Prior to the experimental match, the State of Origin concept was derided by the Sydney Media. "The Daily Mirror's" Ron Casey showed his opposition to the game, and his bias towards Sydney as a whole when he called it a 'Phoney Promotion' and wrote in his newspaper column: ""To the Queensland hillbillies in Premier Joh's Bananaland, the State of Origin match might be a big deal, but to those in the land of the living, here in Sydney, its just another match without much meaning"." One member of the Sydney media who welcomed the game was Ray "Rabbits" Warren, who wrote in the "Sunday Telegraph": ""I know a lot of people are upset at the go-ahead of the State of Origin game, but I congratulate those who pushed it through. Queensland and NSW Country areas need an injection of life and this match can do nothing but good for the game north of the border.""