By SONJA KOREMANS
THERE couldn’t be a pub more divided by State of Origin team pride than one that sits smack bang on the Queensland-NSW border.
The Jennings Hotel is split by the border at Wallangarra, on the New England Highway, and has to deal with the confusion of daylight saving, a NSW address but Queensland postcode, and little identification on the map.
But come State of Origin and locals reckon there is no better place to be. For years, The Wallangarra Hotel on the Queensland side was where the Blues rugby league supporters drank, while Jennings, only a few hundred metres up the road on the NSW side, was where Queenslanders gathered.
But then The Wallangarra Hotel shut four years ago and allegiances were turned upside down. Good sense prevailed, locals put state rivalry aside rather than be denied a watering hole in their one-pub town.
Wallangarra meatworker Toni Jones arrived at Jennings early for last Wednesday’s game.
Drought has shut her workplace down, so she’s enjoying some forced annual leave at her favourite boozer.
“There’s about 100 people in the town and quite a few will be coming here to watch State of Origin, mostly Queenslanders,” Ms Jones said.
There will be no need for cab rides home after the game, she said.
“The pub is within walking distance of everyone’s house, whether you live in NSW or Queensland, so it’s easy just to wander home.”
Pub owner Lynn Schenk has split the bar into two ends for the three big games with coloured balloons and streamers for both teams.
Queensland supporters and decorations are positioned nearest the Queensland border end of the pub while the NSW followers are at the NSW tip of the bar.
“People began arriving early today, it’s always a great night on State of Origin, we do go to a bit of effort,” Ms Schenk said.
She won’t be barracking for both teams to keep the peace in the bar.
“I’m from Queensland, the pub’s on the Queensland side of the border, so I will be going for my home team, of course.” Down the Maroons’ end of the bar, no doubt.
