The Blues I wish were Maroons

While State of Origin morning is no time for interstate niceties, and in the shadow of some fantastic cross-border baiting from Paul Gallen yesterday, I am here to offer an olive branch.

Being raised with two Maroon eyes makes it very difficult to think about New South Wales Origin players as anything but the sworn enemy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It is what makes this time of year great, and I would be disappointed if the hate wasn’t returned from south of the Tweed.

Sometimes, however, it is worth taking a step back. As much as I am loathe to admit it, every once in a while I am prone to thinking about a New South Welshmen, in a moment of weakness, and saying, “Gee, I wish he was a Queenslander.”

So in that spirit, I’m declaring the starting XIII for a Blues team that I might actually, well, like. But don’t hold to me to it, I will deny this list ever existed.

The back three
At fullback I’ve gone for the all-round nice guy, Anthony Minichiello. It’s almost impossible to find someone with a bad word to say about Mini, and I always felt threatened whenever he was returning the ball for the Blues. He played in some exceptionally strong NSW teams in the early 2000s, and Origin brought the best out in him.

Joining Mini in the back three is Canberra’s John ‘Chicka’ Ferguson, one of my favourite players of the late ’80s, and Eric Grothe Jr. As a Raiders fan prior to the Broncos’ creation, Chicka gets a start based more on his club exploits than those in the Origin arena.

Grothe never took football too seriously, Origin included, and maybe that explains why he doesn’t conjure the hate that most other Blues do. As far as natural skill and ability go though, he was as good as they come. Maybe the more relaxed environment of the Queensland set up would have been a better fit for his personality.

Centres
In the centres, I’ve opted for Brett Kenny and Josh Morris.

Kenny was a player of sublime skill, and it was hard not to admire the feats of his incredible Parramatta backline of the ’80s. His silky playmaking always impressed me, and he was a vital part of the breakthrough years for NSW in 1985-86.

Morris pulled off one of Origin’s most courageous plays last year, climbing off the turf to tackle a rampaging Greg Inglis, and despite coming from an outrageously offside position, it was a clear sign that NSW had worked out what made Queensland so great. It was hard not to admire.

The halves
Laurie Daley and Steve ‘Turvey’ Mortimer combine in the halves, and it is Turvey who I have always admired the most for the Blues. He turned State of Origin on its head with his Queensland-like passion, and should be seen as more of a state treasure than he currently his. He skippers this team.

Daley gets in on the nice-guy factor, as well as the infuriation of not being able to stop him when NSW were dominating Origin in the early ’90s. He was all class.

The back row
The backrow combination of Ray Price, Luke Lewis and Brad Clyde prompt a great deal of admiration from this Queenslander. It is hard not to respect the work ethic of Price, a true professional before professionalism.

Clyde is also one of the nicest blokes of all time, never mind an amazing footballer, and Lewis is one modern Blue who always worried me when he was on the field. He could have been really useful for NSW this year, mentoring the new young backrowers, and I’m relieved he’s been left out.

The front row
The front row was the toughest selection, courtesy of the plethora of niggling hookers and hate-worthy props.

At hooker, I’ve gone for Royce Simmons. I still love watching the footage of Royce in the 1990 grand final, and playing in all three games of the 1986 clean sweep gets him over the line.

The Bronco in me gave one prop spot to Glen Lazarus, and watching him trade his maroon and gold for blue three times a year, then destroy us, was infuriating to say the least. I certainly wished he was on our side.

The final prop spot was near impossible to pick, but I’ve given Paul Harragon the nod, despite being terrorised by the sight of him in sky blue. We all loved the Knights team he led to glory in 1997, and anyone who hates Mark Carroll that much is alright by me.

So for the next few hours, I will reflect on this team of Blues, who I wish were Maroons. But don’t worry, soon enough the hate will return, and normal transmission will resume.