more difficult to replace than anticipated although Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston are Australia’s premier halves combination.
Neither has been as influential as expected, Cameron Smith has been overshadowed by Farah while another Maroon mainstay, fullback Billy Slater was also off his game before he damaged knee ligaments.
In a positive for Queensland, Greg Inglis promises to prove more potent in the No 1 jersey so Mitchell Pearce is on notice to ensure his kicks are contestable or land in space after the NSW halfback flirted with danger by punting down Slater’s throat in game two.
Queensland is also missing industrious lock Ashley Harrison, though Corey Parker is a like-for-like replacement and Sam Thaiday returns despite a bung shoulder. But it remains to be seen whether Ben Te’o is capable of running amok Dave Taylor-style.
Mal Meninga dropped his out-of-form XXL factor for the fifth New Zealandborn player to wear Maroon, though Taylor’s destruction of Penrith on Sunday suggests his omission could be an oversight.
The Coal Train has been shunted – amid rumours of domestic disharmony – so Mrs Taylor might receive an honour- able mention if Paul Gallen makes the winners’ speech.
While Taylor is in the dog box, his clone at Blues is primed to make an impact from the bench after missing game two.
Tony Williams has played only four NRL games this season for Manly but he has still amassed 34 tackle breaks. Williams also rag-dolled 10 Maroons during nine runs in Origin I before he was sidelined with a bad back, so even if he is less than 100 per cent the rampaging second-rower should still be a handful.