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From Blues to Blitz: Seven footy card hero secrets revealed

Former NSW Blues captain Steve Mortimer was made for Origin. (AAP Image/Action Photographics)
Roar Guru
23rd May, 2016
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As New South Wales prepare to reverse a decade of Cane Toad dominance in State of Origin, here’s a packet of gum card omens to burst the Maroons’ bubble.

1979 Scanlens hero: Phil Sigsworth, three Origins, 1981-83
Matt Moylan’s debut selection proves the Blues have woken to the sins of excess baggage.

Like beer and bourbon, Phil Sigsworth and big games proved a lethal mix. Having flunked all three Origin attempts, the former Newtown and Manly fullback attained notoriety for Canterbury in the 1986 decider.

An errant stiff-arm saw Sigsworth marched on route to another defeat and the infamous tag of becoming the first to participate in three grand finals for three different clubs without success.

1982 Scanlens hero: Mick Cronin, six Origins, 1980-83
Michael Jennings’ best form is due to rebound the Blues’ way.

When Arthur Beetson’s fist collided with the head of Parramatta teammate Mick Cronin on the opening night, it doubled as Origin’s lifetime adrenalin shot.

Thirty-six years on and Jennings is still feeling the hit. Three days after last year’s Origin 2 man of the match performance the slippery sneak stood accused in operation ‘broken boom gate’.

Three weeks later, and the incident escalated to Queensland’s unmanned flood gates where a disoriented Jennings was turnstiled amid an eight-try torrent.

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1982 Scanlens hero: Steve Mortimer, nine Origins, 1982-85
Steve ‘Turvey’ Mortimer was the first Blue made for Origin, once daringly stopping the team bus in Caxton Street to embrace the hate.

In a defiant image of relief, the iron-willed Bulldog was captured kissing the sodden SCG turf after leading New South Wales to its first series victory in 1985.

And with Blues halfbacks now outstripping Parramatta CEOs, it’s a gesture the fortunate Adam Reynolds should be advised to repeat.

Hosken Footy cards

1979 Scanlens hero: Les Boyd, three Origins, 1981-83
For twitchy marksmen like Greg Bird, some actions are best left unexplained.

Long before YouTube wannabes, firebrand Les Boyd fronted the tabloid express. His despicable elbow not only crushed Darryl Brohman’s Kangaroo dream but also overstepped Origin’s unwritten free-for-all boundary.

Twelve remorseless months in the stands weren’t enough and a follow-up 15-month eye-gouge suspension slammed the door on the Sea Eagle’s dastardly Australian deeds.

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Yet through all the horror, the ex-Fibro’s miserable antics are understood by one – ‘Whatsapacketa’ Sigsworth, the common curse in all three Boyd Origin appearances.

1979 Scanlens hero: Max Krilich, five Origins, 1982-83
Blues captain Paul Gallen and niggle might be harder to split than Josh and Brett Morris, but like previous inseparables perform best in unison.

Arguably the most resilient Blue on the Phillip Street honour boards, Max Krilich had Origin’s number a decade before inception.

Having served a 100-game apprenticeship in the Sea Eagles’ lower grades, ‘Bomb Thrower’ went on to master scrummaging’s most hideous atrocities on route to skippering the 1982 Invincibles.

1979 Scanlens hero: Craig Young, five Origins, 1980-84
Bookend brothers James Tamou and Dragons legend Craig Young are so diametrically opposed they could cover Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in the hit movie Twins.

Both found Origin along a path more convoluted than a Ben Barba kick return.

The limo-long Kiwi ditched his homeland in 2012. And prior to head tape, the man known as ‘Albert’ rocketed up the round-ball charts until talent scouts hired the cubic powerhouse for demolition duties at Kogarah in his 20th year.

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And while the Wollongong junior also served in the police, the Cowboys skyscraper was served, slugged by a DUI charge and 2013 Origin scratching he’s still itching to repay.

1982 Scanlens hero: Stan Jurd, two Origins, 1983
Josh Jackson will be relieved to know longevity isn’t always performance based.

Stan Jurd traded North Sydney glum for Parramatta stardom in 1983 instantly filling his high-top boots with two Origins and a premiership before charging into several injury-plagued seasons.

But as the relic crumbles, the word remains, forever mentioned alongside Ronnie Coote in rhyming-slang folklore.

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