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Opinion
If you sat down to watch Origin III on Wednesday night and struggled to get your interest levels ramped up to the equivalent of what they once were, you are not the only one.
Plenty of people I come across dislike many aspects of the series, more so now than ever before and the romanticised glory of the contest I felt as a young child has well and truly lessened over the years.
In that time, the clear shift between an idealist youngster who believed that a triumph for the state from which they hail makes their own life more purposeful, to the ramblings of a cynical old man has become complete.
These days, I care very little for the contest, with a desire to see the entire spectacle done and a return to the football that really matters; week to week NRL action and our club’s efforts to climb Everest.
There are a host of reasons why some people feel this way.
Being a Foxtel customer, I am forced just a handful of times a year to listen to the inane nonsense and butchering of the English language dished out by the free-to-air broadcaster.
My favourite moment from Wednesday night’s coverage was Mathew Thompson use of the phrase “he tries to leverage a pass”, while watching a tackled ball carrier looking for the offload.
Leverage? Along with his banshee-like screams that eventually led to a muting of the television, and the dreary Andrew Johns chiming in, I empathised completely with folks who put up with such nonsense on a week to week basis.
Both of my kids were nodding off early in the second half due to an absurd kick-off time, 8.08pm as near as I can tell, that continues to baffle me year on year.
Of course, the prime-time period and historical metrics determine it, yet it seems madness to have seven-year-old future stars of the NRL and NRLW forced to stay alert to near 10.30pm to soak up the match and a small portion of the post-game.
Blues players celebrate after winning the series 2-1. How many youngsters fell asleep and missed the moment? (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
In terms of the actual football played, it was as intense as ever, perhaps even more so. However, the rafferty’s rules that prevail thanks to a referee under immense pressure and overseeing a game played at the most ridiculous of speeds being unable to make consistent and mostly astute decisions, noticeably harms the spectacle.
The Roar of the Crowd were all over Ashley Klein during Wednesday’s decider and rightly so. Questionable attempts to control the ruck were at all-time high from both teams.
Flopping into tackles was common, players were cribbing into off-side positions frequently and the absurd desperation to allow the game to flow at all costs led to the try-less first half.
There was certainly entertainment factor, yet the reluctance to crack down and apply the rules as they are during NRL play made for two obvious outcomes.
Firstly, a tinderbox of frustration was lit and it erupted with cleared benches that will now see players suspended as a result. In addition, there is a sad reality that Origin these days exists clearly for the spectacle and not a game of rugby league played under the current rules.
We all know the application of the rules is different in interstate competition, yet it is probable that it has never ever been more the case than it is today.
Mitchell Moses breaks through for the final time in 2024. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Along with those to be suspended, NRL clubs already negatively impacted by the absenteeism of their best players during the six weeks of Origin will now suffer the injury fall-out.
Parramatta will lose Mitchell Moses with a bicep tear as the club attempts to avoid the wooden spoon, whilst Dylan Edwards’ importance to the Panthers could be exposed if the knee injury he picked up on Wednesday keeps him off the field in the short term.
With what is a seriously compromised NRL draw to begin with, the impact of Origin makes it even further so and it is only now with the final quarter of the home and away season to come that coaches have full access to their best talent.
Sadly for a few teams who have not come through the period unscathed, it could end their chances of competing deep into the finals, or improving late and setting themselves up positively for next season.
In combination with the natural attrition of NRL play and frequent suspensions, the injured and suspended stars put a few squads under some pressure, at a time of the year when it matters the most.
It was another wonderfully attended Origin series. The passion was there, the football stunning at times, yet I am happy to be called a grumpy old bugger who sees less and less lustre in the game’s most valuable money-spinning asset.
It always worth a watch, but as a rugby league fan it is not a fait accompli that all will share the same passion and enjoyment of the three matches.
I’m more looking forward to the battle for the NRL top eight.