Island of Origin?  

Why the hell not, right?  

Tonight, the rugby league world focuses on the biggest event in the game. Sure, the Grand Final is something, but the State of Origin is the superstar of rugby league. It has the history, the energy, the rivalry. It is distinctly Australian.  

Brash, aggressive, loud. Ned Kelly in blue and maroon. Ford v Holden in the flesh. It personifies the Australian sporting landscape. The media buy in boots and all, the public lap it up, Phil Gould is well, Phil Gould. 

There are story lines a plenty, grudges exacerbated, legends built.  

So, can we have one?  

Island of Origin.  

Eligibility doesn't need to be tricky. Wherever you played your footy up until 18. It won't be the best of 3, NZR and the players union would kick up too much of a stink for that. It would be a one-off match slap in the middle of the not very Super season. Te Waipounamu versus Te Ika a Maui. A mid-year All Black trial if you will, bringing something to the table whilst the Super comp flails about punching down on Aussie and Pacific sides. 

I’m sure there would be a multitude of reasons to kick the whole concept into touch, but I think we’re all sick of trying to find reasons why not as opposed to finding reason why.  

Call it insane, call it unreasonable, call it a pipe dream. 

I call it as I see it, a chance to bring some new energy to a country tired of the grind of Super Rugby, all designed to prop up AB dominance which doesn’t exist.  

New Zealand rugby needs to step away from the All-Black high performance-based model and lean into the world of out and out entertainment.   

Island of Origin. Get on it.   

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