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Picking any all-time greatest side is a bit like picking food for a function.
You pour over all options for an eternity, carefully rationalise your choices before coming up with what you believe is the perfect, unquestionable mix… only for someone to waltz up and tell you it sucks a minute after it’s on the table.
Choosing the greatest ever Queensland Origin team was a deceivingly difficult task, as while they may have used far fewer players than the flip-flop Blues over the years, certain positions have featured an endless parade of superstars.
So, apologies for the cruel cuts, but here are my ultimate 17 Blues busters!
Fullback: Darren Lockyer
A complete footballer and future Immortal, the choice of Lockyer in most ‘best ever’ teams is automatic.
A brilliant passer, defender and hole runner who had deceptive pace and was as safe as a house surrounded by rabid Dobermans, Lockyer was also the number one go to man when a clutch play was needed (that is, just about every Origin).
His kicking game elevates him above Gary Belcher and the other contenders.
Wingers: Wendell Sailor and Billy Slater
While Dale Shearer has rung me six times to tell me he should be in the side, I’m comfortable leaving him and names like Kerry Boustead, Israel Folau, Michael Hancock, Willie Carne, Brett Dallas and Lote Tuquiri all in the stands.
Sailor in his prime was the most dangerous player in the game and forever raised the bar of what is expected physically of a winger.
Slater on the other hand is the ultimate competitor, whose speed and anticipation of play saw him crowned the best player in the world in 2008 as well as a stack of other awards.
Centres: Mal Meninga and Greg Inglis
Wow.
When you’re leaving out players like Steve Renouf and Gene Miles you know you’re in rarefied air, but the two blokes I’ve named are two of the best the game has ever seen.
Inglis in the last two years has surpassed the Pearl for mine, and while he may lack some of the speed of Renouf, he does have about six inches and 20-odd kilos extra to carry, which he does with devastating effect.
Mal? Sort of like Inglis but a bit more heavyset and with a toe poke.
Five-eighth: Wally Lewis (capt)
Well at least this choice was easy.
Although he played his first Origin at lock, Lewis would make the Queensland number six jersey his own through a decade of commanding performances. And hey, I have to live in this state!
Halfback: Johnathan Thurston
Yep, sorry Alf, I’m doing it.
Thurston has played in all 21 games during Queensland’s winning streak between 2006 and 2012 and has a kicking game that dwarves Langer’s.
Can kick a goal too…
Lock: Bob Linder
What made Bob Linder so good?
Apart from playing for the Steelers, he scored plenty of tries, made a lot of tackles and could offload too.
Bobby always played his best in rep footy and among much more naturally gifted players always stood out.
Second row: Gorden Tallis and Trevor Gillmeister
A couple of hard heads here.
Tallis was the lanky firebrand who refused to take any nonsense from NSW and would terrorise the Blues on the edges.
Gillmeister on the other hand would tackle a moving car if you asked him to and would constantly have the opposition looking in attack.
Hooker: Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith is the smartest player in rugby league, and when he’s not making 50 tackles a match he’s picking precisely the right time to scoot out of dummy, placing a deft grubber in-goals, slotting a conversion or making refs laugh.
The best player in the best ever Queensland side.
Prop: Shane Webcke and Arthur Beetson
Webcke only new one way to play rugby league – flat out – and would be a must in the engine room.
Beetson on the other hand had more facets to his game than the Chinese restaurant in Easts Leagues had menu options, was off-loading before it was cool and a was complete hard nut too boot.
Interchange: Petero Civoneceva
Webcke’s fellow Broncos bookend loved to bend the line back in attack and his sheer physical presence would be a great rotation with Shane and Beetso.
Gary Larson
‘Far Side’ was a real Origin ironman (24 games in a row) and the prototype for the modern day backrower. Capable of playing up front as well if needed and virtually indestructible.
Rod Reddy
Mad Man. For mine the best benches always contain at least one lunatic who can come onto the field and cause havoc.
Rocket Rod was such a nutter, a big man who would love Origin’s extra leniency (especially if Ray Price was in the opposing side!)
Darren Smith
Queensland’s Mr Football had silky smooth skills and the ability to play in the back-row, centres or even five-eighth at a pinch. Smith would be fantastic 17th man utility who was more than capable of crossing the stripe.
Probably still available this year actually, if the Maroons are short.
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