Pull the otter one - Queensland otter predicts home state Origin victory

A Queensland otter may hold the key to how tomorrow night will turn out, with the cute little fella predicting his state will triumph over the Blues in tomorrow’s State of Origin match.

Handlers at Sea Life Mooloolaba took advantage of the animals’ playful nature and created a faux football field within their enclosure, complete with opposing goal posts – blue for NSW, red for Queensland.

One of the critters, Lou, carried a football over the line of the supposedly victorious side – Queensland.

He might be onto something, considering the Sunshine State leads the overall victory tally, having nabbed 53 match wins and 12 series victories since 1980.

The otter echoed the famous Pennsylvania groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, who is called upon every year amidst the blistery North American winter to indicate whether there will be an early spring.

His “prediction” is measured when the woodchuck emerges from his hole in Gobbler’s Knob. If he sees his shadow and returns to his hole, locals brace for six more weeks of winter. If he stays outside – sunshine awaits, so the trope goes.