Streaks of two very different varieties left NSW very unhappy after Queensland claimed an eighth straight rugby league Origin series victory.
The Maroons’ gritty 12-10 win in Wednesday’s series decider at ANZ Stadium consigned the Blues to 12 more months of suffering as Queensland continued their dominance of the annual three-match series.
The Blues camp were also left fuming by the late-match distraction of a portly male streaker who injected himself into play while security guards chased after him in one of Origin’s more bizarre incidents.
While Queensland prop Matt Scott was denied a try due to the pitch invader’s actions, NSW players stewed over the intruder’s intervention and their own inability to capitalise on several scoring opportunities.
NSW forward Ryan Hoffman refused to focus on the lengthening of one of Australian sport’s more infamous losing streaks.
“We don’t think of eight in a row, we just think of it as another series,” Hoffman said.
“We certainly don’t feel the pressure of that, we feel the disappointment.
“It doesn’t matter if this was the first loss or the eighth, we’re still hurting just as much.
“But it’s going to have to get to a stage when we’re going to have to arrest this because this is certainly not good.”
Hoffman didn’t hold back when asked about the streaker who he said tripped him as he attempted to make a tackle on Scott.
“I think the days are long gone of it being funny and being a laugh,” Hoffman said.
“For someone to get right in the middle of the action is I think a bit alarming and a bit concerning and hopefully after this it will be rectified.”
Asked what he would say to the streaker, Hoffman said “You’re an idiot, mate.”
Queensland fullback Billy Slater was able to see a funny side to the incident.
“He must have some pace the big fellow, he’s done well, hasn’t he?” Slater said.
“Is he a Queenslander?”
Maroons forward Sam Thaiday even showed some sympathy towards the intruder, even though he said Scott was filthy at being stripped of a rare try.
“Old mate has probably had a few too many drinks, got a bit of courage up and his mates were probably into him,” Thaiday said of the streaker.