WATCH: Malcolm & Barnaby Endorsed Their Origin States & Now Rugby’s Dead

Full disclosure: as a born-and-raised South Australian now living in Victoria, the author of this article will freely admit they sometimes find State Of Origin a little baffling. Outside of observing the furious tribalism of east coast friends and colleagues, the whole deal has precious little meaning to a rank outsider. 

Now, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull have released their own videos on the Big Game™. If you’re familiar with the sport, they’ll probably ruin the whole thing for you. But frankly, they both seem to explain a lot about both side – and about the pollies themselves.

Joyce’s vid lacks any semblance of PR sheen, but makes up for it with a personal connection to the game itself. Decked out head-to-toe in maroon gear, the Member for New England points out each and every single rugby team he ever played for. 

Hell, we know the guy is mad about the sport, ’cause even his website lists “28 stitches across his face, fractured ribs and partially popped shoulder among his firm memories from his time on the paddock.”

What you see is what you get: a maroon bloke, both inside and out.
And then there’s Turnbull. Distant. Polished. Almost totally devoid of emotion, outside of performative enthusiasm.
The Sydney-sider’s slick message seemed to bamboozle Joyce, who called his southern counterpart “incorrigible” for mentioning his Tamworth heritage. That’s all well and good from the PM, but it’s still obvious – even to a rugby imbecile like yours truly – who’d actually get rolled on the field.

The game is actually scheduled for 8pm. Despite everything this writer has learned from the above videos, you’ll probably be pleased to know PEDESTRIAN.TV‘s Sydney and Brisbane crew will be handling that one. With any luck, these clips haven’t melted their brains.

Photo: Malcolm Turnbull / Facebook.

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