QUEENSLAND has proudly worn maroon in State of Origin since the rugby league series started in 1980, but why the hell is Brisbane Roar getting in on the act?

The A-League club will wear a State of Origin-inspired jersey for Saturday night’s clash with league leaders Sydney FC at Suncorp Stadium.

It sets up a clash between the Sky Blues and the maroon Roar to play on the “mate against mate” theme of rugby league’s toughest contest.

But it’s a pretty ridiculous idea.

Even Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold is panning it.

“It’s not rugby league, it’s football,” Arnold told reporters on Thursday. “It doesn’t matter what colour jerseys they’re in. They’re still the same human beings — same bodies, same talent, same quality.

“We’ll go up there with the intention of suffocating them.

“It could also bring bad luck. They’ve never worn maroon.”

Maroon is the colour of Queensland, so it makes sense the only A-League club in the state tries to capitalise on that.

When the Roar first started (then called Queensland Roar) they had some maroon in their kit, but when your primary colour is orange it looks fairly awful.

Back in 2007, when Roar decided to combine maroon and orange. Source: News Limited

The colour switch is a big deal north of the Tweed River, with the jerseys presented to Roar players by Maroons Origin legend Billy Moore this week.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s rugby league, football or marbles. When sky blue plays maroon, everyone north of the Tweed cares,” Moore said.

But Roar need to realise the “state against state”, “mate against mate” thing is a league thing.

Why would Roar exports like Thomas Broich or Manuel Arana care about winning for state pride? Or former Socceroo Brett Holman, who hails from Sydney’s inner west?

The A-League has so many great things that sets it apart from the egg-ball codes, like the atmosphere within the grounds.

There’s no need to try and replicate rugby league ideas.

Next thing you know there will be cheerleaders and advertising for Rum plastered all over the field.

— With AAP