Gav’s Blog – Gavin Hudson’s Blog

Well, it’s time for my first State of Origin series.

For the uninitiated, this is the annual three match series between the best of NSW’s rugby league players, against those from Queensland.  It’s where you were born, or where you first played, rather than where you currently play that decides who you represent, and it’s a great contest by all accounts most years.

I’ve really got into the Rugby League (or the NRL as they call it) out here – it’s the international sport where the Aussies really go to watch in droves, and where their domestic league is just streets ahead of any others (the English Super League).  It’s a real Sydney sport, out of the 16 teams in the league, there are 10 in the Sydney area, 11 in New South Wales (if you count Canberra in this, which for State of Origin, they do, then 12 teams in NSW) but only 3 in Queensland.  So you’d think that NSW would walk the series?  Think again, to quote Andy from my work (always a good source of info)…

Nah mate, they just raise their game – you know how it is when your team play another.  Didn’t City beat Manchester this year?  [Arrrggghhhh! - Gav] It’s like that.  These boys are well up for it, and they’re always close mate.  You can be playing against your team mate, your buddy who you’ve played with for 5 years – but that all goes out of the window.  You’ve got something to prove, and they’re always good games.  You just wait and watch these props go up against each other – it’s like BOOM! You gotta love it

Well, he sold it to me – I’m watching this one in the pub, but I’m off to the game for the final round.  Personally I think that the Queenslanders will win it quite easily, they’re stacked full of pace and talent, with three of the best fullbacks in the game all in the starting line-up!  Ironically, I think that this might be one weakness that NSW can exploit, they need to take the amusingly named, but prodigiously talented Karmichael Hunt on in his unfamiliar role of 5/8th (Stand-off).  He’s not used to the workrate, and if they can up that, and get him tired, he’s a young lad who might make mistakes, so they need to keep the pressure on.

Right, well I’m off down t’pub now – the game starts in 25 mins, so I’ll catch you later – I suppose I’d better support the Blues (NSW) but I’m really just hoping for plenty of blood, thunder and some points!

See ya baked!

Cheers to Vicki for pointing out that that last line made a good title! Oh and apparently there’s some other sporting event on tonight – Reds Vs Blues or something – who cares!?

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