State of Origin: we love it, don't we?

State of Origin - mate against mate, right?

They say down under that Origin is the pinnacle of representative rugby league. You can keep your green and gold jumpers, but there's nothing better than wearing the colours of your state. They didn't think it'd work back in 1980 when the concept was formed. But, who's laughing now? 34 years on, and we still pencil it in our diaries for the three big occasions, the three games of a State of Origin series.

Rugby league has been fortunate enough to showcase some of the finest athletes across all levels. But, it's so often the case that we see some of the most gifted players playing some sensational stuff. I could list them all, but, I'd be here all night.

What I love most about State of Origin, is that, it's not just your average 80 minutes of rugby league. It's more than that, it's 34 blokes, giving everything they've got during the course of the game. Some players would hide away in their shell when they feel the lactic acid in their legs build up and they start the heavy breathing. But, Origin players are made of something different. They go to another level, they dig deep, they'll do absolutely anything to ensure that it really is 100% they're providing for their side.

It's famous for its fights, Origin. Every year, we see the old 'biff'. It's perhaps why we mainly love it. We all love watching the punch ups and the raw passion you see when they collide. People will say it's brutal, the game in general is brutal when you see them bringing the ball back and crashing into the opposition at the same force as a car crash. I disagree, somewhere amongst that there's a bit of beauty.

I wasn't alive when Wally Lewis became 'the King of Origin'. But, seeing the footage from those times, you can't argue with his title, and how he's gone on to become one of the immortals of our great game. My era, is today's era. Possibly my all time favourite Origin player has to be the man who looked up to the King, Darren Lockyer, of course. You could say, Lockyer started the dynasty back in 2006, when he pounced on that sloppy pass from Brett Hodgson to clinch the game, and the series for Queensland. Since then, the Maroons haven't lost a series, arguably the great rugby league side in history. But, back to Darren, he was the complete footballer. Kicking, passing, leadership, defensively sound, it's very hard to pick out a flaw from his game. He's probably the reason why his beloved Queensland have risen to the top and stayed there for a record breaking, eight times.

I'm not going to lie, when Origin time comes around, I always hope for the Blues to win. They're the underdogs these days. Players like Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus are the reasons why I route for New South Wales. Growing up, they were incredible to watch. Without them, the Blues perhaps wouldn't have tasted some success during the 2000s. We talk about great athletes, I've been fortunate enough to see Buderus play in the flesh, and he certainly does fit into that bracket of great athletes. Andrew, well, many regard him as the world's best player, ever. It's really no surprise when you saw how good he was technically, one hell of a football brain.

In recent years, we've seen Queensland snatch victory in the final game of the series, Cronk's late field goal in 2012, a late try last year (along with a streaker). Amongst the collisions, we've witnessed drama, it goes back to why we watch it every year. It's not your every day game of rugby league at your local club, it's players putting on a show, showcasing their talents, showcasing their toughness, showing the world that they are some of the best athletes in the sporting world.

So, what of this year's series? NSW going with a new halfback partnership, the old guard returning for Queensland once more along with some kids who will grow that extra layer of Origin football skin. I won't predict what will happen, because, I don't know. It's Origin after all, during that 80 minutes, anything goes, and the extraordinary can happen. Roll on Wednesday.

Wigan St. Patrick's vs Hunslet Warriors - Match report

WARRIORS SNATCH LATE VICTORY

Hunslet Warriors snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the dying seconds to claim a 28-26 victory over Wigan St. Patrick’s.

The south Leeds side came back from 16 – 0 down to score a last second try to snare the two points away from the home side.

St. Patrick’s unanswered lead was tallied up inside the first quarter of the game. However, Hunslet had an equalising score ruled out for crossing.

But, the Warriors came back with a vengeance to spark their comeback with two converted tries, only for the Wigan side to nudge themselves ahead before the break to take the scores to 20 – 12.

Hunslet didn’t lie down and got within two points inside the first ten minutes of the second half, only to be denied again by another St. Pat’s try 20 minutes later.

Two tries in the final few minutes was enough to clinch the match points to make it four matches in a row without a victory for Wigan St. Patrick’s.

In monsoon like conditions, St. Pat’s took the lead after six minutes when Earl Hurst squeezed his way over.

Two tries in the space of three minutes for St. Pat’s inside the twenty minute mark from Ryan Smith and Will Boardman increased their side’s advantage.

Lloyd Templeton pounced on a grubber in the in-goal area to get Hunslet on the board and his team-mate, Gary McClelland, threw a dummy and spun away to crash the ball down to get the Warriors within four points.

The conditions reduced the skill level for both sides, but some individual brilliance and determination from the St. Pat’s halfback, Ryan Smith, got Wigan back up and running just before the interval.  

Warriors skipper, Caldon Bravo who led from the front crashed over from short range after eight minutes gone in the second half to, again, keep St. Pat’s on their toes.

The wet weather made this tense affair a classic ‘knock-on-athon’, and it was no wonder it took until the 70^th minute for Wigan’s reply through Anthony Griffiths’ close range burrow over from dummy half.

With Wigan St. Pat’s leading by eight going into the last five minutes, the game seemed finished. But, the Warriors had other ideas.

Karl Featherstone went over under the posts to make the kick easier for Nathan Kitson to be within two points of the home team.

It was Kitson who inspired victory in the remaining few seconds, his intelligent chip over the top was touched down by McClelland for his second try of the game to round of a superb comeback from the Leeds based outfit.  

Leeds Varsity 2014 - match report

Leeds Met & Leeds Uni alongside Rhinos skipper, Kevin Sinfield

Student Rugby League champions, Leeds Met earned the city’s bragging rights after defeating Leeds University 44 – 20 in the annual Leeds Varsity event.

The underdogs, Leeds University, went into this clash going undefeated in their league and went 10 – 0 up inside the first ten minutes.

However, the holders, Leeds Met weren’t willing to surrender their Varsity crown and eventually pulled away, scoring eight tries with only two not converted in the process.

It took eight minutes for Leeds University to upset the odds and spring a surprise result. Billy Griffiths and Sam Kink going over for the opening scores.

Back-to-back scores from Met followed swiftly after Leeds Uni’s opening tries, and nudged themselves ahead with both tries being converted.

Their slender lead lasted only a mere five minutes, Leeds Uni’s number nine burrowing over from close range to go 16 – 12 up.

Just after the half hour mark, Leeds Met grabbed themselves three unanswered scores. Gareth Hines firstly taking advantage of a quick play the ball to edge his side back in front. Three minutes from the halftime hooter, the Met stand-off’s tinkling toes and dancing feet allowed him to walk in for a try.

The tide of tries continued swiftly after the interval, Daniel Barker ran over the top of the Leeds Uni defence to touch down, and give Leeds Met some breathing space.

But, Leeds Uni weren’t done just yet. Matt Shaw collected his centre’s offload to dab the ball down in the corner. Shaw’s try would only prove to be mere consolation, Brad Inter and Sean Richards both crossed in the space of six minutes.

The scoring was rounded off five minutes from time, Jonny Dawes twisting and turning to make sure Leeds Met retained the Leeds Varsity title. 

In a league of his own - Cody Kuxmann

Touchdowns, goals and home runs are terms that are familiar with American sports fans. Sports that originated from the United States have gone global, and they are played at different levels and watched around the world today.  In recent years, English sports such as football or, ‘soccer’ if you’re American, are gradually increasing in popularity in America. A regionalised sport in England such as Rugby League, is slowly, but surely becoming more recognisable in countries around the world.

It’s not every day that you come across a Rugby League fan from America. Cody Kuxmann is from the state of Wisconsin. Sporting wise, this state is most notably the home of NFL side, the Green Bay Packers. Sport was always in his DNA, and it’s no surprise that he was involved from an early age.

“Sport has always been a part of my life growing up,” he said.  “I started 'coaching' soccer with my Dad when I was around three or four.  I've grown up in a sporting atmosphere. I played soccer, flag football (non-contact American football) and rugby union as I grew up.  I always had a passion for it, whether it be watching it on TV or going out to the golf course.  Literally, if it's some form of sport chances are I have either played or followed it at some point.”

It was during high school where Cody discovered rugby. His involvement in the two codes has blossomed since his teenage years. “Rugby union, I came across in high school.  I played a video game one time and was like I really like this and lone behold the next day I go to my high school and they have a poster up for a club rugby team and I just started playing.

“Rugby League, on the other hand, I was talking to a guy one time who had come to watch a union game and just got talking about how the summers get fairly dull and he said he refereed Rugby League and why not give that a go? In my mind it was a natural progression, fill my off-season with Rugby League, get some money and get fitter.” 

Cody whilst refereeing rugby 

Cody is currently in his final year of university. He studies International Business at Richmond University, a small American university in London. His decision to come to study in England was to keep the rugby bug that he caught whilst he was a teenager.

He referees both codes and started at 16 when playing rugby union. He stopped playing due to a bad neck injury. His first experience of Rugby League came through refereeing the game in London. “My first rugby league encounter in England would be the first game I refereed. It was Elmbridge U14 vs Medway, then that afternoon I went to do the London Open-Age 9s.  I was lost without a shadow of a doubt.”

“I found that it's amazing how sports are so regionalised within England.  I wrote my dissertation recently on sporting league rivalries and focused on the Union/League Split for a bit of it, and honestly it's very interesting to see how polarised certain areas are.”

For a referee of both codes, there’s always plenty of games to officiate for Cody. That's something that he likes about being based in London.“The thing that I really enjoy about London rugby is that in the winter it's union and summer it's League.  However, having recently made the RFL panel, it's become more and more League focused as they start much earlier.  Last year, with both codes I put in about 100 games, ranging from u11s to an amateur international.”

When comparing Rugby League and American football, the two games overlap in some of the skills that players require. For someone like Cody, from the United States, to embark on playing and refereeing a minority sport is something that’s unique.

He believes that the potential is there for League to spread more in his home nation. “I think that Rugby League has the potential to become a huge sport in America.  This is for a few reasons: firstly, Rugby League and American football are very similar, except Rugby League is continuous action. Secondly, as sport becomes more expensive schools will look to cut back.

"Imagine that we can now take 55 kids, who need a lot of equipment to play, and now they need none of the expensive padding. Lastly, it's very easy to understand.  My mom has been to many of my rugby union games and didn't really understand it.  However, she went to one League game, Canada v Jamaica, and she loved it.”

University is coming to its closing stages for Cody. Once he graduates, he plans to go back to Wisconsin for a few  years but wants to come back to England to study a master’s degree in Sports Business.

He won’t be calling time off on his refereeing career any time soon. He will continue to officiate games back home. Without people like Cody, Rugby League fixtures may not go ahead in America. His admirable commitment to refereeing and his love for the game is a shining light that Rugby League needs to take off in new countries.

Who knows, maybe one day, America will be swapping helmets for gum shields and touchdowns for tries?