Over here in Australia, the biggest rivalry in sports takes place three times a year during May, June and July. It's State Of Origin Rugby League, played between the states of New South Wales and Queensland.
This year is the 25th year of Origin, and during the past 24 years, 72 games have been played. Queensland have won 35, New South Wales have won 35 and 2 games have been drawn.
The teams are made up the very best players from our National Rugby League, who represent the state that they first played senior level rugby league in. So, basically, it's a 3 game All-Star series. But unlike the All-Star games in the NBA, MLB and NFL, State Of Origin is taken very seriously. In fact, it really is the highest quality rugby league possible. The very first game back in 1980 was thought of as a bit of a gimmick, but when Arthur Beetson and Mick Cronin, teammates on the Parramatta Eels club team in Sydney, started exchanging haymakers five minutes into the game, it was an obvious sign that the game wasn't just an "exhibition".
Last night, the first game of the 2005 Origin series was played at Lang park in Queensland, which is known as "The Cauldron" because of the passion of the Queensland fans, and many have already said that it was one of the best origin games ever.
Queensland went into half-time leading 13-0, and extended that lead to 19-0 ten minutes into the second half. But then, New South Wales stage a furious comeback, scoring four tries (a try is like a touchdown) during the next 20 minutes to take the lead, 20-19. With two minutes left in the game, Queensland kicked a field goal to tie the scores at 20-20, sending the game into sudden death extra time, where Queensland scored an intercept try to win the game 24-20.
If any of you are interested in knowing more about Rugby League, just visit
www.nrl.com.au.