State of Origin 2014, the Story - part 1
With State of Origin nearing kick off, each week leading up to and throughout State of Origin the Mystery Dr will serve up something like this...
The battle of the colours is synonymous with the streets, but each year two sides of the border come together in battle on blades of grass. Blood has been spilled in both battlefields, but only one has as much interest or plot twists as a novel. Most of us watch this battle from the outside, we might pledge allegiance to the Maroon or Sky Blue but we watch from a distance, from New Zealand. We aren't invested in it like those from Sydney's west or Queensland's country towns. But we still get up. We still yell, scream, cry and talk shit. It is State of Origin. A battle of colours. A battle of history. A battle of identity. A battle of ... well it's just a battle that I bloody love watching.
A dynasty. Years of domination. The Queenslanders have the blueprint, they've done did if for longer than many can memory. Some people only know State of Origin as being a vehicle for us to listen to the Maroons singing 'aye aye yippee aye' (not sure on the exact words). But as each year rolls around, each month passes by, we draw closer to the next series. The next opportunity for NSW to reclaim what they believe is theirs.
There is always hope, 2014 is no different. Queensland have a group of seasoned vets who have experienced a vast array of emotions and learnings which sport can offer. There always comes a point when players reach their peak and begin the slide down the other side. They slide in to oblivion, the slide in to the abyss of memory. Could we be reaching said time? Queensland have a core group of players who have been front and centre of the dynasty, when will their time come? The enthusiasm and vigour of youth doesn't come off second best forever.
There comes a time when the guard changes.
The guard doesn't always change how we expect however.
The guard will change with a new champion. A new winner. A team who can end the dominance of their opposition. But the guard can also change within the champion. You see the men from the sunshine state are under pressure from those younger in age but equal in skill and talent. State of Origin dazzles because for people like me we can sit back and enjoy the stories, everything that goes on around and within the greatest arena. 2014 will be no different. What will be different is that as we near the end of this great Queensland team's reign, we will see the changing of the guard in some fashion.
30 is a ripe ol' age for a footy player. The perfect mix of experience, wisdom and athletic prowess. The likes of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Brent Tate, Corey Parker, Justin Hodges, Jonathan Thurston and Nate Myles are all at that stage or nearing it. They will all push for 10. 10 is the magic number, nice, round, wholesome and unlikely to be achieved again anytime soon.
The footy gods, jah and allah all work in mysterious ways however. As soon as you think beyond tomorrow, you a brought back to reality. Whether the players mentioned above a brought back tor reality by a band of hungry, determined and amped to a near phsycotic level group of New South Welshmen or it is a group of young Queensland players who step in to the limelight, remains to be seen.