As attention momentarily shifts from the NRL's week-to-week grind, State of Origin rivalry has split the NZ Warriors locker room between those backing New South Wales and others behind Queensland.
The annual interstate showdown - infamously billed 'state v state, mate v mate' - traditionally captures the imagination of Kiwis as well, even if it's just to watch Aussies smash the snot out of each other.
Sydney-born Warriors coach Andrew Webster makes no secret of where his loyalties lie.
"Blues... always," he said. "Just win, I don't care how many.
"It's the only time I get to be a fan and not have to analyse a game of footy and just enjoy it for what it is - it's so much fun."
That enjoyment factor has been boosted by the presence of Warriors forward Mitch Barnett in the NSW squad for the opener at Sydney, even if he is unlikely to take the field, but Webster hasn't had much to celebrate recently, with Queensland triumphant in 2022 and 2023, and 14 of the last 18 years.
He hasn't found too much sympathy on this side of the Tasman either, with Kiwis tending to favour the traditional underdogs.
"It annoys me," quipped Webster. "It's the only thing I don't like about New Zealand."
Unfortunately, he doesn't have to look far for some spirited Origin trashtalk, starting with the player who last wore the Maroon jersey only two years ago.
"He's put me on the bench because I'm a Queenslander," insisted forward Kurt Capewell, sporting his representative cap. "He's not real happy about that.
"I think they're all Queenslanders over here, aren't they? We claim them anyway."
Capewell maintains most of his teammates are with him.
"There's obviously one or two New South Wales boys here, so they've got a fair bit of support. Barney obviously, but he's not playing, so a lot of the boys on the fence are Queenslanders again."
Capewell's injury-plagued season has ended any hopes he had of regaining the jersey he wore nine times, but his passion for his home state is clear.
"I love the squad that [coach Billy Slater] has picked and it's going to make for an awesome game," he said. "I just can't wait to watch."
Origin period brings a different kind of pressure to the Warriors, who are relatively unscathed by representative call-ups and must make hay, while many of their opponents are losing their best players.
This weekend, they travel to Townsville, where North Queensland Cowboys have hooker Reece Robson in the NSW line-up, and centre Valentine Holmes, wing Murray Taulagi, five-eighth Tom Dearden, prop Reuben Cotter and second-rower Jeremiah Nanai fronting for Queensland.
Some may back up on three days' recovery, others may not.
"We'll know the night before who's playing and we just want to get our game on," said Webster. "There are players we know we'll definitely play and we have to make sure we stop them.
"It's a worry if you focus on the guys and will they come back, we'll just focus on the guys that are named and if they come back, we'll know the ins and outs of them anyway."
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