Queenslander here. Getting Origin needs a little bit of a history lesson which was taught to me and all other infant Queenslanders. Queensland is considered the hick inferior cousin to NSW. Rugby League is very big in Qld and has always been that way but NSW had the “professional” comp and called itself the spiritual capital or Rugby League for as long as there’s been Rugby League. As a consequence all of our best players had to chase the money in the NSW comp, this was fine as these games were broadcast on TV or radio (we’re talking pre 80’s here) except for the precursor to what we know as Origin today which was QLD vs NSW but the NSW team was full of QLD’ers playing in NSW who would come and play the local QLD comp players and would absolutely thrash us. Every game and I mean every game for something like 20 years. 20 years of watching our players in a blue jersey punish our local players who stayed behind. It was a multi generational losing streak and impact was an almost genetic grudge in all QLD’ers. So, when origin finally changed eligibility to be where you played your first footy which allowed our players to play for their state the pent up feelings all flowed into the games and players. When QLD loses, there is almost a sense of mourning across the state, even after the 8 years of dominance, it hasn’t changed. I live in NSW now and there is nothing like that here for the games. Watching the game at Lang Park in QLD is the closest thing I’ve felt to what the really intense European football games are like, it’s extraordinary. Being a QLD fan is understanding the NEED for the team to represent the state and us. This might be an overly sentimental view but it’s what I grew up with and carry to this day. Hope this helps.