NSW parliamentarians have conquered their Queensland rivals, who were unethically bolstered by interstate colleagues in the annual State of Origin series played by pollies.
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Pacific Minister Pat Conroy jubilantly lifted the trophy on a soggy footy field outside Parliament House on Tuesday morning, which could prove a good omen for the actual Blues as they head to Queensland for the rugby league decider.
David Pocock's staffer Lincoln Magee dazzled his boss by scoring two tries for NSW, outrunning the former Wallabies captain after an intercept in what is set to be a widely debated office topic.
Brad Fittler scored the third, clutching a tight hamstring after putting the ball down in the corner, thus ending any speculation the former great would be making a comeback anytime soon.
Simon Kennedy, who replaced Scott Morrison and showed up wearing pineapple boardshorts, won man of the match for his performance for the Blues, taking home a signed jersey.
Queensland scored two but Nationals Keith Pitt, Matt Canavan and Barnaby Joyce combined for net-zero tries.
Conroy copped the first penalty after giving a Queenslander the "Samoan sidestep" and bowling him over.
But the Maroons got their own back, with Canavan and former rugby star Sam Thaiday crashing through a NSW winger in a blatantly illegal tackle for touch rugby, including a forearm to the head.
Blues enforcer Dan Repacholi, standing at over two metres tall, missed out on both the Olympic shooting team and a starting spot on Tuesday morning, with agility proving more of a premium.
Australian Associated Press
