While the Melbourne Cup is the one sporting event that stops the nation, what's the biggest day on the footy calendar?
Is it the AFL Grand Final at the MCG or a series-deciding State of Origin clash?
Sportal's Adam Lucius (rugby league) and Bren O'Brien (AFL) enter the cage.
LUCIUS: You guys must hate how big State of Origin is. We pinched the idea off AFL and turned it into the biggest show in Australian football. I know you're not the jealous type but it must irritate you and your Aussies rules brethren.
O'BRIEN: Nothing more than a novelty, Origin. When you have such a professionally run competition like the AFL, why do you need to trot out your players in a circus like that? It had its time and place when the code wasn't national, but we have State v State every week, why do we need a 'special' match as well?
LUCIUS: If it's a circus then I know who to call when we're looking for a clown. The three games will have attracted close to 200,000 fans to the ground and a combined nation viewing audience of around 12 million. And what do you know? We see these blokes in the NRL every week but league fans are still keen to see them go around for their states. You do know it's okay to look beyond your back fence once in a while?
O'BRIEN: How can the NRL ever consider itself a national code with an approach like this? Sure, you get two states captivated, but the rest of us are left out in the cold. The fact there is so much interest in it is more a reflection of the weakness of the NRL competition and its inability to capture the public's imagination.
LUCIUS: Last time I looked the NRL's television audiences dwarfed all sports so obviously somebody is interested. And Channel 9 are beaming Origin III live to all states apart from SA and WA so I assume there is interest beyond the league strongholds. Rugby league's not a huge international sport or even that big in the AFL-centric states but it's a sport that is comfortable in its own skin. We don't have to manufacture rivalry like that ridiculous hybrid game you guys invented. What was it called again? Bash the amateur Irishman? There is nothing fake about the Origin rivalry. You try walking down Caxton St on Wednesday night with a blue jersey and wig on and see if you make it out alive.
O'BRIEN: International Rules is a joke, but it's not fair comparing League's best with AFL's worst. What about the occasion of our Grand Final? An amazing event, with real teams who have fought for an entire season to get there, not just two bunches of loosely aligned players dressed in different shirts going the knuckle in front of people who forget that federation ever happened. Origin is great for what it is, a novelty, but it doesn't stand up in the pantheon of great sporting events, contested by multiple teams, all with a chance to win the title.
LUCIUS: Okay, I can see I am not going to convince you of the bigger picture here. But I will be checking in with your missus to see whether it's Inspector Rex or