State of Origin 2016: Why NSW Premier Mike Baird had to ban the series

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An announcement from NSW Premier Mike Baird:

In response to widespread unconscionable activity, including the slaughtering of tens of thousands of false hopes, I can today announce that NSW is putting an end to State of Origin rugby league.

Illustration: Simon Letch

More than a year ago, we established a Secret Commission of Inquiry into State of Origin after very disturbing reports emerged of cruelty to fans and other gratuitous activities. We have now received the report of the Commission, and the findings are damning. Some of the findings include:

• The mass killing of belief. The report found, "In NSW in the last 10 years… somewhere between 48,891 and 68,448 game plans were killed because they were considered too slow to pay their way or were unsuitable for rugby league." In the industry, they call this 'wastage'. It's not wastage: it is the unnecessary slaughtering of tens of thousands of ideas that seemed perfectly good at the time.
• The widespread practice of "live baiting". This is where live animals, like forwards who do not pass the ball and halfbacks who cannot kick it with any accuracy, are used as bait to be chased by Queenslanders in a sorry simulacrum of 'sport'. Even though this is already illegal and carries heavy penalties, 'a Queensland coach, who admitted to engaging in live baiting, testified that about 110-120% of Queenslanders engaged in live baiting.'
• The systemic deception of the public concerning the prospects of NSW winning. It is estimated that 10 to 12 NSW players per year were never capable of contributing to State of Origin triumph but were instead thrown into the cauldron as live bait on the basis of whimsy, politics, favouritism, mischievous media lobbying, playing alongside Queenslanders in a currently successful NRL club, resemblance to a successful Queenslander, or other spurious and/or transient reasons, only to sustain catastrophic defeat that results in immediate and permanent omission. But the commission found that the NSWRL "had adopted a policy of deliberately misreporting the extent of selection decisions that were known in advance to be without merit."

Photo: Getty Images

No more cruelty: Mike Baird. Photo: Peter Rae

• Awareness of the harms of Origin football is rife and subject to cover-up within the industry. So harrowing is exposure to this ordeal, young footballers who are good enough to be playing are instead sheltered as 'development (sic) players'.
• One notable non-selection is deemed so vulnerable to Origin humiliation that it might drive him to drink. Others continue to be selected for NSW on the basis that they are so deeply scarred by the experience they are no longer able to feel pain. The Origin industry has known about this for 10 years but done nothing to promote change.
• The industry is not capable, in the short or medium term, of reforming. The report found that "it appears unlikely that the issue of the large scale killing of high hopes by the industry can be addressed successfully in the future." In fact, the report found that "such is the culture of the State of Origin industry and some of its leaders that it is no longer, if it ever was, entitled to the trust of the community."

One of the issues we have had to wrestle with is the positive impact of the State of Origin industry. There are over 10 direct jobs in the industry and nearly three manufacturers of merchandise. State of Origin can be an important part of the social fabric of regional towns as far south as Bowraville. The Nine Network needs some reason not to run a midweek instalment of The Voice. Vendors of blue wigs face substantial inventory oversupply which has not been met by demand from Icelandic soccer fans.

Gus Gould, who would be bereft if he couldn't shake his head in sadness and tell the Blues where they have gone wrong, and Benny Elias, who would be bereft if he couldn't tell Gus where he had gone wrong telling the Blues where they had gone wrong, might each be entitled to compensation. Sports journalists need something to stop them from writing about domestic violence, fraud, homophobia and racism. And, of course, having a punt on Queensland's winning margin over a few beers is good fun for many people.

Phil Gould speaks to his troops after the game one victory in 2004. Photo: Craig Golding

So do such benefits of the Origin industry outweigh the shortcomings? Based on this report, the Government believes they do not. State of Origin is unheard-of in many countries and is legal in only two states around the world. NSW will be the first state in Australia to ban it.

Over the coming months, we will consult with the industry to help minimise the pain as best we can for the innocent participants as we work towards an orderly industry shutdown. We will develop a strategy to work with the RSPCA to manage the welfare of Former Origin Legends. And the transition arrangement for State of Origin assets (like the redundant Homebush so-called 'fortress') will ensure they are used for open public space, alternative sports facilities or other community use of similar purpose, such as a casino.

I feel much empathy for innocent Queenslanders, Victorians and others who will lose their annual fix of glee and schadenfreude as a result of this. And I understand the disappointment of people who enjoy taking money from other people who enjoy having a punt on the footy. But we simply cannot and will not stand by and allow the widespread and systemic mistreatment of New South Wales rugby league supporters.

But hey, clip out this statement with Vote Mike logo and present it to the historic 'Origin of the Species' Lounge at Crown Barangaroo Casino, and enjoy our cashback offer – while stocks last!