Under 20s Origin here to stay, say coaches

The under 20s State of Origin concept is here to stay, according to the two coaches involved in the inaugural fixture on Saturday night.

While the Baby Blues grimly defended their way to an 18-14 victory at Penrith, both NSW coach Dean Pay and his Queensland counterpart Kevin Walters agreed the match ensured the future of Origin football is strong.

There was brutal defence, committed runs, a couple of long-range tries and, as always in Origin football, a couple of stinks.

Just like Paul Gallen and Sam Thaiday will be doing in a few weeks.

“I said to our blokes that Origin is in pretty safe hands in the next five or six years on both sides of the border if we can continue to produce games like that,” Walters, who played 20 times for Queensland, said.

“I think it’s a great concept. I wish they had it around when I was coming through.

“And you could see there, some of those hits … they weren’t boys, they were men doing that from both sides.”

Pay, a 12-time NSW representative, said the core of the concept was to introduce the game’s next generation of stars to what Origin means – and he felt that had been achieved.

“I think it’s a great concept, I think it’s great for these young guys to get a taste of what it is to come into camp and realise what it is to actually put on our jumper and go through the process of getting yourselves prepared for a bigger game,” Pay said.

Pay recruited former NSW champions Ricky Stuart, Craig Fitzgibbon and Jason Ryles to speak to his troops in the leadup to the match.

“That was our main plan with this concept, (we wanted) to make sure they realised what it is to play Origin and what that Blue jumper means to us,” he said.

“The passion that particularly those guys, Sticky (Stuart) and Fitzy, have got for our jumper is enormous and I thought it rubbed off.

“They’ve got a good idea of what it is now.”

NSW captain Boyd Cordner was honoured to have been a part of the first ever match and said he hoped it would continue to develop as a representative fixture.

“I think everyone would agree that it was a pretty tough and physical match. I think that’s what Origin is all about,” he said.

“I’m glad to be a part of the first ever one. I reckon it should’ve been around earlier but I’m glad it’s here and I hope it’s here to stay.”

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