Origin 1 will stop the nation tonight, with rival coaches and good mates Laurie Daley and Mal Meninga centre stage.
For the best part of 80 minutes, both will be in their respective coach’s boxes knowing full well they can’t do a damn thing about how their troops are firing in the middle.
I first met Laurie Daley early in his first grade career with the Raiders. It was Cumberland Oval in 1987, now Parramatta Stadium.
Daley ran the blind side only to be confronted by the burly Parramatta winger Eric Grothe, who rarely took any prisoners.
I was at the halfway mark as the “sideline eye” for Geoff Prenter and Roy Masters who were calling for 2KY.
I was sitting on an orange modular chair made of plastic.
Grothe bear-hugged Daley, lifted him and threw him into my lap on the full.
The chair disintegrated into dozens of bits, with me on my back among the debris and Laurie Daley lying on top of me.
With a grin on his face Laurie said, “Hi, I’m Laurie Daley,” and held out an outstretched hand.
I shook it and replied, “Hi, I’m David Lord” and we shook hands.
“Nice to meet you” said Laurie and jumped up and back into the fray.
By the time I had disentangled myself from what was left of the chair, Laurie was well and truly back into the action, but Eric was laughing well after the event.
It must have looked hilarious.
[roar_cat_gal]
Not so with mighty Mal.
I had interviewed him over the phone a few times, but the 1987 grand final at the SCG was the very last at the world famous ground.
Manly were in control, but when Raiders coach Don Furner dragged Meninga late in the game, he was fuming, not a good time to ask him a question or two as he thundered off the ground.
Mal went past me like a runaway train, saying absolutely nothing.
I felt for him, he so wanted to be a part of winning the last decider on the SCG, but Manly won 18-8.
I spoke to Mal later, and he said sorry, nothing personal, but that wasn’t the time to say a damn thing.
And it wasn’t. But I had a job to do – don’t ask, don’t get.
So the two of them will be doing battle again tonight, with so much at stake.
Mighty Mal obviously has history on his side, but Laurie can taste victory.
Bring it on, good calling “Rabs”.
sheek
Roar Guru
Gidday David, I'm tipping a Blues upset tonight. Which probably means the Maroons will win! I was interested in the selection of the best-ever NSW & Qld state of origin teams as chosen by fans. It seems NSW can't even get it right selecting their best-ever! The omission of Brett Kenny is a no-brainer. Brad Fittler is at 5/8, Laurie Daly & Mick O'Connor are the centres with Eric Grothe & Andrew Ettingshausen on the wings. Andrew Johns is 1/2 & Jarryd hayne fullback. One of Fittler, O'Connor or ET has to make way for Kenny. Since a dead-eye accurate goalkicker is essential, O'Connor must keep his place on the team. So I would move him to wing in place of ET. Tough on ET, but there you have it. I would have Kenny at 5/8, where he troubled Wally Lewis more than anybody & move Fittler to the centres with Daley. In the pack, I would also consider Paul Sironen ahead of Steve Menzies; Danny Buderus ahead of Benny Elias & Steve Roach ahead of Paul Harrogan. Rounding out the pack were Brad Clyde, Paul Gallen & Glenn Lazarus. The best-ever Qld starting 13 virtually picks itself: Lockyer, Slater, Meninga, Inglis, Shearer, Lewis, Thurston, Webcke, Smith, Civoniceva, Tallis, Gillmeister, Lindner.