The Origin of Origin (2010)

The concept of Origin began way back in the sixteenth century in Britain. A mob of oppressed Northerners had had enough of their more dominant Southerners having the upper hand over them all their lives, so they decided to stake a contest. Some may call it war, which it was.

But I digress, after extensive research, treks, and great expense, I have managed to trace the precise moment when Origin was born.
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(A group of men are seen running up a hill)

McMeninga: William, it's several trainers.

O’Langer: The Blues are advancing an army toward Lang.

Lewis: Will the nobles rally?

O’McTrainer: Bruce the Highway and most of the others will not commit to battle. But word is spread, and Clydesdales are coming down on their own.

McMeninga: Aye, in droves of hundreds and thousands.

Lewis: Are you ready for a war?
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(Battlefield at Lang. The Maroons and Blues stand on opposite sides. The heavy cavalry of the Blues army appear over the hill and some Maroons are scared)

O’Ikin: I didn't come here to play so they can beat us more; then I have to play for them if I want to succeed.

McHetherington: Nor me. Alright lads. I'm not losing to these bastards! Lets go home.

(The two Maroons turn and start to leave the field and several others join them.)

McVautin: Stop men! Do not flee!

(Lewis and his men arrive. Lewis' face is painted solid maroon.)

O’Ikin: William Lewis?

McHetherington: Can't be. Not tall enough.

(Lewis and his men stride up to the nobles.)

O’Carroll: The Almighty says this must be a fashionable fight. It's drawn the finest people.

Lewis: For presenting yourselves on this battlefield, I give you thanks.

McClose: This is our army. To join it you give homage.

Lewis: I give homage to Queensland. And if this is your army, why does it go?

McHetherington: We didn't come here to play for them.

O’Ikin: Home. The Blues are too many.

Lewis: Sons of Queensland, I am William Lewis.

O’Ikin: William Lewis isn’t balding.

Lewis: Yes, I've heard. He tackles men by the hundreds, and if he were here he'd defeat the Blues with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse. I am William Lewis, and I see a whole army of my fellow Queenslanders here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you play?

McHetherington: Play against that? No, we will run, and we will live.

Lewis: Aye, play and you may lose, run and you'll live. At least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our players, but they'll never take our stadium?!

(The huge crowd of Queenslanders start shouting and chanting “QUEENSLANDER!”)
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Sir Gould: They seem quite optimistic to me. Maybe they do want to play.

Lord Bellamy: Confrontation might be a foregone conclusion, my lord. But none the less, I think we should deliver Gibson's terms.

Sir Gould: Gibson's terms; He'll never live up to them.

Lord Bellamy: My lord, I think--.

Sir Gould: Alright, offer them the terms.
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McClose: They're coming out. Shall we go and meet them?

McVautin: Let me do the talking.

McClose: Agreed.
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O’Langer: Fine speech. Now what do we do?

Lewis: Just be yourselves.

McMeninga: Where are you going?

Lewis: I'm going to pick a fight.

McMeninga: Well, we didn't get dressed up for nothing.


And it was one hard fought, long, drawn-out series, the Northerners picking up early victories on home soil and after some impressive lead up work in their opponents territory, were brutally overpowered in the final match up. After the final battle it was noted that the heroic William Lewis, reflecting on his teams performances in getting this far, only to lose the final encounter, was gutted.


It was this sequence of events which lead to the foundation of Origin as we know it. To this day, Queenslanders have trekked far and wide to defend their mighty Stadium, which has been standing now for nigh on 500 years.

And if the Queenslanders have any say on the matter, it’ll still be standing in 500 more.