Origin: Rugby League's Greatest Contest 1980-2002
by Jack Gallaway

"The best Rugby League in the world is played between two opposing tribes - the Blues and the Maroons. Each year their warriors fight to the final siren for the most coveted prize of all: the State of Origin Trophy."

Published by University of Queensland Press
ISBN 0 7022 3383 8
336 pages plus photographs

It is now nearing a quarter of a century since State of Origin burst on to the rugby league landscape. From 1982 we have seen (those that are old enough) twenty-one fabulous series of the toughest and consistently the most spectacular football on Australia's sporting calendar. It is therefore timely that someone produced a book documenting the history of Origin.

Written by Jack Gallaway - who doesn't hide the fact he is a proud Queenslander - his book recounts every Origin game since the first was held at Lang Park in 1980. Each match includes full team lists, coaches, referee, scorers, crowd figures and the man of the match award winner.

Gallaway's style is described by the NSWRL's Eric Cox, a man who has witnessed every Origin match: "His coverage reminds me of the game descriptions that I used to read by great sporting journalists like Lawrie Kavanagh and Tom Goodman. He recalls past glories in great detail."

Every match is recounted in a very readable manner, and includes the wider context of the events on and off the field needed to fully explain the significance of what occurs.

Gallaway also provides a background of the history of rugby league between New South Wales and Queensland, and the forces that shaped and brought the State of Origin concept to life.

The book contains a few minor inaccuracies that some solid re-examination may have detected. While these don't detract from the book's value and the 'telling of the tale' they don't do the author credit. The everchanging names of sponsored stadia never helps.

Also included is a generous 25 pages of photographs covering Origin and the players involved. It also provides a further five pages of interesting photographs of Queensland rugby league back to the 1920s and the days of Duncan Thompson and Mick Madsen.

The author has included a table of all NSW and Queensland players to have taken the field in State of Origin, including their total games played and scoring statistics.

While Gallaway is openly writing from the viewpoint of a Queenslander, the book will be of interest to all rugby league fans - whether maroon, blue or an avid observer.

Jack Gallaway: Origin - Rugby League's Greatest Contest
ISBN 0 7022 3383 8 - University of Queensland Press

Product Review © Sean Fagan / RL1908

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