State Of Origin: The Awesome Eighties Complete Collection

It is regarded by many commentators as the pinnacle of Rugby League – the highest standard of representative football. Is has provided our game with some of its greatest moments, as generations of fans have borne witness to incredible feats of skill and courage.

The phenomenon that almost never was. By the late 1970s, traditional interstate matches between Queensland and New South Wales were losing relevance, cashed-up Sydney teams were attracting the best players from north of the Tweed River, who soon found themselves pitted against fellow Queenslanders from the less-lucrative BRL premiership. Sensing a decline in the spectacle QRL supremo Senator Ron McAuliffe and his NSWRL counterpart Kevin Humphreys developed a revolutionary plan. Players would be selected based on their origin and the “State of Origin” concept was born.

Now, step back in time and witness the birth of a phenomenon as Artie Beetson inspired his underdog Maroons to victory in the first ever State of Origin game in 1980, sparking Queensland’s early domination of the format. Relive Steve Mortimer’s heroics during the Blues’ first origin series win in 1985. Experience the first series ‘whitewash’ by NSW, orchestrated by formidable halves pairing Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny in 1986; witness the unheralded debut of ‘The Little General’, Allan Langer in 1987, breaking NSW’s recent dominance of the format. Relive all these 80’s moments and many many more in this Awesome 80’s Collection.