Rugby League is a game played by a small number of coutries around the world.
Often known as the poor cousin to Rugby, in recent years it has enjoyed a much higher profile.
This is due (in part) to the State of Origin series played between Queensland and New South Wales each year.
The catch cry of "State against State, Mate against Mate" has been at the epicentre of the rivalry between the two states since the beggining of the "Origin" concept in 1980.
Of course, the game has been played in Australia since 1908 and games between the two states have been played for many years before 1980, but the main difference prior to 1980 was that N.S.W. claimed that players from queensland if they happened to be playing in N.S.W. at the time.
In 1980, that rule was changed so that Queensland players were allowed to return to Queensland and play for their own state.
This was extremely important to most players of the time, and saw a fierce first "Origin" match played under these new rules, for anyone familiar with the game they will know that Rugby League is a tough contact sport even when payed socially, so when players with an "Axe to Grind" wind up and belt the living daylights out of each other, it makes for some spectacular tackles and painful memories.
