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
Dalligan, I cannot stay silent on this post. Love or support for your State is based on what is in your heart and your upbringing. It should never be based on the disgusting actions of a few. My love of the Blues comes because I was also raised in NSW, like my father I player rugby league growing up and my son followed and kept the family tradition alive.
What has upset you is exactly what has upset me, my family and good mates. The game has stood the test of time through past scandals. Don’t drop off the blues because of the actions of a few on and off the field. Rather call for stronger action against those who malign our beloved game.
In a similar manner, should we in Sydney fail to support the emergence of the new AFL franchise GWS because their spokesperson Dipper has made a racist remark? Should we discourage our kids from loving and supporting the great game of AFL because of Mal Brown’s comments? No! Again let’s call for the strongest of sanctions against anyone who brings our great games into disrepute.
My greatest love amongst sport is the GGs. Despite jockeys pulling horses and trainers using illegal substances the sport in each state thrives because in racing we weed out those who may bring it down.
Dalligan, don’t take an axe to a great sport and don’t allow the actions of a few spoil your support for the blues. True Blue supporters will ensure we rise above the recent past and True Blue supporters will stick with whoever wears the mighty NSW jumper especially in these difficult times both on and off the field. All hail the champion Qld team but let’s make them start looking over their shoulder because we are coming to get them. Maybe not in 2010 or even 2011 but that is the beauty of support, you follow with your heart in good and bad times.
I agree 100% with your call “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….”
Go the mighty Blue!
A great post.
I can assure you that like a sinner before the gates of heaven I will always come crawling on back to the Blues…
I am also a Rabbitohs tragic – who surely test anyone’s loyalty and commitment as much as any sporting team in this country. See last night for one further example of what we go through following the red and green. Losing the unloseable – one year to beat the Broncos for the first time in 10 years we had to just hold the ball for 7 seconds – I will let you guess the rest…
You will agree as a sports fanatic that the greater the passion the greater the pain. And the pain from this year’s State of Origin came not from losing to one of the best teams of all time but the manner of defeat.
No structure, no faith in players given their chance and no strategy as far as I could see (unless trying to outjump Israel Folau was actually their strategy).
I also wonder what the best player at the best team (here’s looking at you Mr Soward) has to do to get his chance at a Blues jersey.
I love your passion Sydney Colt and I can assure you that we are singing from the same songsheet.
Hopefully next year that will be the NSW theme song…
Yours in red, green and blue,
Dalligan on League