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State of origin is dead. There is no one with the courage or vision to push it.

I know many will disagree with this statement but state of origin is the highest level of the game. International rules are not Australian Rules for gods sake the game is played on a different shaped ground with a different shaped ball & a different scoring system. If that is Aussie Rules then baseball is cricket!

If you look at the demise of state of origin it basically comes down to the crap of the Eagles. I lived in W.A in the 80's & state of origin Tuesday was the biggest game of the year.The number of people who took the day off was enormous & the atmosphere & quality of the games was magnificent.

The Eagles then for 2 reasons killed the game in W.A

1st- concern over having more players playing than any other team & its effect in reality & risk

2nd- They want to be the state team - they are not! but the W.A media swallow whatever the Eagles tell them to.

 S.A still has the passion for kicking the Vics they always have

The Vics never loved state footy but would turn out when the supremacy was threatened (1989v S.A as an example)

State of origin needs a push as the public aren't going to go to games that have 1/2 the players missing with imaginary injuries. Clubs are rightly concerned about the players they are the primary employer of so the club needs to have something going for it.

I therefore suggest the following starters for state of origin.

1. Payment increased to around $ 10,000 for players.

2. Allowance for clubs to put an up to $ 20,000 per player bonus to a player that plays for the state without it counting on the salary cap.

3. Players who miss state of origin with injuries are inelible to play the next week. Players who missed the week before & pull out could play.

4. Dump the silly allies concept- the guns didn't want to play & the team had no support.

5. Play preseason instead of the Ansett Cup.

6. consider 2 divisions in the format of teh Teal cup with Vic Metro, Vic country, W.A & S.A as div 1. N.S.W, N.T , Qld & tas as Div 2

1 match elimination with a final losers play in Div 1 to avoid relagation.

7. Play it in the places that don't get footy - the bush , Darwin , Canberra

Every other sport has an all star game or some form of elite level above club level footy cannott grow without getting rid of the rubbish attitude that club level is the ultimate.

Sorry for the length of the post but it is one topic that I feel strongly on.

Goatmaster