NSW went down to Queensland 16 - 18 in the final minutes of the second State of Origin. Sports writer Malcolm Knox pondered the reason why the NSW side, who he believes is bigger, stronger and often faster than Queensland, seemingly squandered their impressive half time lead … again. (State of Origin 2017: Queensland Maroons teach NSW Blues a harsh lesson on close games, SMH, June 21, 2017)
Knox puts it down to psychology…we at The Culture Doctor put it down to beliefs and values.
There’s a self-belief that goes along with being a Queenslander in the sporting realm. As Knox puts it “Even for those south of the border, it’s hard not to have a soft spot for Queensland’s smarts, their self-belief, their will to win and their composure.”
The Maroons were recently asked what it meant to be Queenslanders. Jonathon Thurston, regarded as a semi god in the north, replied “You pull the jersey on. You go out on that field, 12 other blokes standing beside you. You feel like you’re bullet proof.”
Wayne Bennett once expressed his doubts about Alfie Langer, concerned he was too small. Paul Vautin’s response was “He’s a Queenslander, he’ll be fine”. Langer is now regarded as one of the greats of the sport.
When asked how he dug deep to continue fighting after the Referee almost called the fight off in the 9th round, new world Welterweight Boxing Champion Jeff Horn said “I was fine. There’s only a few rounds left. I’m a Queenslander – I’ll push through.”
Where does the phrase Queenslander, so loaded with meaning, come from?
While ‘Queenslander’ was bandied around before the 1995 State of Origin series, many believe the war cry became part of Origin mythology during the second game. Coach Paul Vautin had apparently received a threat from the Blues that the first Maroon to yell ‘Queenslander’ during the match would be belted…which of course, just spurred everyone on. For the first time, cameras were placed in the tunnel, and captured Billy Moore roaring ‘Queenslander’ as he ran through the tunnel and out onto the field. The Maroons went on to win the series 3 – 0.
Coach at the time, Paul Vautin, explained the win, in the middle of the Super League war at the time, “We needed something to remind us what makes the game so great. It is never about who has the best players. It’s about who can get the best out of themselves. Our guys did that.”
What is it about being a Queenslander? Where does this sense of pride come from? Does it have its origins in standing up to Queensland’s ‘little brother syndrome’ – the fact the State has always been maligned by those self-proclaimed more developed, cultured Southerners? There’s always been a bit of a divide – us and them. It sets Queenslanders apart.
Perhaps its honed from a remarkable resilience Queenslanders have developed over years of battling mother nature’s worst. A continuous cycle of floods, cyclones and droughts - events which have brought Queenslanders together and given them a sense of pride and resilience in getting through.
New South Welshmen have unfortunately gained a reputation for ‘snatching defeat from the jaws of victory’. As Malcolm Knox said it’s not that the Blues haven’t tried. ‘There was no lack of effort. But for the past ten years, there never has been.”
Perhaps that will change with Origin 3. However, the game will be played on Queensland soil. No doubt there will be 50,000 + local fans chanting Queenslander in unison, all believing that their beloved team will once again prevail.
So here’s another example of beliefs and values driving behaviour. All the analysis and statistics in the world have little meaning when the clock has minutes to go, the scoreboard is even and every player on the field is beyond exhaustion. The Maroons have shown their ability to dig deep and bely the fact that on paper, they should be losing. Their self-belief carries them through.
On blues home soil, with the majority of the 82,000-strong crowd booing, Jonathon Thurston shuts everything out, ignores his season ending shoulder injury, and kicks the conversion.
Queenslander!
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