MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: Kane Corne’s criticism of NRL State of Origin is way off the mark

I know Kane Cornes is outspoken but I had to read his comments on State of Origin several times to work out if he was taking the mickey or not.

In case you missed it – which was just about everyone in Sydney and Brisbane – Cornes was asked to rank the most over-rated things in sport.

On his 1-15 list, he had me on board early by declaring the Sydney to Hobart the 15th most over-rated event.

You’d need a pallet of No-Doz to get through that.

But it quickly went downhill from there as Cornes began working through the rest of his list.

He included the SCG, the Boxing Day Test and cricketer Cam Green as all being overrated.

Are you even Australian if you don’t like the SCG or the Boxing Day Test?

But the best – or worst - was yet to come.

Cornes put Origin at the top of his list of the most overrated things in sport, saying: “After the first tackle, I’m out.

“I just think it’s overblown and overrated.”

What the actual…?

I’ll admit Origin 1 wasn’t a real showstopper as far as entertainment goes.

It was probably on par with a good club game rather than the all-action blockbusters we’re used to seeing at this level.

That was more down to NSW suffocating Queensland out of the game and the Maroons showing as much mongrel as a cavoodle.

But overblown and overrated? More boring than the Sydney to Hobart?

C’mon man.

Last Wednesday’s game attracted 3.75m viewers to Channel 9’s coverage with a combined reach of 5.449m.

It is easily the most-watched program of the year and the one of the highest-rating Origin games in history.

As NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said: “This cements rugby league’s position as the number one sport in Australia.”

The AFL can only dream about those sorts of figures and exposure three times a year.

Maybe that’s why Cornes is so jealous.

He should stick to watching blokes running around in singlets and tight shorts and leaping on each other’s backs.

Boys, at least do some arm curls if you’re going to cut the sleeves off your jumpers!

With 60,000 expected at Perth Stadium for Origin II – and the series on the line for Queensland – I expect those figures above to be smashed.

A cornered Cane Toad is a dangerous beast.

After losing an Origin game, I can tell you from personal experience that those three weeks between games are an absolute punish.

When you lose a club game, you usually only have to answer to the locals in your area.

Lose at Origin level and you cop it everywhere you go.

The whole state is hurting and keen to let you know.

That’s what makes it such a great event: the pain or ecstasy is palpable.

It’s beyond the capabilities of dribblers like Cornes to understand Origin’s impact.