State of Play


Chapter One;
Toad Out Of Water

The two gazed, almost in a trance, at the junior sailor mess room's TV; drawn closer by the emergence from the tunnel of the 26 figures in light blue and dark maroon red. The other men in the room, seven in total with many others stopping by for a look, cheered for the men in blue and jeered the enemy in maroon accordingly, the figures of Spider and Charge amongst them. All the lads gathered in the room hailed from NSW and so when the yearly campaign against QLD rolled around they gathered. They had the fortune of having no diehard QLD fans for company. Well, at least they thought they didn't. When a figure rushed into the mess clutching a maroon scarf their exclusivity was lost. And, if to make matters worse, it was a girl. Spider groaned loudly as Bomber, draping her scarf over her shoulders, elbowed him out of the way so she could get some seat.
She glanced at him. "You know, I should've guessed you were a Blues fan; you always have been a bit of a loser." She joked; aware she was outnumbered but not caring in the slightest.
Charge chuckled but Spider just glared at the figure beside him. "Look, I don't want to have to explain the game to you okay, so just be quiet."
Bomber laughed. "Men. Why do you always assume women know nothing about football?" She shook her head. "I ask nothing more than, who is the ref?"
Charge answered this one. "Archer." He answered, clearly not assuming she knew nothing about football.
Bomber gave a small smile, causing Spider to frown at her. She just shrugged. "Good ref, that Tony Archer." She explained, causing Spider to gape a little and a fellow crewmate named Archie to laugh at their expressions. Bomber just looked back at the TV as the sound of the whistle signalled time on. QLD kicked off.
At the two minute mark Bomber finally made a noise. She groaned. The Maroons had managed to get themselves trapped inside their own twenty by the 5th tackle. They kicked to safety and Spider watched Bomber finally start to breathe again, but it was short-lived as Spider's attention was drawn back to the screen. The Blues were away. Spider tapped the table nervously as Hoffman broke through the Maroons line. He passed to Stewart who flicked it out to Quinn and then suddenly there were no more defenders. Spider gaped and then cheered with the others as Quinn crossed. He glanced at Charge who was grinning and clapped him on the back. It had been barely five minutes and already NSW were up. As Fitzgibbon kicked it and the sound of Snow Patrol echoed across ANZ Stadium, Spider grinned at Bomber. Bomber just pointed to the screen as Ray Warren spoke.
"'Didn't mean an iota' Rabbits says. Don't get cocky Spider, it's not over yet." She managed bravely. She turned back to the screen as some awesome Blues defence shut down Brent Tate's attempt. Spider just laughed.
"Ooh, don't mess with Petero." Bomber said under her breath about ten minutes later. It was the first sound she'd made in a while and caused Spider to grin. It seemed the girl did know her football and, busy watching her, he missed the break and run by the Blues. He glanced back at the TV as the others cheered to see Wallace, the NSW halfback, take the ball and kick it to the corner. It looked almost destined to go out. But then, there was Quinn again. He put it down 10cms from the edge of the field. Spider just cheered and glanced at Bomber.
"10-0." He pointed out.
"Thanks, but I'm not stupid, I can see." She growled at him.
Spider laughed. "That's debateable, you are a Maroons fan." Many of the others in the room laughed at his comment. Bomber just scowled at him.
"Shut up and watch the game." She returned, leaning her elbow against the table and pressing her cheek against it. Spider just grinned. He and the Blues were clearly winning this war.
There would be no solace in the next few minutes of the game either as the Maroons managed nothing but bummed tries. Then, things got worse for the sole QLD fan in the very Blues room. Gaz broke through the defence, taking Brett Stewart with him. Spider watched Bomber cover her eyes as Gasnier passed to a very open Stewart and there was nothing the Maroons could do. It was now 14-0.
"37 minutes over. Where's this comeback you were talking about?" Spider teased as QLD kicked off again. Bomber just raised her head from the table and gave him a silent death stare. Spider just grinned. For a minute they stayed like that, silently shooting insults at one another, but then Bomber's gaze was broken as QLD got a line dropout.
"Here we go." She said mysteriously. Spider didn't believe her. It was basically half time. But then, Spider was usually wrong. So, when Brent Tate's try was sent upstairs and given the green light, Bomber cheered, dancing a little in her seat. She gave Spider a cheesy grin. "Bring on the second half!"

Bomber left during half time, she said to finish some washing up but Spider had told her it was simply because she didn't want to see the tries re-visited and that she shouldn't bother coming back. But she did, almost 1 minute into the second half. "What've I missed?" She said, sitting on Spider when he wouldn't move out of her seat. He shoved her off and moved over so she could have some room. She hit him with her scarf and stared at the television, Billy Slater now being dragged out of touch. She groaned and covered her face with her scarf.
"Oh, just the usual." Spider joked. She hit him with her scarf again and then dropped her head to the table with a rather loud clunk as Gasnier broke through the defence. Spider glanced at her as she raised her head from the table slowly. She was rubbing her forehead and tears of pain were in her eyes. "What'd you do that for?" He asked, shocked.
Bomber shrugged. "It's fine. Built of tougher stuff in QLD." She said, motioning to the TV as the QLD attack managed to drag Brett Stewart back behind his own try line. Spider shook his head.
By the 50-minute mark they were both leaning against the table, silently stressing. Both sides had managed to butcher opportunities and Charge, bored already, had given up and left the room, many of the other sailors joining him. Now it was Spider, Bomber, Archie and two others. The group had dwindled significantly. Spider sighed and started tapping the table. "C'mon Blues, do something!" He ordered the TV.
Bomber laughed. "You're like a small child, constantly in need of entertainment." She motioned to the TV as Billy Slater ran thirty metres. "How's that."
Spider shot her a death stare back, one that rivalled one of Bomber's best. "When hell freezes over, it's then that I will consider even befriending a QLD fan."
Bomber smiled. "Alright, that's one whole state that's sleeping better tonight." She teased. Spider just rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the television.
At the 67-minute mark Bomber finally let out a sigh of defeat as Anthony Laffranchi crossed the try line. The game was well and truly over. So, with a small sigh, she turned to Spider. She nodded to him. "Until next time." She pushed herself out of her seat.
Spider grinned. "Oh Bomb, you're not giving up yet are you? There's still 10 minutes left. I'm sure the Morons could score 14 points in 10 minutes." He snorted.
Despite her team getting flogged Bomber held her head high, and all in the room could admire her for that, but at the same time they were thoroughly enjoying the sour look on her face, especially Spider who lapped up any opportunity to get one over on the chef. "Three games Spider, three. It's not over till it's over." She gave him a wave with her Maroons scarf. "See you at Suncorp in three weeks girls." She shot back as she left.
Spider's voice followed her into the hall. "I wouldn't bother coming back if I were you."
But they both knew she would. She was like that. Just like the Maroons, Bomber never gave up. But just like the Blues, Spider never stopped trying to make her. It was probably why their rivalry, like the origin, was such a big part of who they were…