Greatest ever Origin team: Queensland backline

After naming the greatest ever New South Wales Origin team over the last two days, it’s time to name the Queensland team. How many from their eight-year dynasty will make it?

Fullback
The candidates are: Colin Scott (Brisbane Easts, Wynnum Manly and Brisbane Broncos), Gary Belcher (South Brisbane, Canberra Raiders), Robbie O’Davis (Newcastle Knights), Darren Lockyer (Brisbane Broncos) and Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm)

Colin Scott held the fullback spot for every game in State of Origin from the first game in 1980, right through to the 1986 series. He never missed a game and was far and away the best fullback in Queensland.

While his attack left a lot to be desired, his defence was right up there with the best of them. Scott represented Queensland 33 times, scoring one try and managed to represent Australia once.

Gary Belcher effectively replaced Colin Scott once age caught up with him. Belcher played for Queensland 16 times and was a decent goal kicker for the Maroons, playing for Queensland until he retired.

Robbie O’Davis was the next fullback for the Marrons after Belcher. He played for the Maroons 12 times over a seven-year period, managing to cross for one try. He had to play a number of his Origin games on the wing due to the emergence of Darren Lockyer. O’Davis also played for Australia eight times, scoring four tries.

Darren Lockyer could have either been named as a candidate for fullback or five–eighth. But he made his name fullback and played virtually an equal amount of games for the Maroons between the two positions.

He has mastered two positions throughout his career and captained Queensland towards the end of his career. He has played for Queensland 36 times and Australia 59.

Billy Slater is a brilliant fullback. He has been the main Queensland fullback throughout their eight-year streak and is brilliant in both attack and defence, as well as being very quick.

He has played for Queensland 23 times and Australia 24, scoring 11 and 22 tries respectively.

The Verdict: The battle for the fullback position is between Billy Slater and Darren Lockyer. Lockyer has a bit more talent than Slater. Even though you could name him in the halves, he made his name at fullback.

The wingers
The candidates are: Kerry Boustead (Eastern Suburbs and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Dale Shearer (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast Seagulls, South Queensland Crushers, Sydney Roosters and North Queensland Cowboys), Willie Carne (Brisbane Broncos), Wendell Sailor (Brisbane Broncos and St George Illawarra Dragons), Matt Sing (Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters and North Queensland Cowboys), Israel Folau (Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos), Darius Boyd (Brisbane Broncos, St George Illawarra Dragons and Newcastle Knights)

Kerry Boustead was an exceptional winger who played in the first State of Origin game in 1980. Boustead was the youngest player selected to represent the Australian team and played nine games for the Maroons, scoring eight tries. He represented Australia 25 times and scored 15 tries.

Shearer debuted in 1985 and Willie Carne in 1990. Both were very good wingers in both defence and attack. They played a handful of games in the Origin arena together.

Shearer played 26 games for the Maroons, scoring 12 tries and kicking a handful of goals. Carne played 12 times, scoring five tries and also kicking a few goals. Shearer played for the Kangaroos 20 times while Carne played 10 times for the Australian team.

Wendell Sailor would have played a lot more games for both the Maroons and Australia if he stayed in rugby league. He was one of the best. Sailor played for the Maroons 14 times only scoring one try. He played for Australia 16 times scoring 17 tries.

Matt Sing played for the Maroons over a 10-year period. He was never a consistent selection, however did a good job whenever the Maroons ever called on him to fill either the wing or centre spot. He played for Queensland 24 times and Australia 15.

Israel Folau was one of the most freakishly talented wingers ever to be seen on the footy field. He only played for Queensland five times and scored as many tries.

Now for even mentioning Darius Boyd I expect to cop a lot of criticism, however his try scoring record of 14 tries from 19 games is too good to be ignored. He has also played for Australia 17 times, scoring 13 tries.

The Verdict: The two wing spots come down to Dale Shearer, Kerry Boustead, Israel Folau and Wendell Sailor. Folau, even though he was the most talented, can’t be named. He only played five games. Wendell Sailor gets the first spot while the other one goes to Dale Shearer. Shearer lasted a long time and held the tryscoring record for even longer.

The centres
The candidates are: Mal Meninga (Canberra Raiders), Gene Miles (Wynnum Manly and Brisbane Broncos), Mark Coyne (Brisbane Brothers, St George Dragons and St George Illawarra Dragons), Steve Renouf (Brisbane Broncos) and Greg Inglis (Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Mal Meninga played in the original State of Origin game. He was never scared of anything on the footy field. He was great in attack, defence and leadership, captaining the Queensland team a number of times right throughout the 1980s.

He played for Queensland 32 times and Australia 46 times. He also coached Queensland during their eight-year winning streak.

Gene Miles missed the first official State of Origin game but was a big part of the Queensland team from 1981. Along with Mal Meninga, Miles didn’t let anyone else come close to taking their centre spots. He played for the Maroons 23 times and Australia 14 times.

Mark Coyne and Steve Renouf were the two main Queensland centres throughout the 1990s. Both were strong and right up for the job of taming the New South Wales Blues. They didn’t necessarily lock down the centres spots during the 1990s but did a very good job of it.

Mark Coyne played 19 times for Queensland and nine times for Australia while Steve Renouf played 11 times for Queensland and 10 for Australia.

Greg Inglis has probably been the best centre in the game for most of his career, despite now playing fullback at club level. He holds the all-time tryscoring record in Origin with 15 tries from 23 games. He has also represented Australia 23 times.

The Verdict: Clearly the best two centres are Greg Inglis and Mal Meninga. They are freakishly talented and are must have inclusions in the team. They edge out Gene Miles, who is third.

Five-eighth
The candidates are: Wally Lewis (Fortitude Valley, Wynnum Manly, Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast), Kevin Walters (Norths Devils, Canberra Raiders, Brisbane Broncos) and Johnathan Thurston (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and North Queensland Cowboys).

Wally Lewis missed the first ever State of Origin but played five-eighth for the rest of the 1980s. He captained the side all the way through. He was an inspirational leader that gave Queensland a great start to Origin. He played 38 games for Queensland and 34 for Australia.

Kevin Walters virtually replaced Wally Lewis once he retired. Walters was the next great Queensland five–eighth and always gave his all for his state. Of course it helped playing alongside Allan Langer. He played 20 games For Australia and 11 for Queensland.

Johnathan Thurston could have been made a candidate either in the five-eighth section or in the halfback section. He has been great for Queensland during their entire eight-year reign. He changed from Half back to five-eighth when Darren Lockyer retired, just for the good of the side. He has played 29 games for Queensland and 31 games for Australia.

The Verdict: As good as Walters and Thurston are, no one beats the King. Wally Lewis rightfully gets the five-eighth spot in the Queensland team.

Halfback
The candidates are: Mark Murray (North Devils and Redcliffe), Allan Langer (Ipswich Jets and Brisbane Broncos), Adrian Lam (Sydney Roosters) and Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm)

Mark Murray was one of the first halfbacks for the Maroons and played from 1981 to 1986, until Langer began his Origin career. Murray’s career was cut short by injury. He played 15 games for the Maroons and also represented Australia eight times.

Allan Langer played halfback from the Maroons from 1987, with his last game in 2002. He was only rarely replaced by Adrian Lam in the Maroons team and held the halfback spot down for years. Langer was one of the best, whether it was for the Broncos, the Maroons or Australia. He played a total of 34 games for Queensland and 24 for Australia.

Adrian Lam represented Queensland for a number of years. He was a very good halfback and never gave up in the Origin arena. He played 14 games for Queensland and 11 for Papua New Guinea.

Cooper Cronk has only really come into the Origin arena in the last couple of years, but has shined every time he got the chance. He helped Queensland through the back half of their eight-match winning streak. He has played 12 games for Queensland and 22 for Australia

The Verdict: Allan Langer is head and shoulders above the rest and so gets the spot. Maybe ask me in a few years and it might be a bit closer between him and Cronk.

Queensland’s greatest ever back seven
1. Darren Lockyer
2. Wendell Sailor
3. Greg Inglis
4. Mal Meninga
5. Dale Shearer
6. Wally Lewis
7. Allan Langer