Maroon Madness Around The State

IT'S always the way at Origin time. With an eye for the quirky and the passionate, QRL.COM.AU looks at how 2006 has brought yet another wave of Maroon Madness.

WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A PICTURE?

THE QUEENSLAND Rugby League received an interesting photograph request from the public on the eve of Origin I.

The call came in from Judy Davis, mother of one Brad Davis, Tweed Heads Seagulls five-eighth and one of the Wizard Cup’s highest point-scorers.

Brad has had a fairly noted career, representing Queensland and Australian Schoolboys in 2000 alongside the likes of Joel Monaghan, Luke Dorn and Brett Firman.

However it seems he also has an appreciation of his rival’s talents as much as anything.

The photograph requested was one taken in 2005 where Brad was being skirted around by a young Norths talent Greg Inglis.

It may not be the most flattering photo, but bets are it will live to tell many tales as Inglis’s profile grows and grows.

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ALL AWASH IN A SEA OF MAROON

PRINCIPAL Queensland State of Origin sponsor XXXX will show its true colours tonight when it launches a special Maroon-shaded ale.

Still retaining the wonderful taste of XXXX specialty brews Bitter and Gold, the Maroon beer will be on sale only at Brisbane’s Regatta Hotel, Coronation Drive, Toowong.

Castlemaine Perkins will monitor the public’s response and may look to distribute it to more locations around Queensland for future Origin matches.

“We hope they’ll give the Maroon stuff a try,” Regatta manager Ryan Torrie told The Courier-Mail.

“It’s a great way to show your passion for Queensland.”

The Regatta will televise the opening match of the 2006 Harvey Norman State of Origin match live on several big screens.

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CANE TOAD WITH EXTRA KICK

QUEENSLANDER Luke Schiavon may find real-life cane toads unappealing, but he thought it was “pretty cool” when he found one with five legs.

He made his discovery during a small bonfire in his backyard.

“It jumped out of the fire,” the Year 5 student Recently told the Bundaberg News-Mail.

“I picked it up and put it in a container and brought it inside ... it would be disgusting if it was really big.”

Central Queensland University associate professor in biology John Parmenter said five-legged toads were not uncommon.