Once again RNRL were invited to stage the annual State of Origin fixture at Headingley Carnegie home to the Leeds Rhinos as a curtain raised to the ‘derby’ match between the Rhino’s and the Wakefield Wildcats. After last year’s washout, resulting in the match being played at the Rhino’s Academy ground, conditions could not have been more different. Another ‘hottest day of the year so far’ greeted the squads as they arrived at the famous Leeds ground ready to do battle not only for the Hesco-Bastion Origin Trophy but for the all important places in Septembers Inter-Services Squads. Both sides had prepared well with the Wests final session held in Leeds on Wednesday night with a majority of the side overnighting at the home of Coach and skipper Lewis Taylor! On the day Coach Taylor took his side to Kirkstall for a light training session before shirt presentations whilst the Easts spent the morning at the ground of local Amateur club Stanningley where their skipper Kev Botwood played his Rugby before joining the service.
The match kicked off on time with the ground filling up as the game progressed, initially temperatures at pitch side were in excess of 30C and only cooled by a couple of degrees throughout the match. Despite this both sides put on a great show impressing not only the fans but the RL journalists in the press box and assorted Rhinos players who were watching on before their pre match preps.
The game swung one way and the other with neither side managing to put any distance between themselves and the opposition. The first score came after 9 minutes and went to the Easts, smart approach play pressured the Wests line before the ball was shipped out to Simon Tulakepa who went over for his first of the evening but despite making for the posts to touch down Alex Scruton was unable to add the conversion so it was 4:0 to the Easts. The Maroons settled into the game after this and began to exert pressure themselves and after 18 minutes a high bomb into the Easts red zone was missed by the defenders, Richard Houghton seizing the ball to cross alongside the posts giving Richard Cadywould an easy first shot at goal, 4:6 after 20. The Wests went further ahead shortly afterwards with another Houghton try but this time Cadywould was unable to add the extras so it was 4:10 as the game moved into the last ten minutes off the half. The heat had been taking its toll on the players but the final ten minutes saw a flurry of points to send the teams in all square at the break. Simon Tulakepa replied with his second of the match 8:10, Steve Riley completed a great move for the Wests managing to touchdown far out on the Maroons right hand side, 8:14. This was not the end of the scoring though, literally on the stroke of half time the Easts had the Wets trapped on their goal line, despite some strong defence Chris Reeves forced his way over under the posts giving Alex Scruton the easy conversion to tie the game up at the break 14:14.
Still playing in very hot and humid conditions battle was resumed and for the first 12 minutes the talk on the touch line was what happens if it ended as a draw as neither side could find the all important breakthrough. After fifty two minutes it was the Maroons of the Wests who broke the deadlock, Steve Riley again finishing off a good move to bag his second of the match 14:18. Kyle Larvin fished off a great move for the Easts to level up the scores once again so it was all square with 15 minutes to go. The heat was punishing by now and several cases of cramp were dealt with by Joyce Evans and for the Wests Gary Mitchell was kept just as busy. The final score went to the Easts, good approach play once again drew the wests defence over to their left leaving space out wide on the right, good hands by the Blues got the ball out to centre Jack Basher who touched down in some style. Despite being ahead for the first time in the match the conversion was vital, Alex Scruton, who had returned to the fray after an early injury, took on the touchline kick and nailed it to give the game to the Easts. A last series of attacks by the Maroons came to nothing, the Easts regaining the Origin trophy after a thrilling match.
The Origin fixture has always had larger than normal squads with unlimited subs to give all players some game time, just as well in the stifling heat however all forty or so players gave a great performance on one of the biggest stages in the sport and were given a fantastic ovation by the Rhinos South Standers, who do not give praise easily! A long day for the forwards on both sides and it was fitting that the two Man of the Match awards went to the pack. Royal Marine Dave Fairbrother took his great run of form from the RM Corps side into Origin being a pivotal figure in the second row for the Wests. For the Easts, experienced Rugby Union forward James Parry made a massive contribution at open side prop for the Easts. There were obviously very differing emotions on the benches , for the Easts Coach Dane Smallbone along with Steve Penberthy were delighted at the victory whilst Lewis Taylor was just as disappointed at losing out on the day. Both sets of coaches however agreed that it was probably the best Origin to date.
As is now tradition the trophy presentation took place in the half time break of the Rhino’s Wildcats match and it has to be said it was quite a surreal experience for all concerned. Not only were the two Origin sides on the pitch but over a hundred junior dancers were performing in front of the South Stand, add to that a whole load of mini rugby players competing under the goal posts and just to top it off the winner of the BBC programme the Apprentice, Leah Totton, was also there drawing the half time winning charity ticket! With a final round of applause from the crowd which was given as 18,396 the players left the field to reflect on another great day for RN Rugby League. ,
Western Commands:-Steve Riley, Bobby Conroy-Smith, Jonny Platt, Craig A Sutton, Sean Houghton, Richard Cadywould, John Clay, Matt Corrigan, Paul Saberton, Lewis Taylor (C), Dave Fairbrother, Matt Dey, Ben Taylor, Steve Mortensen, Sam Drury, Lee Gaskell, Mark Sharp, Jono Bethwaite, Sully Vadiga
Scorers: T. Riley, (2), Conroy-Smith, G Cadywould (Conv)
Eastern Commands:- Mike Haldenby, Lav Lavelawa, Jack Basher, Tu Roko, Simon Tulakepa, Steve Lockton, Alex Scruton, James Parry, Kyle Larvin, Ian Cooper, Gareth Cadmore, Craig R Sutton, Kev Botwood, Wata Robanakavadu, Rhys Bingham, Andy Parrott, Dave Gee, Marc Warren, Nick Bentley, Chris Reeves.
Scorers: T Tulakepa(2) Reeves, Larvin, Basher, G: Scruton (2)