Official Magazine of ’s Former Origin Greats

MAGAZINE EDITION 27 AUTUMN 2015

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

RESILIENCE and perseverance While the two eras are poles “It is never about who has are qualities we all sometimes apart in many respects, there are the best players,” Fatty says. also a number of parallels between could use more of. “It’s about who can get the In the movie Rocky Balboa, the two, outside of their obvious Rocky’s son complains to his passion for the Maroons jumper. best out of themselves.” father that his job and his life have In both instances, Vautin and Or, as Balboa might say, how just become too hard. Meninga were rookie Origin hard you can get hit and keep The boxer replies with his coaches walking into situations moving forward. famous line that “life is not about most thought were hopeless. Developing that persistence how many times you get hit. It’s In both instances, Queensland and perseverance is one of the key about how many times you can get was staring at the indignity of a attributes of our successful ARTIE fourth successive series defeat hit and keep moving forward”. Academy program, which against star-studded NSW teams. They are words that ring as true reinforces to kids the importance And both teams had to stand in as they do in of education and attending school strong as the heavy hits kept to young indigenous students. boxing, particularly when it comes coming their way, moving forward The ARTIE Academy shows to Queenslanders at State of inch by inch until finally the time Origin time. was right for them to deliver the them that the easiest path is not Queenslanders have always had knock-out blows their opponents often the best one, and how the the reputation for never giving in, never saw coming. greatest victories are the ones you for being able to find that little bit In 1995, it was guys like Terry have to fight hardest to get. extra to give, to keep working hard Cook, Craig Teevan, , It may be easier to skip school and moving forward until Matt Sing, Wayne Bartim, Tony and go hang out with your mates, somehow some hope is uncovered Hearn and Danny Moore being but the victory of a better life built from hopelessness. asked to stand alongside a handful on the back of a good education is Being asked to pull on a of veterans and deliver more for one that is worth fighting for. Queensland jumper means you are Queensland than they had to give. I am pleased that our funding being asked to look inside yourself In 2006, while names like for the ARTIE Academy, while and find a way to get the job done, Lockyer, Smith, Price, Civoniceva, reduced, has been renewed again even when it seems the gods, the Inglis, Tate, Thurston and Hodges by the Federal Government. odds and luck have all ganged up are easy to recall for their roles, it At a time when a number of against you. should never be overlooked the service providers have had their contribution that guys like Steve This edition of Queenslander funding cut completely, we are Bell, Clinton Schifcofske, Rhys Magazine is a tribute to that fortunate that the government fighting spirit – the Queensland Wesser and Adam Mogg made to that series win that changed our has been able to see the results spirit – by celebrating two Origin destiny. and impact the ARTIE Academy significant milestones in our Those guys answered when has achieved are worthy of their Origin history. Queensland called, just like the backing. This year marks the 10th guys in 1995 had done. They dug The fight for us at FOGS is to series of ’s reign as deep and got the job done. build on that success and keep Queensland coach, and an A line from Fatty Vautin moving forward. incredible 20 years since Paul probably sums up Queensland’s Vautin’s Maroons produced the resilience and perseverance when greatest upset in Origin history faced with huge challenges like we Executive Chairman with a series clean-sweep in 1995. faced in 1995 and 2006.

www.fogs.com.au 3. FROM THE COACH’S DESK With Queensland Coach Mal Meninga

OUR MISSION REMAINS THE SAME

Last year’s result does not make I would expect all of our players to be self-motivated our assignment in 2015 any easier, or any more by just performing to their best every time they wear the difficult. Queensland jersey. Beating the Blues, especially with only one game at Certainly for me as coach though, there are quite a few home at Suncorp Stadium this year – in Game 3 – is going reasons to get excited about what lies ahead this series. to take a lot of hard work, commitment and a fair share of For a start, there is the rare opportunity of having our luck as well. senior players coming into camp feeling fresher after a There has been no knee-jerk reaction from us after our genuine off-season. first series loss since 2005. Through a variety of injuries, a number of our Test regulars were not available for last year’s Four Nations, meaning they were given time to recuperate and refresh – and they will bring more energy to Origin than they have been able to muster in previous years. Secondly, our Emerging Origin squad members continue to push for selection, and it is always an enjoyable experience being able to hand a Queenslander their first Maroon Origin jersey. Guys like Dane Gagai, , Michael Morgan, Josh McGuire, Dylan Napa, Korbin Sims, Gavin Cooper and Dave Tyrrell are among the players I hope would be seeing We were all obviously disappointed, but once again, I themselves as a good was very pleased and very comfortable with the effort and chance of playing for passion shown by the team in all three games of the series. Queensland this year. Ultimately, we were beaten by a very committed NSW We have some talent team who executed their game plan better than us in the coming through, there first two games. is no doubt about it. Regardless of the result, we are always trying And I think to improve the program, and have it recent years continuously evolving. We don’t want to be have shown caught out standing still. that if guys like them are producing the I think there is a fresh challenge ahead of our senior guys, with the opportunity to win back the shield and, for quality and the first time in a long time, playing without the weight consistency of expectation that naturally comes with a winning streak required, then the like they had. opportunities will come their way. That will help in their mental preparation. But at the I think back to last year and we had guys like Josh same time, that is something that I would hope I don’t Papalii, Aiden Guerra and Will Chambers all step up and have to push too much. take their chances well when they arrived. Pictures: Courtesy News Queensland Courtesy News Pictures:

4. www.fogs.com.au Those guys have taken the first step towards being the players that the Queensland team will be built around for years to come. The challenge for me and the rest of the Queensland staff is to ensure that the players are given the best op- portunity to prepare as well as they can and play to their ability. The excitement That comes down to the environment we provide, is already and managing things like workloads, fatigue and building. I mental freshness. can’t wait But at the end of the day, the players are the ones for it to get started that run on field. They understand what their roles again. and responsibilities are. They just have to get stuck into it.

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CRL036.1 MAL’S (ALMOST) PERFECT

HOW THE MAROONS WENT FROM DESPAIR TO GLORY! THIS year marks Mal Meninga’s 10th through the history series as Maroons coach, and despite they helped to create. Queensland’s astounding run of success “Their legacy will since he took over in 2006, State of Origin’s be their history. greatest mentor believes his team’s finest Will eight years hour is yet to come. in a row ever After shredding the Origin record books be beaten? I with a previously unthinkable eight succes- don’t think so. I sive series wins, Meninga hopes the true don’t think their reflection of this mighty team’s greatness achievement will will be felt 10 years down the track when ever be equalled. they impart their understanding of the “They have left their legacy now through Queensland spirit to the next generation. their success, but I hope they will all con- “That is what I want to happen,” Mal says. tribute to Queensland’s Origin future as “Regardless of what they are doing in life, w e l l .” I want them to remain a part of the Origin Meninga’s own legacy of coach is assured. program, and keep telling the stories and Already one of the greatest players the reinforcing the message about what it means game has ever seen, Meninga’s unprecedent- to play for Queensland. ed success as a coach is made even more “Whether they be coaches or staff or remarkable by the mentors, I would like them all to be able to circumstances surrounding how he got the contribute to Queensland’s Origin future job.

8. www.fogs.com.au In 2005, the Maroons were in a it was coming from the inside as well. “All of the players just had such very dark place. Having lost their “The way that I am, if I am going enormous respect for them, they third straight series, Queensland was to be critical about something, I have bought in to what we were doing staring down the barrel of becoming to come up with solutions on how to straight away. the first team in Origin history to lose fix it. four series in a row. “So rather than me just sitting there “It has always been The Queensland family was com- being critical, I thought I had better about that respect. The ing apart. The misfiring Maroons do something about trying to change team was bigger than were under siege from all quarters it. That was my thinking. anything else, bigger as frustration and the lack of success “I talked to Wayne (Bennett), and than any one person. threatened to boil over. to Tosser (Turner), to Geno (Miles) Amid the maelstrom, Meninga and to Ross Livermore at the QRL “That is still true today. While we quietly put up his hand and asked to about it all. have some of the best players the help. “I had a bit of coaching experience, code has ever seen playing in this “I have never considered and I thought I had something to side, the team is still bigger than them myself a coach. But I knew offer. – and they wouldn’t have it any other something had to be “I left the Raiders not wanting to w ay.” done,” Mal says. coach anymore. So it wasn’t about Mal says while talent has taken the “What really proving myself as a coach. I had no Maroons a long way over the happened, as far inhibitions. previous nine series, it is attitude that as me putting my “I just wanted to man-manage has made the biggest difference. hand up to coach these kids to start believing in “Every game that they have played Queensland, was themselves and, as a group, take some over the previous nine years, I have I sat in the box pride and passion in that Maroon never been unhappy with the attitude with all the jersey. or commitment they have shown,” he ex-players and “When I came on board and got says. other people to know them all, I found that they “We have not won every game, but in Game 3 already had that pride and passion in the reason we have lost is because on in 2005, and the jersey. They just didn’t know how occasions the other team has everyone was to win.” executed better and just played better bagging them Meninga began rebuilding the than us. for the way they Maroon wall brick by brick. But he “But we have never let ourselves were playing. was fortunate to be able to call on a down with attitude and effort. That “Internally for couple of master builders to assist has always been fantastic. Queensland, for with the reconstruction. “You only have to look at them after a the first time ever, “Tosser and Artie Beetson were so game to see that they have given their there was a lot of important for us in the early days, all – win or lose. criticism. There because they reinforced was already a lot of “THAT IS THE criticism externally everything we all know about playing being directed at the team, but now for Queensland,” he says. QUEENSLAND WAY.”

www.fogs.com.au 9. HETHERINGTONS’ FIGHTING SPIRIT Cancer has dealt the family of former Maroons hooker Jason Hetherington a double blow, with his wife Kym and sister Lindyl battling the disease. BUT THIS FAMILY IS UP FOR THE FIGHT. Jason Hetherington FOG No.108 Clubs: Gold Coast Seagulls, Canterbury Bulldogs Queensland: 8 Origins (1998 - 2000) Position: Hooker

10. www.fogs.com.au TWO months ago Jason Hetherington’s world came Born and raised crashing down. in Baralaba, near HETHERINGTONS’ “Breast cancer,” the Origin hard nut says bluntly. Rockhampton, Jason “We did the body scan. They found a tumour on her kid- became a star at the ney as well.” Canterbury Bulldogs Jason’s wife Kym and the Hetherington family are now in the 1990s. in an enormous battle as she fights cancer. In the Bulldogs’ FIGHTING Kym has begun chemotherapy treatment after having a yearly magazine of mastectomy in late March. 1999, his answers To complicate matters further, Jason’s sister Lindyl has to a Q and A re- been battling cancer for the past 12 months. veal all about the “My sister has bloody got it, too. We are dealing with both tough hooker’s SPIRIT of them,” Hetherington said. character. “With Kym, it has been the last month and a bit since Asked his we found out. favourite Spice “Lindyl has been 12 months.” Girl member he replied Jason is trying his best to look after his family as well “Bush Spice”. as coach Intrust Super Cup club the Central Capras, who Asked which movie character best represented him had a shock Round 1 win over the Burleigh Bears. he replied “Mick Dundee”. However, Jason’s fight to manage family support with His favourite book? “Rugby League Week”. coaching is nothing compared to his wife’s battle. When the Bulldogs media manager of that era, now When he speaks about her fight, he says “we”. ABC radio host Debbie Spillane, once One in eight women in Australia will be diagnosed with mispronounced Baralaba’s name at a function Hether- breast cancer in their lifetime and more than half of ington quickly cut in “It’s easy, Deb… every second letter’s all breast cancers in Australia are discovered by the wom- an A.” an herself or her own doctor. They don’t make them like Hetherington these days. In 2014, it is estimated that more than 15,000 Even , a prodigious talent at the Broncos Australian women were diagnosed with breast cancer. who hails from , just a few kilometres from Baral- That equates to approximately 40 each day.There is aba, has almost lost his country twang and as he swims silver lining to Kym’s breast cancer diagnosis. through a sea of media management. It was the cancer check that also revealed the kidney tumour. That is why Jason is urging men and women to take the time out to have regular check-ups. “The outlook is positive, thankfully. We start chemo (in the first week of April),” Jason says. “It is a 15-month program for Kym. “She had a mastectomy. She had the kidney tumour removed. “They were two primaries. We wouldn’t have found the tumour if it wasn’t for the breast. “The lymph nodes were clean. Not Jason. “The check-ups are important. Ask him about one of his giant props at the Capras and “It is tough. We will get through he quips: “It would take two days on horse to ride across it. We have good support here.” his shoulders”. Jason played eight Origin Jason and his family embody rugby league, which games but would have played a lot is why his wife Kym and sister Lindyl will – as is the more were it not for the presence Queensland way – always keep fighting. of the great . Jason is now trying to manage coaching the Capras, one Jason represented the Maroons of the most under resourcesides in the Intrust Super Cup, in 1998,1999 and 2000, and now – while supporting his wife through this difficult period. Queensland Courtesy News Pictures: along side Walters – is a part of Mal Meninga’s Queensland coaching team.

www.fogs.com.au 11. CROWN JEWEL Crown Resorts Foundation gets behind ARTIE Academy Tutoring Program THE Former Origin Greats are very “As the philanthropic arm pleased to announce a new part- of Crown Resorts, the Crown Re- nership with the Crown Resorts sorts Foundation provides engaged Foundation. financial support The new partnership ensures that to programs with then FOGS’ highly successful ARTIE demonstrated Academy Tutoring Program will con- success in the tinue and expand in 2015. areas of the arts, FOGS Executive Chairman Gene community wel- Miles said the partnership with the fare, education, Crown Resorts Foundation was a health care and further validation of the success research, and the of the ARTIE Academy program, environment.” which continues to produce incred- There can be ible results in helping indigenous no argument that Queensland students onto the path the ARTIE Acade- for a my Tutoring Pro- better life. who come to the ARTIE Academy gram absolutely meets the criteria of “We are all obviously extremely program from Queensland’s most positive change and demonstrated proud of what we have been able to prestigious universities and tertiary success in the field of improving achieve with the ARTIE Academy, education providers. indigenous education in Queensland. and we are just as proud that the This year, the universities par- The ARTIE Academy Tutoring Crown Resorts Foundation recog- ticipating in the ARTIE Academy nises that success, and wanted to Program is a volunteer-based Tutoring Program include James become involved as part of their initiative of the ARTIE Academy Cook University, Central Queensland community involvement program,” that assists in “closing the gap” in University, University of the Sun- Gene said. educational outcomes for Aboriginal shine Coast, Queensland Univer- “To have this new partnership and Torres Strait Islander students sity of Technology, University of with the Crown Resorts Foundation in Academy-aligned schools across means that not only can the great Queensland. Queensland, Australian Catholic work being done by our staff and The aim of this program is to University, Griffith University, Uni- tutors working in the ARTIE Acad- develop confidence and raise ability versity of Southern Queensland and emy Tutoring Program around the in numeracy and literacy, specifically TAFE Queensland. state continue, we can also begin with students in Years 7 and 8. to look ahead to ways we can reach The program achieves these goals even more Queensland students to offer them a helping hand in building by supporting students in class and a better life for themselves.” also tutoring students outside of the The Crown Resorts Foundation is classroom, both individually and in “committed to creating and support- group learning situations. ing opportunities across the commu- The program of course relies nity that inspire positive change,” the heavily on the hard work and ded- Foundation says. ication of our volunteer tutors,

12. www.artie.net.au TIME TO CELEBRATE THE 2014 ARTIE Fun Day was held in “By rewarding them with November, to mark another success- the ARTIE Fun Day, they can ful year of education, dedication and see how good things are worth commemoration. the effort of hard work. This will The ARTIE Fun Day was again held hopefully then become habit, and at White Water World at Dreamworld they will continue to aim high in their on the Gold Coast, to reward the Term academic performance because of the Three Primary achievers and Sec- rewards that it brings - with things like ondary Gold and Silver achievers for the ARTIE Fun Day, but also in setting their hard work and success within the themselves on the path to a brighter ARTIE Academy program. future.” More than 400 students from Gene said the ARTIE Fun Day also around South-East Queensland at- served as an on-going tribute to the tended the annual ARTIE celebration. great , the man the But this celebration is not open to ARTIE Academy is named after, and everyone. Only students who achieve whose legacy and love for Queensland strict benchmarks in attendance and will continue to be felt for generations academic performance are eligible to to come. attend this special occasion. “The ARTIE Fun Day is a day of To attend, Primary students must celebration for the students, but it is not have recorded more the five days also a day where we can celebrate absent from school, while the Second- the life of Beetso, and the difference ary students were only eligible to at- he made in the lives of so many tend by achieving gold or silver status Queenslanders,” Gene said. with an 85 per cent school attendance “It was on the day of the ARTIE Fun record. Day in 2011 that the great man passed FOGS Executive Chairman Gene away from a heart attack while riding Miles said the ARTIE Fun Day was a his bike. He was supposed to be the crucial part of the success of the ART- guest of honour that day, and now IE Academy program. every year this day is a celebration of “In any walk of life, success should his memory as well.” be celebrated, and that is what the The FOGS would once again like to ARTIE Fun Day is all about,” Gene thank our incredible group of sponsors said. and supporters that help make the “These students have all worked ARTIE Fun Day such a special part of really hard to achieve the goals that the year. were set for them to try to improve Firstly, Dreamworld, White Water their performance World and their staff for hosting the at school, and the fact that event, BoysTown for assisting in the they achieved them should be a cause preparation and serving of lunch, for celebration. Alfred E Chave (supplier of fruit and “But there is also the element of re- salad), Ashcroft Meats (suppliers ward for the students in the program. of meat), Streets (suppliers of By working hard and being invited to icecream), Coca-Cola Amatil the ARTIE Fun Day, the students begin (supplier of beverages) and to appreciate that good things can be Krispy Kreme (supplier of achieved by applying themselves to doughnuts). the challenge in front of them.

www.artie.net.au 13. FITTINGLY for State of Origin’s greatest romantic fairytale, the story of the So all of a sudden our pool of play- 1995 miracle began with a set of high It was a massive honour for me to ers has been cut by 60 per cent,” Fatty heels and lipstick. be asked to coach Queensland. I’d recalls. But this was not 50 Shades of Grey. help Queensland whichever way I “So we went back and started It was 50 Shades of Maroon. And also could.” again. This is the deadest truth, and I a tinge of red. Incredible as it seems, this season don’t mean this with any disrespect at “I remember when Ross Livermore marks 20 years since Fatty and his all, but Benny Ikin got picked because from the QRL rang me, asking if I merry band of Nevilles caused the we had no one else left to choose. wanted to coach Queensland,” says greatest upset Origin, and quite pos- “We were one player short, Paul Vautin. sibly rugby league, had ever seen. andthere was just no one. “I was in the carpark at Channel 9. A rag-tag bunch of players pitted Arthur Beetson says: I’d just finished a skit for The Footy against the might of a NSW team ‘There’s this young kid from the Show, so I was busy trying to take boasting 11 internationals and aim- Gold Coast we could pick. He’s only off the lipstick and high heels I was ing for its fourth consecutive series played three first grade games, but wearing, and Ross rang and said: win over the Maroons, all under the he’s good’. ‘Wayne Bennett has pulled out of the guidance of a rookie coach and set “I said to Arthur: ‘Never heard of Queensland coaching job. Do you against the backdrop of the Super him. Can he play?’ Artie reckoned want to do it?’ League war that had split the game he was going to be a good player, so “I just said ‘Yep’, and Ross said ‘Do in two. you need time to think about it?’. I “I remember our first team selec- we went with him. So we had 17. But said: ‘Nup. The answer is yes. Let’s do tion meeting, and we’re all sitting I will tell you this: I looked down at it. Let’s go’. around pencilling in names and Ross that list and I never had any doubt “I don’t know how many people comes in with John McDonald and they would stand up. Ross had called before they got down says: ‘All the blokes are “I looked at the team and I to me, but he didn’t have to ask me out. You can’t pick any of them’. thought: ‘We can win this’.” twice.

14. www.fogs.com.au Not that he needed convincing, but Or what about the infamous all-in “The blokes in that team deserve to by the first night in camp, Vautin and brawl at the MCG in Origin II, which be recognised for the good they did his captain knew Vautin insists came from a tip from for the game. they were onto something special. an insider in the Blues’ camp? “Gary Burns, who is now at Fox “We had a team meeting and Fatty “I got a phone call from inside the Sports, was at Channel 9 at the time spoke for about 20 minutes, and then Blues camp at about 5.30pm – it was and he said to me: ‘Your team just he asked Choppy Close to stand up true, I didn’t make it up and I have saved Origin’. and tell the players what it meant to never revealed my source – but the “That is what it was like. Origin him to play for Queensland,” Gilly bloke said: ‘I’m telling you what’s needed us to win. The game, in the says. “Well he got up, said about three going to happen. The first bloke who middle of all the , words and started to cry, so he apolo- calls out Queenslander is going to needed something to remind us what gised and sat down again because he have his head knocked off’. makes the game so great. couldn’t go on. “I just thought: ‘Ripper’. I went into “It is never about who has the best “Robbie O’Davis was sitting beside our team meeting, told the players players. It’s about who can get the me, he leaned over and said: ‘Get what I’d heard and asked: ‘Who is best out of themselves. Our guys did me a bloody jersey. I’m ready to play going to be the first one to say it?’ ” t h at .” now’. Everyone was on board straight Gillmeister takes up the story: away.” “Well, straight away, 20 hands The 1995 series has become such go in the air. I know there were a part of Origin folklore, the old war only 17 blokes in the team, but I stories have been told a thousand looked over and bloody Choppy times or more. has his hand in the air, too. But to hear the electricity and en- “I’m sitting there thinking: thusiasm in the voices of Vautin and ‘Where the bloody hell are we Gillmeister as they relive those in- gonna find a jersey big enough credible moments from 20 years ago to fit you?’ But that is what it was gives hope that the same old stories like. We were all great mates. We will be told a thousand times more. were ready to do anything for Like Gilly being told he could die each other.” from his infected leg if he played in The stories will again flow Pictures: Courtesy News Queensland Courtesy News Pictures: Game 3. thick and fast this year as The advice from his mate and Queenslanders look back on coach? the achievement of Fatty and “I just said: ‘What better place to Gilly’s Unthinkables – the little die than in the middle of team that could. on Origin night’,” Vautin recalls. “I remember every minute of Gillmeister nodded, pulled the drips that series like it was yesterday,” out of his arm, and made his way to Fatty says. “It doesn’t feel like 20 Suncorp Stadium. years I can tell you.

www.fogs.com.au 15.

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TERRY COOK FOG No.90 Clubs: Gold Coast Seagulls, South Queensland Crushers Queensland: 3 Origins (1995) Position: Lock, Second Row, Centre

IN Queensland’s most desperate of unheralded Maroons stunned the He lives just south of the Tweed at hour, unheralded utility Terry Cook Blues after the Super League war Cabarita Beach, where wife Jane runs answered the Maroons’ call – and robbed the state of its Broncos big a Coffee Club franchise, and he works earned himself a place in history guns. in the pub game, having owned the WHEN former Queensland coach And if anyone personified Jondaryan Hotel for the past 16 years Paul Vautin famously joked about his Queensland’s underdog tag that year, after his departure from the Crushers victorious 1995 Origin side featuring it was none other than Cook, the in 1996. a pack of “Neville Nobodies”, Terry Gold Coast and South Queensland Remarkably, he retired from rugby Cook reckons he fitted the descrip- utility who thought he was a better league just seven years ago, aged 43, tion to a tee. chance of winning Powerball than after shattering his ankle in three Queensland’s epic 3-0 victory in ’95 playing State of Origin. places playing for Pittsworth Danes remains one of the great narratives in Today, Cook is on the cusp of his in the Darling Downs – in his 37th Origin history, when a rag-tag bunch 50th birthday. season of football.

18. www.fogs.com.au “I was chosen out of “I was at Crushers Leagues on the ‘Do you realise you just produced nowhere, but I wasn’t piss with Trevor Gillmeister and my the play that won us the series?’,” missus was copping phone calls left, Cook said. going to knock it back. right and centre. “To hear that from them, that I’d I lived the dream, every “Eventually, she rang me and said: helped them win an Origin series, young kid who plays ‘You bloody was my career highlight. better get home Terry, you’ve made “I played one more season for the footy dreams of playing the State of Origin side. Crushers, but I was never going to Origin and I did it.” “I was simply stunned ... I thought top Origin. it was April Fools Day.” “The Super League comp started in But two decades ago, Cook Cook was so nervous before Origin 1997, I was 31 and a stack of young celebrated his coronation as an Ori- I at the Football Stadium that blokes were coming through, so I had gin player as Maroons selectors he required a special pep talk from a year with Norths in the state league. desperately cobbled together a side Gillmeister, his Maroons skipper. “I broke my arm halfway through without Super League defectors such as , and Wendell Sailor. Aged 29, Cook was a revelation, playing a crucial utility role off the bench in all three games of Queensland’s series boilover. The rangy centre or back-rower never again wore Maroon after his ’95 heroics, but will always savour his perfect record at Origin level. “I was plucked from Neville No- body-land,” laughs Cook, who has two children, daughter Miranda, 27, a journalist and son Harry, a 23-year- old pilot. “It was one of the greatest six weeks of my life. “Funny enough, my wife found out I was picked before I did. and thought: ‘It’s time to go, rugby “At the Crushers, we used to have “Gilly could see I was a little edgy, league can’t pay me forever’.” what we called ‘Monday Club’, a day so he relayed a story of his own Cook finished with 81 top-grade where we’d have a recovery session Origin debut,” Cook recalls with a games, scoring eight tries for Gold after the weekend game and then we’d chuckle. Coast and the Crushers between get on the drink and have a punt. “In his first series, he played at the SCG and he ran out with Paul Vautin 1991-96. as his back-row partner. Today, his Origin jumpers are in safe keeping at his mother-in-law’s “Gilly said he was shitting himself, home, and he relishes his spare time when Fatty said just before kick-off: surfing and walking the family dog. ‘Hey Gilly, fair dinkum, look at all the “I’m still involved in the game, I good sorts in the Members Bar!’ ” do some MC work for the Men of Buoyed by Queensland’s shock 2-0 League which is great,” he says. win in Origin I, Cook then played the “I was blessed in my career. At game of his life in the return bout at the Gold Coast, I made my debut the MCG. alongside , who was our It was his pass which sent halfback captain-coach, and I played my best Adrian Lam dashing across for the football running off him. try which gave Queensland a vital “It was an honour to wear that 14-6 lead – they hung on to clinch a mighty Maroon jumper, but I have history-making 20-12 victory. to say no-one notices me these days, “After the Melbourne game, both and that’s just fine. Fatty and ‘Choppy’ (team manager “I’m still a Neville Nobody.” ) came up to me and said:

www.fogs.com.au 19.

TYRO TOTITAN Locky says Gold Coast move will put Daly among the greats. IT was the most talked about club trans- Now Cherry-Evans is coming home Lockyer has no doubt Cherry-Evans can fer in recent memory. – and Lockyer is adamant his increased develop into a superb Origin player. And now the most-capped Maroon in responsibility at the Titans will only aid “From a football perspective, despite Origin history believes Daly Cherry-Ev- his development as a representative what he has achieved already, we haven’t ans’ looming return to the Sunshine State playmaker. seen the best of Daly,” Lockyer said. will be the perfect platform to take him “There’s a number of posi- “As he gets more experience, to another level as a Queensland tives for Daly coming back to he will drive the team around playmaker. Queensland,” Lockyer said. the park better. I think he’s ready Darren Lockyer says the Gold Coast “From a personal perspec- for it. It will be good for his own Titans weren’t the only winners when tive, being closer to his family development. Cherry-Evans announced he would leave will be of benefit. “He is a Queenslander so coming Manly to begin a four-year term on the “It’s not always easy for a home is one thing, but I also holiday strip starting in 2016. Queensland kid to try and get the feeling Daly is It was also a triumph for Queensland make it on his own in ready for another rugby league, which can celebrate the the hustle-and-bustle return of a grassroots product who fell in love with the sport as a kid growing up in of Sydney. Mackay. “It’s a cut-throat Rugby league, and Maroon blood, place for a young, courses through the Cherry-Evans’ veins. aspiring NRL player Daly’s uncle, Steve Cherry, was a flint- and it’s why I chose hard Redcliffe stalwart who hit like a to stay at the Broncos sledgehammer during his reign as one of when I had a chance the Brisbane State League’s most admired to go to Parramatta challenge and that players in the 1980s. as a teenager in the is to come to a struggling His father Troy played his junior rugby 1990s. club and lift them up to a league with Norths in Rockhampton and “In five years, Daly premiership. spent his senior years plying his trade for has achieved a hell of a “He had a quiet year the Seagulls and Railways. lot. He’s a great talent, by his standards last A Queensland Country representa- but I honestly think he season, but this is the tive, Evans turned out for the Capras will get better at the challenge that will and Redcliffe and went close to winning Tit an s .” bring the best out in a premiership as a tough, no-nonsense There is a view Cher- him. Daly will relish hooker with Norths in 1990. ry-Evans has not quite it and it will take his delivered on his potential game to a new level.” in the Origin arena. Since making his Queensland de- but in 2013, the 26-year-old- has played five games, but most of his game time has come as a utility or to answer an SOS follow- ing a mid-match injury. Last year, Cherry-Evans was thrown into the fray after just 10 minutes of the Origin series opener when halfback Coo- per Cronk broke his arm. Cherry-Evans never quite settled with the Maroons’ structures in the 12-8 loss, then battled a knee injury in the return bout, which the Blues won 6-4 to clinch the Origin shield. The Titans recruit will almost certainly be part of Camp Maroon in 2015 and

www.fogs.com.au 21. LEAGUE’S SUITS COME UP TRUMPS with Trevor Gilmeister

FOR this edition of Queenslander From Pictures: News Courtesy Queensland Magazine, I am going to use my next season, column to do something I have rarely that number done in all my years in rugby league. could drop I want to give the people running as low as six. the game an enormous wrap. This is It is an easy thing to take shots at something I the powers that be, particularly when have been cry- they make decisions affecting the ing out for in game that just seem to fly in the face the NRL for at of common sense. least 10 years. pit-stop after But recently they announced two The change it 20 minutes. major changes to the way the game will make to the Most importantly will be played because they are trying way the game though, it will help clean to protect the integrity of the code is played will be the game up and make it not only that we all know and love – and I enormous – and all for the better. more entertaining, but safer as well. reckon they should be applauded for Reducing the number of inter- I was talking to Wayne Bennett a it. changes means that things like couple of years ago about the number First was their decision to crack fatigue and stamina once again play of injuries in the NRL, and I down on the wrestling tactics in the an important role in how the game is suggested to him that the way to ruck, to hopefully remove it from the won and lost. reduce it was to reduce the number of game altogether. It means the small, dynamic men interchanges. It was a big challenge for them – like , Chris It is quite simple. When players are from the game’s administration right Sandow and will now get under massive fatigue, there is less down to the referees who ultimately more opportunities to break games likelihood of a 110kg prop coming in are the ones who must ensure the open against players struggling under as the third man in on a gang tackle. laws are policed. fatigue. They are just not going to have the But they did a great job, and I petrol. think the quality of the football Defenders just won’t have the we saw in the first few weeks energy to waste on gang tackles or was evidence of just how much wrestling in the ruck anymore. wrestling tactics were The importance of good one-on- holding the game back. one defending with proper technique With the ruck cleaned up, will all of a sudden be worth its some of the games we saw weight in gold. in the early part of the year – With less bodies hammering when teams are traditionally a attacking players and putting enor- bit rusty and finding their feet – were quite simply fantastic. mous stresses on their joints and Wrestling was ruining the game, It means we will see the return of limbs, I bet we will see a big drop in and the NRL have taken positive the true workhorse second-rowers, the number of serious knee injuries. steps to stop it. like blokes such as Gary Larson, who The administrators have got The other change which will be were so important to the these two changes spot on. They are equally important for the game was performance of the team with their designed to improve the game as a the announcement of a reduction in ability to get through 80 minutes of spectacle, and at the same time make the number work. it a safer place for our best players to of interchanges from next It changes the way players do their thing. season. approach a match, knowing they can’t Currently, teams are allowed to go like a bull at a gate in the first few Well done to the NRL. You’ve make a maximum of 10 changes minutes if the coach is banking on got the thumbs up from me. during a game. them to go the distance without a

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