If State of Origin’s not for sheep stations, count me out

If the current crop of AFL players continues to push for the return of State of Origin footy and the AFL complies, we need to get a couple of things straight.

State of Origin footy is not, was not and should never be our own version of the NBA’s All-Star weekend. Footy is a unique sport in so many ways, but something I’ve observed over a long period of time is that it only works if it feels like the most important thing in the world.

Bob Murphy in the Big V rooms while coaches discuss tactics for the 2008 Hall of Fame tribute match. Credit: John Donegan

Is that delusion? Yes, it is. A big part of footy is fully embracing and over-inflating its actual importance. Over 18 years at the Bulldogs, I would run out onto the field with the belief that this looming game was as important as any of the Apollo mission launches out of Houston.

“We’re playing for sheep stations,” is how it used to be put. Footy, unlike basketball, tennis or cricket, doesn’t really work when it’s not played full throttle. If you want to draw a crowd, the secret ingredient or, rather, the only ingredient required is a commitment to competition itself.

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