Melbourne Does not DERSERVE ORIGIN WTF

[AAS]

Melbourne doesn't deserve to be given State of Origin fixtures
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Mike Colman

May 29, 2009 12:00am

WELL, here we are again. The most exciting time of the year for Queensland rugby league followers. A home game to kick off the Origin series - and what a series.
In only six days Mal's Mighty Maroons set out to do something that has never been done before: win four in a row.

It should be the most exciting week since ... well, since ever really, but is it just me or is something missing?

Like, I don't know ... players?

I mean we're all here, and they're all ... in bloody Melbourne.

Could someone please explain to me - with a straight face if possible - what the hell's going on?

This is State of Origin we're talking about here folks. The jewel in the crown. The game that on at least two occasions was the only thing stopping rugby league from going the way of the dinosaur, P76 and North Sydney Bears.

The most magnificent, wonderful, spine-tingling football contest in any code, anywhere.

And what do we do with it? Cast it down to Melbourne like pearls before swine.

And why? To promote the game in Victoria.

Give me a break.

I was at the first Origin ever played in Melbourne, back in 1990. It was going to revolutionise the game forever. Once the Philistines saw our Origin, we were told, they'd be tossing out their Sherrins and grabbing Steedens faster that you can say Jesaulenko you beauty.

Yeah right. I was also there at the last Origin played in Melbourne three years ago and you know what? It still hadn't happened - and hasn't to this day.

I feel so strongly about this issue that I did something I usually avoid. Research. Here are the facts:

In 2006 the Melbourne Storm's average home crowd was 10,869. The next season, after Origin III was played at the Telstra Dome, it had soared to 11,711 - less than 1000 more. So far this year it's up another 700-odd to 12,474, placing it 13th. That's 13th out of 16 for a club that has made the last three grand finals and was premier in 2007.

Not that two Origin games was only thing that the decision-makers in Sydney sent south. According to a news report in 2005, the code was to inject $23 million into Victoria for "marketing, promotion and grassroots development over the next three years".

Now I take my hat off to the performance of the Melbourne Under-18 side which made the final of this year's SG Ball competition, but here's another fact: in the 11 years that the Storm have been running around they have fielded just one Melbourne-born player - and that was Jake Webster, a Kiwi who grew up in Brisbane.

The big pay-off for taking Origin to Melbourne, we were told in that same article, was the Victorian Government agreeing to spend $100 million redeveloping the Storm's antiquated home ground Olympic Park.

True, the new stadium is due to open next season (two years after it was originally promised) but it isn't going to be just for the Storm. It will be home base for the Melbourne Victory and, almost certainly, a new Super rugby franchise.

So we've given away two Origin matches for the new stadium. What have the other codes given?

Nothing, nada, zilch. Exactly what Queenslanders have got out of the deal.

Instead of around 80,000 Maroon supporters getting the chance to see their team make history in their stadium this year, only half that number will squeeze into Suncorp for Game Three. The local pubs, clubs and hotels, already struggling in a recession, will have their takings halved.

And that's not even considering the footy side of things. The Blues will have seven newcomers in this year's series opener. Seven blokes who should be lying awake in a hostile town right now, worrying themselves sick about running out on Wednesday night into the jaws of Maroon hell.

Instead, they're enjoying a nice holiday in Victoria. Same as our blokes. And also, the good folk of Melbourne can go along to yet another major event, compare it unfavourably to their code, and go back to reading about Buddy Franklin's hamstring. Taking the game down there in the hope that they might convert is like holding Christmas in Tel Aviv for the same reason - and it will have the same result.

They don't care about Origin, they don't understand it.

They don't deserve it.


http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/stor ... 48,00.html



Get Stuffed Mike coleman




The e-mail address is this  colmanm@qnp.newsltd.com.au

[bunnies]

TOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSER!

Cheers
Bunnies

[Bullets]

I am a bit dirty that we miss out on having 2 games up here considering we are the heart of rugby league and tickets sell out in like 20 mintues for one game which gave most of us no chance to get tickets. They should just be making NSW take one of there games down every second year...they always struggle to even come close to selling telstra stadium out for the big game.

I also agree that the build up for this game would be way bigger if it was up here, im missing that a bit. 

Then the article just turns into the same old Storm bashing rubbish.

Im all for promoting the game down in Melbourne though and if that means we lose 1 of our games every few years then i guess im for it....as long as this does not become every single origin series.

[your kettle is black]

No way no how to NSW giving up home advantage on a consistent basis.
They've done it enough over the last 10 years thankyou very much.
As for crowds, let's just be honest and say that NSW supporters have been unhappy with rubbish team selection for years.
Mason, O'meley, Fitzgibbon, Anasta, Turner, Quinn, the list of those picked when others were in far better form and way more able to try and match a brilliant Qld team has resulted in crowds of 60- 65,000 odd as opposed to years before when crowds were 75-80,000.

You'll call NSW supporters fickle, but have YOU ever gone to Homebush?
Compared to Lang Park, it's a pain to get to, and if Homebush was as easily accessible as Lang Park, comparisons would be much more even.

As for that article, it was in the Courier Mail, and it's trolling for responses, that's all.

[Super Cronk]

origin as a whole is a joke. you have NSW born players playing for QLd and vice versa. the nsw team is usually made up of players that are friends with the selectors or coach.

i personally dont care for origin much. my love is for the storm first then my country...nsw is a very distant 3rd. I think taking the game to melbourne will benefit rugby league but it should only be taken down there a few times then stopped.

[Bullets]

origin as a whole is a joke. you have NSW born players playing for QLd and vice versa. the nsw team is usually made up of players that are friends with the selectors or coach.

i personally dont care for origin much. my love is for the storm first then my country...nsw is a very distant 3rd. I think taking the game to melbourne will benefit rugby league but it should only be taken down there a few times then stopped.

origin a joke? lol its the pinnacle of rugby league and is the highest quality of the game

[Super Cronk]

Yes a joke. J-O-K-E.

your a QLd'r arent you?

[nacho]

Melbourne doesn't deserve to be given State of Origin fixtures
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Mike Colman

[Bullets]

Yes a joke. J-O-K-E.

your a QLd'r arent you?

yeah?

[Super Cronk]

thought so.

[Christabella]

Melbourne doesn't deserve to be given State of Origin fixtures
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Mike Colman

LOL  I see your facepalm and raise you:





Anyhow I take a similar position to Super Cronk, I like the atmosphere of Origin and the physical nature but little else.
I wouldn't call it a 'joke' but some of the selections have been laughable. I find myself incapable of cheering for either team because there have been many players picked who have not deserved to be there.

[Super Cronk]

oh for sure...ive been to two origins and the atmosphere at the game is obviously huge. I recognize the physical nature is very hard and demanding...but for me the storm come first. thats just me...we will agree to disagree on this one bulletts.

[CooperCronk]

Go take a jump Mike Trollman

[Tigger]

Colman, his Qld cronies and most NSWelshmen are just jealous Melbourne can fill stadiums with people for all big sports games 
We may not get sellouts at Storm games but then again, what league team can?