Fireworks among the scrum in the political stadium

The Prime Minister assumed his role on the right-wing and followed his second row team-mate Amanda Vanstone down field in search of the reconciliation halfway mark everyone is talking about.

Running at a leisurely speed the captain received an unanticipated violent stiff arm to the head by opposition front rower, Kim Beazley, with a verbal flare-up of “what about a separate Indigenous Affairs department?” Not content to sit on the sidelines, Pearson ran to his little mate’s defence with a tongue lashing of “a neither here nor there debate” dismissal of Beazley’s affirmation.

Beazley’s half-back and playmaker, Lowitja O’Donoghue, running a good 20 metres to join in the altercation, shoulder-charged Pearson to the ground and, as he rose from the turf, she left him with a parting reminder that “you’re not our messiah” and stalwartly proclaimed his captain’s play for support was “full of weasel words”.

Referee Mischa Schubert from The Age penalised Pearson for his dirty play in the melee, citing a source who advised Pearson had been critical of fellow leaders saying they “weren’t up to it”.

The Prime Minister searched desperately for his enforcer, second rower Amanda Vanstone, but regrettably she was off in the distance still probing for the reconciliation half way mark.

And still the fight raged on.

By now the mums and dads, having gathered their children, had begun to leave the Canberra game in their droves, convinced the captain and right-winger was nothing more than a trouble maker playing foul and throwing key players off their game.

With the jury out on the Prime Minister’s reconciliation game, those of us north of the Tweed River are eagerly waiting the next State of Origin encounter where there is high probability of even brighter fire works lighting up our television screens.

And when the game is poised on a knife’s edge we will search the reserves bench for signs of salvation and it won’t be little right-wing Howard that we seek. Rather it will be the little Prince of Dairy Farmers’ Stadium, entering the game to the angst of the blue tinged Olympic Stadium, and leading the mighty Maroons to victory once again.