State of Origin

Tonight's the night – again – for the State of Origin game. When I was in New Guinea a couple of weeks ago it was the lead up to the last big game. PNGers are State of Origin crazy - favourite team being the 'maroons', there are 'blues' and 'maroons' flags in the big supermarkets, adults and kids alike wear football jerseys, even if the shorts or pants are threadbare - the football top is de rigeur.

In Tufi, near the dive resort there's a large field that doubles as the airstrip and on Origin night, people come from far away (often a two-hour canoe paddle through the fjords) and settle on the grass for an open-air telecast. It's all a bit primitive but the sense of occasion is felt. And when the game is dine and the winners are celebrating, best not to gloat too much amid the PNG fans - it can get a bit hairy if your team is not part of the collective consensus.