Did you know that it’s a scientific fact that State of Origin is only two chromosomes away from cage fighting? AMAZING!

These days, long gone are the big ol’ biffs brought on by the combined aggression of 26 Rugby League players. Yep… you’re now more likely to see a dust-up in an AFL than Origin these days, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a rich and violent history of fights between the two mortal enemies.

Here is our pick of the best.
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1. Danny Moore and John Hopoate – 1995 (MCG)

While John Hopoate would go on to create quite a different legacy for himself, his stink with Danny Moore at ‘The G’ showed Victorians what it meant to biff in State of Origin. Not only did the fight carry over the sidelines, but Moore and Hopoate were, at the time, team-mates at Manly. It was part of a bigger brawl that is now part of the Origin legend. Mate-against-Mate, indeed!

Click here for the clip.
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2. Elias v Walters and Harragon v Bella – 1993 (Lang Park)

There was an unusually graceful symmetry during this amazing brawl that, like so many Origin fights, eventually involved a lot more players than the original incident.

The two biggest forwards – Paul Harrogan and Martine Bella traded blows in the middle of the melee. Meanwhile, in a same-same-but-different stoush the two halves (ben Elias and Kevin Walters played it out in miniature.

Click here for the clip.
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3. Michael Jennings v Brent Tate – 2012 (Sydney Olympic Park)

This clip is proof of two simple Origin facts. One: A State of Origin fight can emerge out of the most seemingly innocuous beginnings (i.e. being hit by…. the football!); and Two: In the heat of the moment a player will catch a bus and two planes (if that’s what it takes) to throw a punch.

Here, Michael Jennings – impressively impersonating Superman – runs faster than a speeding bullet from the other half of the ground to land one on Brent Tate.

Click here for the clip.
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4. The Referee v Queensland 1998 (Lang Park)

This is the stuff of Origin legend. If you haven’t watched the clip then CLICK HERE NOW! Wally Lewis is binned for dissent, and the crowd – already dissatisfied with a poorly refereed game – goes onto overdrive.

Certainly not a high point in behaviour, the sight of a Queensland crowd throwing full cans of XXXX was certainly unprecedented.

Click here for the clip.
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5. Gallen v Myles – 2013 (Sydney Olympic Stadium)

Okay, so this is pretty much the fight that saw off brawls in Origin. In reality, those fond of ‘the stink’ would probably rate it as ‘the worst’ given the clamp-down that occurred afterwards, but surely the YouTube clip is worth watching over and over again to see Nate Myles cop it so sweetly in the kisser.

Click here for the clip.
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This Wednesday/Tonight sees yet another chapter in the history of Origin being written. Grab some mates and head down to your local for a great night of footy – there are plenty of options in our Click here State of Origin Guide!