Rugby league master coach Wayne Bennett is a man of very few words, but when he speaks he nails the topic. When asked last night on Channel 9’s “The Originals” program about Queensland’s State of Origin successes over the years, he said: “Whether it’s been by design, or by luck, but we’ve had Arthur (Beetson), Wally Lewis, Allan Langer, and now Darren Lockyer, who have been the cornerstone of everything we have done.”
“When we’re playing Origin, and these guys walk into the changing room, everyone knows it’s going to be okay”.
The humble Bennett would never add his illustrious name to the super-mix, but he’s been just as instrumental as the longest serving Queensland coach with 22 games on his belt.
Bennett’s inspiration has been just as effective off the field as Beetson, Lewis, Langer, and Lockyer on it.
Tonight at Suncorp, Lockyer equals Langer’s Origin appearance record of 34, and with fellow frontline Kangaroos Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Petero Civoniceva, and Cam Smith, the fabulous quintet will be the launching pad to chalk up Queensland’s record sixth series success.
Throw coach Mal Meninga into the fray, and that’s a mountain of passion that’s been handed down since Beetson led the Queenslanders to win the first two Origin games in 1980, which led to eight wins in the first 10.
Add Suncorp, where the house-full sign will be up, seating 52,000-plus spectators who, over the years, have lifted the player’s passion to unbridled tribalism.
But ‘few words Bennett’ had something more to add: “Every one of our (Queensland) sporting teams that go away, they all refer to Origin, what it means and what it brings. They all try to live it”.
It’s that powerful in-built force handed down over 90 Origin battles confronting NSW coach Ricky Stuart and his men-in-blue tonight – another form of Russian roulette.
They are under no illusions as to how difficult, even awesome, the task will be. But it’s stand up or shut up time.
To beat the odds, NSW will have to lift the state’s sporting culture, that has slipped dramatically in recent years.
* The rugby league side has lost the last five Origin series, winning just four of 15 matches.
* The Waratahs have never won a Super tournament in 15 attempts, yet have had more than enough Wallabies on duty to succeed.
* Sydney FC was an A-League embarrassment last season, having won the title in 2006.
* The NSW cricket team, also boasting plenty of international talent depth, and those close to recognition, have failed far more than succeeded.
* The NSW Swifts netballers were the ANZ Championship pre-tournament favourites, but were beaten in the minor semi final..
* And the Sydney Kings basketballers went down the tube for two years, and have returned a basket case.
It’s a sorry tale of under-achieving.
But if anyone can change the losing streaks of the biggest sporting state in the nation, it’s Ricky Stuart. And two on debut loom as strong possibilities: Jamie Soward and the flying Fijian, Akuila Uate.
Soward is the chief NSW play-maker-goal-kicker, his selection long overdue. And give Uate room to move, and he’ll even draw the fanatics at Suncorp to their feet with his blistering speed.
All yours Ricky.
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