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Did anyone else watch the game last night?  I'm not a huge Rugby League fan in fact, I reckon it's a pretty dumb game but last night's decider was a ripping contest.  The intensity was such that 3 players were subbed out with concussion in the first 4 minutes of the game.  Two blokes sin binned for a proper one on one punch up and then the Maroons get across the line against all odds.  Some huge hits, great skills and non-stop action from whistle to whistle made it terrific viewing imo.

Why the AFL doesn't get on board is beyond me although I'm not sure how it would work given we have 3 dominant Aussie rules states whereas league only has two.  Maybe WA and Vic could play one year, then Vic and SA the next followed by WA and SA the third year so each state plays two games in three years.  I don't have the answers but I'm sure the AFL and AFLPA could work something out.  

Agree BC one of the best SOO games I've watched. It was tough and relentless.
malthouse killed SOO footy for WA, he hated the idea of the Eagles playing in what he considered a worthless exhibition game and the risk of injury. I remember those massive mid-week SOO games at Subi oval v the Vicco's, some of the best footy you will ever see.

that boat sailed past probably 20 years ago - the fat wallet AFL bureaucrats don't have many clues and this is one of those

Senior Seagull wrote:

Agree BC one of the best SOO games I've watched. It was tough and relentless.
malthouse killed SOO footy for WA, he hated the idea of the Eagles playing in what he considered a worthless exhibition game and the risk of injury. I remember those massive mid-week SOO games at Subi oval v the Vicco's, some of the best footy you will ever see.

Maybe it is just me but League looks a real knuckle-dragger game. Micky Malthouses ears would have been burning this week - first the disgrace that is Leederville oval is his fault and now the demise of state of origin is too.

A game where 3 men try to push 2 men up 1 man's bum. 

HaHa thats more the Union game with their bum sniffer scrums, League is more akin to cross country wrestling.
Both codes are brutal but lack the all round athletic skills of our Footy.

Yes, like I said at the outset, I'm not a fan of the game but the intensity a state of origin brings with it is incredible. These guys are mortal enemies at club level but once they put on a maroon or blue jersey, they'd die for each other. Interesting stuff on several levels.