Origin Shorts: In Camp Day 1

State of Origin

Launches need an injection of excitement

It's time State of Origin team announcements were taken out of the hands of the respective states and put in the hands of professionals.

The Blues team was unveiled in a dark and dingy part of Star Casino as part of a sponsorship deal, with uncomfortable and silent pauses among seated guests as we awaited a live cross to Channel 9's morning news.

We’ve been to wakes with more atmosphere.

Queensland's announcement was just plain bizarre, with players introduced to blaring music while walking past soldiers and military equipment.

And what sport in the world marks the start of such a big and important series at lunchtime on a workday Tuesday?

The first step would be to keep the identity of teams secret right up until the announcement (yes, a near impossibility in this day and age) before both teams and coaches are paraded together at a night-time function live on TV.

It's got to be at least worth a try.      

Blues remember the days of the old schoolyard

Do you recall the days of the old school photos when the call that all short arses dread was hollered by the insensitive photographer.

"Short guys to the front, tall guys to the back."

Watch here as the Blues went through the same thing at their Coffs Harbour camp on Wednesday – and see if you can work out who was missing.

No trouble up ahead for Hoff – or is there?

We can report Ryan Hoffman is sweet on the home front – for now.

The Hoff and his wife Melissa make for great entertaining on social media, with Mrs H regularly chipping her forgetful hubby to their thousands of followers.

Last month she memorably called him a 'bellend' for leaving his lunch at home    

"I've been in the good books lately but I might not be after going away for 10 days," Ryan laughed.

"My wife's got a very good sense of humour…she's not just a pretty face.

"That's what social media is all about. It's about giving people a little bit of insight and I enjoy sharing it and getting a bit of banter.

Wife swapper goes all shy on us

Remember we told you about the two rugby league identities who were talking about wife swapping before a recent game?

Well, one of them is in one of the Origin camps.

He is keeping a low profile…a very low profile.

Brown adds colour to NSW camp 

It's good to see former Dragons coach Nathan Brown back in the fold.

Browny is part of Laurie Daley's coaching staff and is already proving to be an astute pick up while being hugely popular among the players.

It surely won’t be long before he lands a fulltime gig in the NRL again.

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