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Origin - Disrespectful to the Kangaroos?

jim_57

jim_57

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
4,662
Watching the pre-game tonight I heard such quotes as:

"The pinnacle of RL, the biggest, best, the greatest players"

"RL players are Gladiators, this is their biggest battle field"

"There's nothing like it"

"The biggest moment of your career"

Now I'm a staunch QLD/Origin fan and I understand the pre game hype needs to talk up the game but some of these quotes seem to me just downright disrespectful to the Kangaroos, and Kiwis who are afterall the world #1.

I really do hope the WC17 is the most successful yet and in years to come continues to grow. Everyone loves a derby, but we should be striving as a sport to have the World Cup/Internationals as a pinnacle.
 
S

Scubby

Juniors
Messages
395
jim_57 said:
Watching the pre-game tonight I heard such quotes as:

"The pinnacle of RL, the biggest, best, the greatest players"

"RL players are Gladiators, this is their biggest battle field"

"There's nothing like it"

"The biggest moment of your career"

Now I'm a staunch QLD/Origin fan and I understand the pre game hype needs to talk up the game but some of these quotes seem to me just downright disrespectful to the Kangaroos, and Kiwis who are afterall the world #1.

I really do hope the WC17 is the most successful yet and in years to come continues to grow. Everyone loves a derby, but we should be striving as a sport to have the World Cup/Internationals as a pinnacle.
Click to expand...

What I saw was pretty much 5 drives and a kick for 80 minutes. Why don't they actually play some football?

The pinnacle line really irks me. Half of the world's top 30 players don't even play in this fixture.
 
E

Evil Homer

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
7,178
They have to say this stuff to make themselves feel relevant and important. Origin has been a joke for a decade.
 
latingringo101

latingringo101

Juniors
Messages
585
It depends where you watch it.

I am both a passionate Blues AND international RL supporter. Watching it on TV is one thing, but being at the game is another.

I was at the game last night and was really blown away by the way the Stadium crew got the crowd into it with the voice overs, lights, speeches and music! Really felt like a Pinnacle event to be at.

Origin has many positives but negatives as well. Some being;

Positives

- Boosts $$$ for Local Sydney/Brisbane economies (I think it brings something like $1.5 million for a 2 match series set in Sydney for the State Govt).
- Is a BIG $$$ maker for the NRL which in turn helps to fund bush footy, Club footy, Pacific strategy etc.
- Big entertaining event for local Sydney and Brisbane (Melbourne as well) for those who attend.
- Can also get neutrals who live in both states who don't follow NRL to become fans of the game.

Negatives

- Takes focus away and harms club football.
- Encourages players to switch from playing from 2nd tier nations to S.O.O.
- Keeps the focus that ONLY NSW/QLD play RL, no one else.
- S.O.O is the pinnacle of the sport and nothing else matters.

So as you can see there are pros and cons for SOO. I personally believe that it can be a great tool for promotion of what RL can be like if done the right way.

For example, we have a lot of our players who are passionate Latinos BUT also go for QLD/NSW as well. Some are BIG RL fans since experiencing Origin (first hand) and bring that excitement and passion for RL when playing for their Latino nations.

I've also seen international players go and enjoy Origin (born overseas players), going back to their home nations and trying to help get RL started thanks to experiencing Origin!

So if used in the right way Origin CAN be a positive, however as long as it doesn't harm the International game then its ok.
 
N

nadera78

Juniors
Messages
2,233
It's obviously a big deal culturally - if you are from Qld or NSW - but as a game Origin is poor. I stopped watching a couple of years back and yesterday was my first since then. I don't think I'll be rushing back to watch it again tbh.
 
Rhyno

Rhyno

First Grade
Messages
9,318
Evil Homer said:
They have to say this stuff to make themselves feel relevant and important. Origin has been a joke for a decade.
Click to expand...

Test match against England have been a joke for over 50 years it's like playing a nswcup team
 
deluded pom?

deluded pom?

Coach
Messages
10,897
Rhyno said:
Test match against England have been a joke for over 50 years it's like playing a nswcup team
Click to expand...

Doesn't say much for the Kangaroos does it? They struggled to beat England last time they met. Cue the excuses about how many you had out.
 
Rhyno

Rhyno

First Grade
Messages
9,318
This is little OT but I find it funny that the international coach of England in league and union are both Aussies
 
Hello, I'm The Doctor

Hello, I'm The Doctor

First Grade
Messages
9,124
I think OP has read too much into those quotes, come October they will be saying the same thing about the Kangaroos; its just marketing...

But the reality is that Origin is the biggest event in the RL world. Rather than spiting the match for this, we should be sifting through all of the elements of the game and applying these to other areas of the game.

I love Origin because it shows how good rl COULD be. In the presentation, in the rivalry and in the marketing, Origin is the pinnacle. We should be trying to raise everything else up to that level....
 
E

Evil Homer

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
7,178
Hello said:
I think OP has read too much into those quotes, come October they will be saying the same thing about the Kangaroos; its just marketing...

But the reality is that Origin is the biggest event in the RL world. Rather than spiting the match for this, we should be sifting through all of the elements of the game and applying these to other areas of the game.

I love Origin because it shows how good rl COULD be. In the presentation, in the rivalry and in the marketing, Origin is the pinnacle. We should be trying to raise everything else up to that level....
Click to expand...
It's not the pinnacle for anyone outside of NSW/Queensland who don't watch/care about it. The problem is that a lot of Aussies don't seem to realise there is a world beyond their shores and the TV networks aren't stupid, they capitalise on this with the whole 'pinnacle' thing because they know the bogans will buy into it. Artificially making Origin the pinnacle lets them keep control of their product and guarantees them a midweek ratings draw three times a year, and the marketing strategy works just fine because self-aggrandizing is what a lot of Aussies do best.

Sport is 99% hype anyway, it's the same with RU and soccer in the UK. If you tell people that something is important over and over again, say it loud enough and enough times then people are going to believe you.
 
Pommy

Pommy

Coach
Messages
14,657
I found it funny how someone on TV described origin as being the best of the best yet New Zealanders can't play......
 
Barkley

Barkley

Bench
Messages
2,576
Pommy said:
I found it funny how someone on TV described origin as being the best of the best yet New Zealanders can't play......
Click to expand...

The following people say hi....

Brad Thorn
James Tamou
Karmichael Hunt
Toni Carrol
Ben Te'o
 
Mr Angry

Mr Angry

Not a Referee
Messages
51,816
The reward for a good origin series is an Australian Jersey. Not sure how that is disrespectful.
 
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