CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
The final instalment of the 2024 State Of Origin Trilogy broke this year’s TV audience records last night, as all historical trends and assumptions were rejected to deliver a spectacular NSW victory at the Brisbane game III decider.
After 80 minutes of high octane rugby league, any comparable productions from rival franchises like the AFL and Super Rugby were blown out of the water.
The poetic prophecies of Queensland coach Billy Slater failed to come true, as the rough-and-ready drill sergeant approach of his NSW equivalent Madge Maguire produced a ball-running Blues side who maintained momentum from kick off until the first try of the match, 65 minutes in.
This was repeated again less than 3 minutes later, as the Blues cemented a 4-14 victory over a once impenetrable wall of Maroon muscle.
The final act was as Shakespearean as it was thrilling, as fate and foreshadowing was outplayed by appearance and reality.
It was a spectacle that even the NRL will struggle to top, as their scriptwriters reconvene this afternoon to begin frantically mapping out the production of the 2025 season.
However, the NRL studio executives believe they have exactly what is needed to construct a 2025 narrative that will pick up exactly where this year’s blues celebration left off.
The 2025 sequel is currently going by the working title of ‘TINO’S REVENGE’ – and will follow Gold Coast Titans captain Tino “Big Country” Fa’asuamaleaui’s return from an ACL injury, with one motive. To inflict as much pain as possible on both Blues fans and players.
As a spleen-bursting Maroons enforcer, Tino’s absence in this year’s Origin series was evident, as scriptwriters took advantage of his character’s sabbatical and sent a flying shoulder in Queensland fullback Reece Walsh’s eye socket just minutes into game one.
The son of a Samoan former Sydney City reserve grader, Fa’asuamaleaui was raised in the 750 person town of Widgee just west of Gympie. Since his debut appearance for the Maroons in 2020, he has become renowned as somewhat of an ‘artist’.
Speaking to the Betoota Advocate this morning, one of the leading NRL scriptwriters confirmed the production team were excited to begin delving into Tino’s artistry.
“A man can be an artist… in anything, food, whatever. It depends on how good he is at it.” said the writer.
“Tino’s art is big hits. He’s about to paint his masterpiece.”
A promise to protect.
A vow to avenge.
JUNE 2025.
TINO’S REVENGE.
