Billy Moore, the player who made the “Queenslander” catchphrase famous, says Mal Meninga’s players will be driven by a fear of losing the series rather than continuing the state’s amazing State of Origin streak.
Moore said recent taunts by former NSW winger Adam MacDougall that Queensland’s record-breaking side were “old, fat and happy on Origin success” would be noted by the players.
He conceded the Maroons could indeed be pleased with their success but believed not wanting to be part of the side that lost would keep them motivated.
“I played in six Origin series and won one,” said Moore, who used the term Queenslander as a call to arms in the 1995 series taken out by the Maroons 3-0 despite their underdog status.
“There are blokes in this Queensland side who’ve never been beaten in a series.”
Moore said MacDougall’s comments were based on hope rather than evidence.
“This side won’t lack hunger or be satisfied with the success they’ve had under Meninga.” he said.
“They’ll want (to win) more than seven, they’ll want 10 straight.
“(But) … what will drive them is not winning, because nobody will remember who was in the team that won the eighth or ninth series straight.
“People though will remember the players who were part of the team which lost the first series and ended the streak, whenever that happens.
“It’s those ghosts that will drive them.
“These players won’t want the great streak to end on their watch.”
The same Dad’s Army criticism was levelled at prop Petero Civoniceva after Queensland dropped the opening game of the 2006 series.
“He only retired last year, so Petero stayed too old for a very long time,” said Moore.
MacDougall’s dig would have been music to Meninga’s ears after a less than smooth build up.
“Dad’s Army … please, what are we, average 30 or 28 years?,” he said.
“It’s a young man’s sport but that’s not that old, is it?
“The elite players like Petero and Steve Price played till they were 36.
“We’ve got a few more years left in those old legs yet.”
Meninga again declined to reveal his starting line-up for Wednesday night saying a decision on injured winger Darius Boyd (bruised ankle) would be made just before the game kicked off.
But Boyd has ticked all the boxes and seems certain to play his 15th Origin match against NSW rookie and Blues’ excitement machine Blake Ferguson.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Nicho Hynes has not quite made an undeniable case to be Nathan Cleary’s halves partner for NSW but he should be the first five-eighth…
The Sharks halfback backed it up with a try from a few seconds later, through some more tired Canberra defenders.
There is only one Kalyn Ponga but Newcastle have shown they won’t be shot ducks while their Dally M Medal winner is out with…
The Sharks were scoring plenty of points, but equally impressive was their defence - stopping this near certainty!
After the Raiders hooker bombed a near-certain try, Sione Katoa scored at the other end of the field in a 12-point turnaround.
All the team list information for Round 9.
