I spent the first 30 years of my life in Sydney before moving to Melbourne.

Every year in my adopted state I would don my NSW jersey with pride and try to roar NSW home.

Tonight Queensland has won Game 2 and becomes the first team to win five series in a row.

All that this once proud New South Welshman can say is congratulations – and respect.

The reason I say once proud is that this NSW “team” has left me embarrassed and disgusted.

Not because of the magnitude of the scoreboard, as Queensland was clearly the best team. They are a true wonder of the world who play with passion, commitment and a sense of teamwork that would inspire even the great teams of this World Cup.

I am instead embarrassed about NSW due to the racist comments from a player who I used to think was the best thing the game had produced – and I am even more embarassed about people who say his comments weren’t wrong as they were never meant for a wider audience.

Racism is racism whether it is heard by one person or the world.

I am disgusted about players like Luke O’Donnell whose headbutt and cheap shot on a player who was being held would be called barbaric even by UFC standards, yet more cowardly than anything seen in those cages.

Many NSW fans hoped that our “enforcer” Paul Gallen who was missing in Game  1 would make a difference. Gallen has made a living from playing close to the edges of the game – tonight he went right over the edge, and hopefully out of State of Origin forever.  NSW needs cold steel right now, not loose cannons.

And our “Captain” Kurt Gidley was named tonight to start on the bench. Please lead our State Mr Gidley – but don’t think you will be out on the field doing it.  All it would have taken is for Gidley to have chased a few cheerleaders around the bench during the game to a zany musical backdrop, and we would have a skit that Benny Hill would be proud of.

At least it would be comical if it wasn’t my State sliding into oblivion…

I will of course watch Game 3 but it will take plenty for NSW to win this once proud fan back.

Is it too much to ask for a new coach, new selectors, a team that plays hard but fair, and a captain that actually plays with the team….

A team that a whole State can be proud of. Not just Benny Hill…

Dalligan on League