An All-Time "Greats of Origin" Team

Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

No doubt, “great” is an indefinite measure in rugby league; to each of us, “great” can – and does – have a different meaning. We’ve all got our own idea of what makes a “State of Origin Great.”

For many, acclaiming Origin greatness is about longevity; a player’s lasting ability to prove himself time after time, series after series, in the testing ground of the code’s fiercest and most willing battles.

To others, Origin greatness is about the ability to step up, to rise to the occasion in the team’s most desperate moment of need, or to orchestrate victories from the opening kick-off to the final siren.

Many will argue that it as all of those attributes, and when you’re trying to create a composite team of greats, you need to go further, and consider the possibilites of combinations between players.

Is it a matter of picking the best individuals and putting them into a team? Do you move versatile players into alternative positions, deciding over who is in, and who to leave out?

Of course, with Origin, there is the oft-spoken needed element of that extra “passion” – have they got the blue or maroon blood coursing strongly through their viens?

So here’s the challenge – who would you select, based solely upon their Origin career performances, in a composite NSW/QLD Origin side?

If you could draw 17 players from the ranks of every Origin team since 1980, rugby league superstars in the prime of their football prowess, who would you call into action for one final and ultimate Origin-style battle against an unnamed enemy team?

Sure, there’s no right or wrong answer, and we’ll have to ignore changes in rules and the style of football of each era – but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a go at it, that we shouldn’t speculate, argue and dream.

To see such a team on the football field we’ll have to wait for science and technology to find a means; for now, we’ll have to settle for the printed word. So let’s get to it.

FULLBACK: Darren Lockyer. The first 16 of Lockyer’s 27 Origins (as at 2008) were at fullback. His all-round football skills place him above other Origin fullbacks Garry Jack, Tim Brasher, Gary Belcher, Colin Scott and Anthony Minichiello. An immaculate one-on-one defender, Lockyer had an exact-eye for picking out which Blues attacker to bring down to end a raid. An above average kicking game complimented his attacking brilliance. Lockyer was measured in his choices with the football in hand, but blessed with good pace, sharp step, and a selective eye for the pass, his option-taking was invariably the right move at the right time.

WINGERS: Andrew Ettingshausen & Dale Shearer. Two exceptionally versatile, fleet-footed flyers and resolute defenders who each graced the Origin arena for over a decade. While other three-quarters came and went, “ET” and “Rowdy” consistently produced the goods in the fire of Origin football. Both Ettingshausen and Shearer displayed that individual flash of raw speed and brilliance to successfully conclude an attacking move, or that never-say-die determination that freakishly turned a “nothing into something.” The Maroons’ Matt Sing (24 Origins) arguably the strongest other contender for the wing role, ahead of Eric Grothe, Kerry Boustead, Michael Hancock, Wendell Sailor and Rod Wishart.

CENTRES: Mal Meninga & Brett Kenny. Meninga, aleady chosen in the Australian and Queensland “Team of the Century” sides, would be a “must-have” for one of the centre spots. With a galaxy of stars to have played in the centres, the other place is wide-open: Gene Miles, Michael O’Connor, Peter Jackson, Mark Coyne, Brad Fittler, Laurie Daley, Steve Renouf, Terry Hill and Darren Smith amongst the contenders. The nod though goes to Brett Kenny (1984 Origin centre) – versatile and creative, Kenny’s figuring in eight NSW victories over Wally Lewis led Maroons confirms his greatness, and demands his inclusion here.

FIVE-EIGHTH: Wally Lewis. Whether in match-turning individual moments of brilliance, or via rally-calls to lift and inspire his Maroon troops onto unheralded deeds, Lewis made Origin football his domain. He brought to inter-state football a passion and relentless drive for succcess. Importantly though, Lewis had the football skills and rare genius to match his undisputed spirit. That’s not to suggest that other players didn’t shine as five-eighth in Origin. Brett Kenny was at times Lewis’ nemesis, while the stellar careers of Brad Fittler, Laurie Daley and Darren Lockyer all ultimately found their home at pivot. Kevin Walters too deserves mention.

HALF-BACK: Allan Langer. Ricky Stuart, Peter Sterling, Steve Mortimer, Mark Murray and Johnathan Thurston all come into contention at half-back, but it ultimately boils down to just two: Andrew Johns or Allan Langer. Half-backs in their state’s “Team of the Century” selections, “Joey” took the blazer in the Australian Centenary team. But in Origin, it was Langer’s demonstrated ability to scheme and architect victories for the Maroons, and to dominate series, that puts him ahead of Johns. In a telling stat, while Johns was half-back in two NSW Origin series victories, Langer played in six Maroons series triumphs.

PROPS: Glenn Lazarus & Shane Webcke. Tough call to split two men as being above nearly three decades of footballing muscle men that includes the likes of Steve Roach, Petero Civoniceva, Greg Dowling, Steve Price, Paul Harragon, Ian Roberts, Craig Young, Martin Bella and Willie Mason. Longevity and ability to deliver in big matches swayed the call in favour of the Blues’ Glenn Lazarus and the Maroons’ Shane Webcke.

HOOKER: Ben Elias. The role of hooker has changed dramatically since 1980’s first Origin. The hooker able to stride the different eras is Ben Elias, who came into rep footy at a time when winning scrums was still a pre-requisite to success. No doubt many would push for the inclusion of Steve Walters, Danny Buderus, or part-time hookers Geoff Toovey or Andrew Johns. There seems little doubt though that the greatest rival to Elias’ mantle is the Maroons’ modern-day marvel of consistency, Cameron Smith.

SECOND ROWERS: Bob Lindner & Gorden Tallis. Despite being selected as lock in the Queensland “Team of the Century”, Bob Lindner spent the majority of his Origin career in the second row. Few would disagree that Lindner was the quintessential Queenslander of Origin’s first decade – seemingly being super-powered at the mere act of donning a maroon coloured jersey. Fire and passion for Queensland exuded too from Gorden Tallis, and the sight of his tremendous hits in defence, one-arm off-loads in attack, and occassional run-ins with Blues, referees and even fans, remain lasting memories. Amongst the legion of second rowers that packed some serious punch in Origin footy include the tireless and relentless Trevor Gillmeister, Noel Cleal, Paul Sironen, Craig Fitzgibbon, Nathan Hindmarsh, Gary Larson, Paul Vautin and Ben Kennedy.

LOCK: Brad Fittler. Sheer weight of Origin appearances, as well as his genius instinct, gives this position in the starting team to part-time lock forward Brad Fittler (31 Origins) over Bradley Cyde. Through Origin’s history, no one player has been able to build a long and standout career in the position. Ray Price was the Blues lock in the first three Origin series, while every other candidate – including Clyde, Wayne Pearce, Billy Moore, Bob Lindner and Brad Mackay – spent time in the second row, on the bench, or had their career interrupted by injury.

The original version of this article was first published in Big League magazine in July 2008.