Calls for an Origin-style clash between Waratahs and Reds

[travelling_gerry]

Staunch Queensland icon Alex Evans believes a State of Origin rugby stoush is the only way to rekindle the public's faith in Reds rugby following the shock exit of Berrick Barnes.

The hardman, once tagged the "Grizzled of Oz", may be 70 but he's prepared to shelve traditionalist views to create a flagship 2010 match in desperate times.

"I'm talking a one-off game uniting all of Queensland's home-grown talent in an Origin team against NSW Origin," Evans said.

"You'd pack Suncorp Stadium. We need to identify our great talent as 'Queensland' in one game to show the kids growing up here that it is something special.

"It's hard times so you need such a game to pep the faith of the public and junior coaches who have brought through the best schoolboy players in Australia for four years.

"(Australian rugby boss) John O'Neill is taking a Test to Japan to raise money. What about closer to home where Queensland rugby is struggling financially and needs this lift?

"And . . . I think Queensland would smash NSW on an Origin basis."

Interstate Origin ideas in rugby have been debunked before because there is no reward in it for the ACT Brumbies or Western Force to risk the likes of Queensland-bred David Pocock, James O'Connor, Rocky Elsom and Stephen Moore.

Perhaps, "Reds v The Rest" would give everyone a cut and help resuscitate a patient now in rugby's emergency ward.

Irate Reds followers have branded the Queensland Rugby Union a disgrace for losing Barnes.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html

[jargan83]

It will never happen

[TOCC]

i doubt it would happen anytime soon, although it would be great to give the game a boost in qld

[AndyS]

If they want to do that, maybe they should do it as a "no professionals" comp. Reinstate and purely focus on the amateur game, with a nation wide State competition.

[normie]

I'm not so sure, Jargs; Never say never. (Or, as an old english teacher used to correct me: "Do not say never")

It could just work in the form of a one off charity match- (like those bushfire/flood/ poverty relief events)

All proceeds could go to the Keep Queenslanders in Queensland appeal.

[TommyM]

Why not do it at the very end of the season on the return from the spring tour?

[lotus flower]

yes. great idea.

[beige]

I thought it was a silly idea at first but I'm coming around to it - would be nice way to give a nod to the traditional states while Super Rugby and the Wallabies continue to spread the game elsewhere.

I would play it as a one-off hitout before the spring tour. JO'N floated a similar idea a couple of months back of a Wallabies vs Australian Barbarians match (or something like that) but I imagine that an Origin concept would have more appeal to the public.

My only provisos would be that the sides are run entirely by the ARU - not the NSWRU and QRU - and that the top players are picked.

[welshrugbyfan]

Yeah that's great if you live in NSW or QLD. Who gives a toss about a state of origin that your teams not in. The rest of the year all we do is bag the reds and tahds now were all saying we want to watch them against each other.

I'd rather see the force in action.

[jargan83]

Unless the money raised from such an event is distributed to all 4 Super sides it will never happen

[Scotty]

Yawn.

Can't think of anything less interesting.

NSW and Queensland already get a derby every year.

If all their best players are playing for other teams, who's fault is that?

[beige]

Unless the money raised from such an event is distributed to all 4 Super sides it will never happen

That too.

The biggest issue for me is the potential for an Origin match to erode the prestige of Super 14 - I reckon that might be too big a risk for the ARU to take.

[Sheikh]

Would this be state of origin or state-you're-currently-playing-in? State of origin could be a different event to Tahs-Reds as team-mates become rivals and vice versa, but I'd prefer the Wallabies vs Australian Baabaas mentioned above. (Mind you, incumbents vs fringe/future? Might be a bit of a blood-bath.)

[beige]

Origin. I'd be against a standalone Tahs-Reds match...

[normie]

Origin. I'd be against a standalone Tahs-Reds match...

For sure! I'd invite anyone playing overseas to play, the only criteria being they were born in either of the states.