Official Magazine of Queensland’s Former Origin Greats UEENSLANDER Q MAGAZINE EDITION 24 SUMMER 2014 THE NEW STATE S M E N Courtesy News Corp Picture: SMITH AND THURSTON JOIN ORIGIN’S ELITE WITH NEW FOGS AWARD MANY THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS FOUNDING CHAIRMAN NEXT year will truly be the year of a surreal sensation for many to the FOGS. fresh starts, and new beginnings. have enjoyed an Origin era where I say that because we have been RSA Turner It is hard to believe that the end Queensland won an incredible eight able to take this next step in the of another year is upon us again, series in a row. organisation’s development because and this – our summer edition of When you think back and of the generosity of our benefactor EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN Queenslander Magazine – our final remember that the previous longest and spiritual leader Tosser. official farewell before Christmas winning streak had been three Like with everything we do, Gene Miles and the annual break. series in a row – and, that in 2006, Tosser’s legacy will live with the Looking back over 2014, it was NSW had been gunning for their completion of the new building, once again a year of wonderful fourth – what the Maroons have which we hope to have finished and DEPUTY CHAIRMEN achievement for the Former Origin managed to achieve with their be occupying by Christmas 2015. Greats organisation. incredible run will never cease to It may only be relocating across Rod Morris This is probably evident in the amaze. the road, but metaphorically it is a weight of this magazine, which But next year represents a huge shift for us. John Ribot-De-Bresac is nearly double the usual size new beginning for the Maroons, Aside from having a place to to accommodate all the news of picking themselves up and setting call our own, the building will also what has happened over the past themselves for the challenge of contain office space to be tenanted DIRECTORS year and, specifically, the past six returning the Origin shield to to other organizations, giving us a Wally Lewis, Gavin Allen, months. Queensland. regular and reliable income stream At FOGS, we have continued It will be tough, it always is. But of our own. Chris Close, Trevor Gillmeister, to grow and develop, with our the best victories aren’t the ones They are exciting times ahead, major programs for the year – the that come easily. They are the ones and we look forward to all of our Mal Meninga, Greg Oliphant, ARTIE Academy, FOGS Indigenous built on giving everything you have members, staff, sponsors and Employment and Careers Expos and to reach your goal. supporters joining us on this new Don Jackson, Shane Webcke, annual State of Origin luncheon – Queensland has done it before, beginning. enjoying continued success. and they will do it again. My sincere thanks as always go Andrew Gee But the old adage of standing still Similarly, the FOGS begin a new to our tremendous sponsors, whose by not moving forward rings true as era in 2015 with the imminent shift generosity and shared passion allow always. to our new headquarters, across the us to continue the work that we are While we are always happy to road from Suncorp Stadium at 59 doing. reflect on our successes, the greater Castlemaine St. We thank you all for being a reward for us is in preparing for the It was always the vision of our part of the FOGS family, and look challenges that are waiting for us founding chairman “Tosser” Turner forward to working alongside you on the horizon. for the FOGS to have a place of as teammates again next year. CONTACT US This is a sentiment shared this their own. Happily, another one of From everyone at FOGS, I would year by the Queensland State of the great man’s visions is coming to like to wish everyone the best for FOGS LTD Origin team. fruition. Christmas and the New Year. Locked Bag 3, Milton, Qld 4064 For the first time since 2006, next Plans for the redevelopment I look forward to catching up and year NSW and not Queensland of the building are in place, and your ongoing support in 2015. Ph: 07 3331 5062 will go into the Origin series as construction work will begin soon defending champions. to turn it into the FOGS’ new home. GENE MILES Fax: (07) 3331 5051 It is such a strange sensation, Suncorp Stadium is the spiritual Executive Chairman given the Maroons have been so home of rugby league, and this new Email: [email protected] successful for so long. But it was base will be the spiritual home of Picture: News Queensland Picture: Twitter: www.twitter.com/QLD_FOGS Ashcroft Meats Facebook: www.facebook.com/FOGSQueensland Queenslander Magazine, the official FOGS wish all our members, Website: www.fogs.com.au magazine of the Former Origin SPONSORSHIP AND ADVERTISING: Greats, is proudly printed by: staff, sponsors and supporters John Crane 0411 249 325 all the very best for a wonderful [email protected] T 07 3356 0788 E [email protected] Christmas and exciting New Year! A Unit 7 / 36 Windorah Street, Stafford, QLD, 4053 www.crystalmedia.com.au www.fogs.com.au 3 EIGHT is enough? Try telling that to There was also the crunching 32-8 question” he said. “To lose your the Queensland Maroons. While the win in Game III at Suncorp Stadium that halfback 10 minutes into Game I with a remarkable streak of eight series wins sent the message loud and clear that broken arm is a massive hurdle. When may have been snapped this year, with this Maroons juggernaut is not finished you are playing with 16 men against NSW lifting the shield for the first time with yet. 17 at any level, let alone Origin, it is since 2005, Queensland’s spirit is just tough. But to lose your halfback – “Looking back at it now, my unbroken and its determination especially one like Cooper who brings overriding emotion about the series is unwavering. so many qualities to the team – made it one of respect,” coach Meninga told difficult.” The history books will show that Queenslander Magazine. “From our NSW recorded a 2-1 series win, after perspective, we were a little bit off in “But again, they are not victories at Suncorp Stadium in Game I our performance. But that is not taking excuses. We had our opportunities to (12-8) and Game II at ANZ Stadium anything away from the Blues, because win that game, and we didn’t convert HARD (6-4). But – as always – cold, hard they made us play that way. “We got a them.“ Origin is all about waiting for HARD statistics do not do justice to the tale. bit frustrated and consequently weren’t your opportunities to arrive and then For instance, the score sheet won’t thinking as clearly as we should have on taking them. That is where we have show how the Maroons lost Test occasions, and that led to our errors.” been successful – being able to wait and halfback Cooper Cronk to a broken arm wait for the opportunity to come and “It was the highest error count for in the 10th minute of the first game. then taking it.” As far as crippling blows go, that would a series that we’d had over the course take some topping. of the nine years. That was all down to how the Blues played – their desire, Despite this, the Maroons only fell passion and how much they wanted short in Game I by four points. to win.“ To say it was a loss we had Nor will the statistics show how, for to have, I don’t know about that. The YARDS Game II, champions Billy Slater, Greg hardest thing in sport or any walk of life YARDS Inglis and Daly Cherry-Evans – the new is keep that passion and desire burning, halfback to replace Cronk – all played because that is what drives you to give under duress of serious injury and were your very best. After eight years of glory, 2014 was a tough year for the Maroons. But don’t dare suggest this is the end. in doubt until match morning. That was only after the Queensland “Our desire and preparation this year selectors were forced to name a playing was really good. At the end of the day, squad of 22 in the hope of getting a it came down to footy – and we didn’t team on the field, and then having both complete our sets, made a lot of errors Corey Parker and Josh Papalii withdraw and didn’t ask enough questions with before kick-off with injuries. the football. We didn’t play as well as we could and that was the difference.” Beyond the statistics are the Despite the tsunami of adversity that glimpses of magic that gave promise to came their way this year, Meninga says fans, faith to coaching staff and false his Maroons will draw positives out of hope of those south of the border who the experience, even have declared the Queensland dynasty though the series “We didn’t capitalise on that, dead. There were milestones to be result ultimately either through an error, a poor decision celebrated, like Origin’s 100th Game escaped them.“ The or not having the bounce of the ball that saw Arthur Beetson’s famous disruptions we faced go our way.” Queensland No.11 jersey retired for the in this series made Before Game III, NSW’s most match to honour the memory of the it hard, no successful coach Phil Gould spoke Maroons’ first captain.