If You’re a Queenslander Through and Through Then This Book is For You

For many people, footy is a chance to get together with your mates, yell at the TV, and share in a moment that could create an everlasting memory. For Darren Groth, Origin represents all of that, but so much more.

Marooned is the story of Darren’s life, from playing out NRL fantasies in the back yard, to teaching in one of the toughest schools in Australia, and finally to selling award-winning novels in multiple countries. Throughout the highs and lows of Darren’s life, the one constant has been State of Origin. Whether it was Wally Lewis, Darren Lockyer, or Kalyn Ponga on the field, the key moments of Darren’s story were always accompanied by memorable games.

More than that, Marooned explores Darren’s relationship with his father, Des. It was his father’s Queenslander spirit that brought Darren into the world of Origin and NRL, and even when on the other side of the world, the Maroons’ battle for glory – whether as reigning champions or scrappy underdogs – has always connected them. From the roar of Suncorp Stadium and the streets of Brisbane to the hockey-loving, snowy metropolis of Vancouver, Darren’s love of State of Origin, gifted to him by Des, has been the core of Darren’s identity and a great source of strength.

This book takes the reader through four decades of trial and triumph – both that of Darren (through life-changing experiences in teaching, the struggles of raising a child with autism, and the challenges of the publishing industry), and of the Maroons (through the roaring opening years in the ’80s, the struggles of the ’90s, the triumph of the Dynasty, and back-and-forth of the last ten years). While the events in the book are the true experiences of the author, Darren’s insights into these events leave the reader with a sense of confidence.

Marooned is a story full of emotion. It is a story of family bonds, resilience, passion, growth, and spirit.

If you’ve ever felt a deep, impossibly strong connection to a team, this book is for you. If you have ever found yourself far from home and unsure of how that impacts your identity, this book is for you. If you want to find the strength to battle through life’s challenges, never letting yourself go down as the underdog, this book is for you.

If you’re a Queenslander, through and through, this book is for you.