“Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.”
Despite being the protagonist of Kevin Walters and the Interstate Series, you have to wonder whether the Queensland mentor is familiar with the wisdom of Albus Dumbledore.
Apparently on the advice of Bradley Charles Stubbs – we’ll use his real name, rather than refer to him as ‘the coach whisperer’, so as not to amp up the fear – Walters has decided he won’t speak the name of the NSW Blues.
In fact, more than just place a ban on himself discussing his opposition, Walters has made a squad-wide edict.
“Kevvie said we can’t talk about them. He just wants the focus to be on us and what we can do,” Ben Hunt said earlier this week.
Then those bloody Queenslanders decided the rule was to be placed upon reporters covering the lead-up to the Origin series opener as well.
According to NRL.com, “At high noon on Tuesday in Queensland camp in Charleville the attending media were informed by a QRL official that none of the players, or the coach Kevin Walters, would be answering questions about the NSW Blues.”
Kevvie is all-in with his mysterious coach whisperer. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
So, of course, the journos in attendance did their best to get players to break the new rule, asking Joe Ofahengaue who he would be facing in his interstate debut.
“I think we are playing the other team,” Ofahengaue replied.
Impressive stuff from the youngster – Rita Skeeter herself would have struggled to turn that into an incriminating quote.
But if they’re not allowed to so much as mention the opposition, how is this young Queensland side supposed to develop a chip on their shoulder?
It’s been one of the most impressive aspects of the Maroons’ dominance of the past decade or so: despite constantly winning, each year a team of future Immortals bought into this idea that they were underdogs who the Blues looked down upon.
They were the Gryffindors of the interstate series, somehow always managing to conjure a ridiculous, last-gasp, would-call-it-magic-if-I-hadn’t-seen-it-with-my-own-eyes play to beat those haughty Slytherins from south of the border.
Now, though, who are the Cane Toads going to blame for every slight they imagine to have been slung their way in the lead-up to Game One?
It seems like a recipe for Origin disaster – particularly since QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher was quoted this week in the Courier Mail using some pretty salty language to question hiring Stubbs.
“I can hand-on-heart say I knew nothing about this coach whisperer,” Hatcher said on Thursday.
“I am astounded a bloke thinks he’s so good he can charge $5500 an hour. That’s f–ing crazy.”
Disunity north of the Tweed? That’s rarer than a Hungarian Horntail!
To be fair to Stubbs, his methods have reaped success in the past, having worked with the likes of Michael Maguire and Trent Robinson in the Rabbitohs’ and Roosters’ most recent premiership-winning years.
Word is Stubbs was so confident of the Bunnies pulling a premiership out of their hat, he promised Maguire he would go all Peter Pettigrew and lop off one of his fingers if Souths weren’t successful.
I actually had a similar deal with Nathan Brown and the Knights in 2016. (Photo: the idiot without all his fingers)
As for the source of his magic, in a rare interview with the Sydney Morning Herald last year, Stubbs spoke of “‘power words’ that the subconscious mind reacts to”.
“It’s all about us: the next training session, the next weights session,” Stubbs said. “You never talk about the opposition.”
Stubbs was not forthcoming on whether other ‘power words’ he employed included Wingardium Leviosa, Expelliarmus or Avada Kedavra.
His record is not completely unblemished, however, having worked with Michael Cheika in the Wallabies’ run to the 2015 Rugby World Cup final.
While the Aussies’ second-place showing was a mighty effort, Stubbs’ insistence that Cheika only refer to the Kiwis as ‘New Zealand’ was not enough to shake the All Blacks’ dark-magic hex over the men in gold.
Which perhaps explains why Walters won’t even allow the words ‘New South Wales’ be uttered in his camp. No mentioning ‘They-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’. At all.
Wouldn’t you love to pull on your invisibility cloak and watch a Queensland video session or strategy meeting with those rules in place?
Kevvie isn’t the only whacky Origin coach this series. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Down south, Freddie Fittler has brought some supposedly whacky methods to his camp as well, but rules such as ‘no mobile phones’ and ‘earth yourself’ simplify things. And I’d much rather go barefoot at the end of a session than constantly be on my toes about what I can and can’t say.
Stubbs’ wizardry adds an unnecessary layer of complexity to ten days that should be as straightforward as possible.
And while the Maroons are unlikely to come out on Wednesday night fearing the Blues as a result of not mentioning them during the preparations, it’s also hard to see how they’ll be pissed off at them either.
Ultimately, the proof will be in the pudding, and a Queensland victory will completely justify the entire process – including Stubbs’ $5500-per-hour invoices.
But if he’s left red-faced come series’ end, I’d recommend Kevin Walters invest in a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone next year instead.
Plenty of wisdom in those pages – and it’ll save your employers a few grand as well.
stevesyd
Roar Rookie
Why doesnt he give the bulldogs a try this year? Cant believe people fall for this garbage.
Kevvie
Guest
Only if you throw in the Opera House.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
There is just no realm or dimension or scenario outside of desperation street where this would make any sense. Complete craziness. Might not be so bad if they could contain it, but these players need to front the media and this is just creating silliness. They were a good chance to win without this, now if they win they'll tie their success to this wombat forever rather than themselves. And if they lose....
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Lay off Kevvie. People south of the border think Queenslanders are stupid. Hey Kevvie, wanna buy the harbour bridge?
Imposter Spotter
Guest
Firstly, Qld wouldn't have paid $5000 an hour. The guy gives his "advice" to high profile teams for free on the proviso they don't shitcan him and if they win he can use it as promotion & validation to land high paying gigs from idiotic corporate clients with surplus team development budgets. Secondly, his book is terrible. Anyone who has a Diploma or higher in any science degree or similar will notice his evidence & references for his very bold statements is completely deficient. Complete and utter pseudo scientific bunkem. If only the media looked closer and called this nonsense out. (Btw I'm a Queenslander and truly wish Kevvie had a special edge. Sadly he doesn't)
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Frankly, I'm more interested in talking about how Andy Ruiz made Anthony Joshua's 4 title belts disappear! I'm still rocked by the upset. AJ got careless, rushed it, got careless and lost the lot. Congrats to Andy Ruiz the FIRST Mexican heavyweight champion of the world in the history of boxing!
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
EJ, A great example of the stupidity of this is that if I say to you don’t think about a mountain, what is the first thing you think of ! Now maybe that’s the real ‘Secret’ . It’s the old ‘get em to think about what I tell em not to think about trick.’
Don
Roar Rookie
That's $5500 per hour. How many hours do you think he's worked with Kev?
Big Daddy
Guest
This bloke looks like a younger Sir Les Patterson. Can't be that bad.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
I dunno about the merits of not talking about the Blues or talking about the Blues. What I do know is as the years go by, Kevin Walters looks more and more like Joe Pesci. Someone should tell Kevvie to go home and get his shine box.
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
$5500 well spent if Kevvie guides his team to a series win. Apparently it was worth it for Trent Robinson, Michael Cheika etc
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Yeah spot on. Especially for the younger guys dealing with a bigger media circus than they’ve ever experienced before. I thought it was dumb when the Wallabies did it. But atleast they could talk about the opposition.
Paul
Roar Guru
again Jack, surely Kevvie would want to take pressure OFF his guys at media time? As you've rightly pointed out, this just makes this whole scene even harder to deal with, which is plain silly.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
The irony of it all is I imagine the Maroons players are probably thinking more about NSW, as they concentrate on not mentioning NSW in interviews. As the interview progresses the players minds are ticking over... “I can’t talk about NSW. Don’t mention NSW. Kevvie said not to talk about NSW. I hope this guy doesn’t ask me about NSW. Is he going to ask me about NSW?!”... Ben Hunt let out an exasperated gasp as the interviewer turned to Damien Cook. He’d been waiting for it. Thinking about it. Knowing it was coming.
Paul
Roar Guru
I assumed some things that could remain the same in a very hyped up camp, would stay as it was for Club football. I'm thinking about pre-game planning. I'd want my guys to be thinking about ways to get inside opposition players heads, how to beat them with moves or cut out passes, etc. Just how can this be done efficiently if players and or NSW cannot be named? Boost the self esteem by all means, but this seems a tad extreme
Emcie
Roar Guru
Yeah, I dunno, the Blues havn't been gagged and it's not like there much of interest coming from that direction anyway, unless discussing national anthems is your thing. Aside from talk about selections I'm not sure I can ever remember the lead up to game 1 ever being of any note. But whatever happens next Wednesday at least there'll be plenty to talk about in the aftermath.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Some interviews this week have been ridiculous. If the Maroons win, will it justify the stupidity? As a fan I love nothing more than hearing about how a player is going to conquer their opposition. Listening to Dave Klemmer talk up the seasons of Josh Papalii and Jai Arrow, and the intensity he will have to bring to match them, made you hungry and excited for Wednesday night. Listening to Ben Hunt avoid talking about Damien Cook when asked, and instead talking up how good Cam Smith is, was awkward and embarrassing. The stupidity of it not lost on everyone as we heard why Cam Smith is the best in the world. Even Hunt tried to catch himself as he realised he was basically saying Smith should be in the team instead of himself! Origin is for the fans as much as the players. The build up to the game is often as exciting as the game itself. This year has fallen flat. Sure, focus on yourselves behind closed doors Kevvie. But don't gag your players in the lead up when asked questions about the opposition. Or at the very least talk Cam Smith into returning so we have the best of the best out there. Ben Hunt thinks he should have the gig.
Dutski
Roar Guru
What’s Kevvie’s number? I’m willing to talk utter crap for half that price. He’ll be getting the same product at a 50% discount! (Nice writing today sir! Love a good Harry Potter parallel)
Insider
Roar Rookie
It works, believe me I’ve been using it here for 3 weeks Watch, ready Choo Choo , Oh choo Choo Are you mad today? Outa my way it’s choo choo
mushi
Roar Guru
I must admit it is useful but only if it resonates. But I did read another article suggesting some of his self professed links to teams are tenuous as he was shifted on after rubbing players the wrong way. I had a corporate session with a duo that also proclaimed being the mind coaches for souths premiership and he wasn't one of the two. They did have a testimonial and instructional video with the souths players and coaching staff though which sounds more credible.