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In the tension-charged countdown to the Origin opener, I have thoughts for all players involved but especially for the NSW Blues debutants – Trent Hodkinson and Daniel Tupou.
Yours truly only played one State of Origin game. We got hammered, but I still cherish that experience.
There is nothing quite like it in our game.
It was Origin 2 in 2008 and I got called into the team late (Thursday) when NSW lost Jarryd Hayne due to suspension. Naturally, I was thrilled – I had no idea I was in the selectors’ minds.
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Our preparation for that game was slick, incredibly thorough and tense. I was as eager as any newcomer to this level and excited that NSW had the chance to win the game up at Suncorp Stadium and clinch the series 2-0.
(That was not to be – we got humbled 30-0 by a faultless Queensland team – but the overall experience will live vividly in my mind forever).
Coach Craig Bellamy and the players went out of their way to welcome me into the team. I was a late call-up for Hayne but everyone treated me as an equal and helped me settle quickly.
Origin camp was as you’d expect: a little levity and fun here and there, but in the main, deadly serious business. We had a huge mountain to climb and it was always going to be a huge task toppling the Maroons on their home ground.
I had a patchy night’s sleep on the eve of that game. I think I got about 6 hours instead of my usual 10 or 11.
Breakfast for the Blues was held between 7 and 10am.
I had mine around 9 o’clock before we had our traditional team walk and a light-hearted cricket match at 11.
We lunched together at 1pm and pretty much had the afternoon off to rest up until re-assembling at 5.30pm.
In this time I made sure that some tickets were sorted for family members but it was really time to start the mental process for the big game. We had a light meal at 5pm before being ushered into a private room at the hotel.
Coach Bellamy spoke with his trademark passion about the task ahead. He spelled out his expectations of the NSW team, urged everyone to try and stay calm and told everyone what to expect upon arrival at the ground.
Our bus got to the stadium aided by a police escort, and on the way, Blocker Roach told some great stories about his own Origin experience. It was stirring, inspirational stuff from a player with blue blood in his veins.
As a rookie, I took special note of how the seasoned Blues campaigners carried themselves. I figured there would never be a better time to learn about Origin preparation.
I watched a bit of the curtain-raiser game, trying to get a handle on the atmosphere at this place they call The Cauldron. It was electric even an hour or so before kickoff and I noticed there weren’t many Blues flags or banners around the ground.
We had our warm-up in the dressing room before Craig Bellamy called us together to re-iterate some key points of the game plan. You could tell he believed in this team.
We were in with a shot at going 2-0 up in the series but it was going to take a mighty effort to pull it off.
The coach pulled me aside and asked me to produce my club best form. He told me I belonged and I felt 10 foot tall wearing my first Blues jumper. It’s simple but that’s what Bellamy does; he just gets players to do their individual jobs.
As the pre-game entertainment wound down, the intensity in the locker room was phenomenal. Nothing I had experienced at club level had ever come remotely close to that.
Every player was aware that an entire State was riding with the team and that’s quite a responsibility, but not a burden.
Suncorp Stadium is a loud and proud place for the Queenslanders. There is a genuine hatred for anything Blue on Origin night.
But at the same time, there is a palpable respect for the Origin series and all who take part in it.
When we ran out, the chorus of boos was deafening. The National Anthem was sung, fireworks lit up the sky and it was time for action.
Players say that the build-up to a Grand Final is really big and they are 100 per cent right.
But, from my lone experience, I’d have to say that State of Origin is way bigger. It is all-consuming and such a thrill, especially for the first-timers.
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