Random sports stuff

The State of Origin is a pretty big deal Down Under and tempers boiled over in the third and deciding game this morning.

If you have even been to Australia you will know that they take their Rugby League very seriously. And the pinnacle of their year, a bit like an Al-Ireland final crossed with Bohs v Rovers, is the annual State of Origin series.

The three-match series pitches Queensland against New South Wales, with players playing for their, well, State of Origin. It’s a massive event and for the last six years, Queensland have won it.

This year the series was tied at 1-1 heading into this morning’s third and deciding game in Brisbane. In the end a late drop goal by Cooper Cronk (what a name) saw Queensland home by one point, 21-20, ensuring another year of bragging rights for the Maroons over the Blues.

Here we have an exchange in the opening minutes that gets a little tasty. Nothing you wouldn’t see in a Junior B match of course, expect these lads are a bit fitter and probably pack more of a punch. And the elbow in the eye move is pretty nasty too.