It’s often said in sport that a good big man will always beat a good small man, and this is often the case in rugby league.
What player doesn’t enjoy running out on to the field in the knowledge that he’s much bigger than his opponent and therefore has the advantage when the collisions come?
So, just pick the biggest players, right? Simple.
Here’s a team of Queensland Origin players picked solely on size, and the only other criteria is that they must have run out for the Maroons in Origin on at least one occasion in their selected position.
(Numbers in brackets are their estimated playing weights and the number of games played for Queensland in that position).
Fullback – Greg Inglis (105 kgs, 2 games)
Easy choice as the only other contenders were the giant Paul Hauff, who was more tall than heavy, and Wendell Sailor, who’ll get a run on the wing.
Wingers – Wendell Sailor (105 kgs, 12 games) and Xavier Coates (105 kgs, 6 games)
Maybe Sailor was even heavier than this towards the end of his career when he chose to just run over the opposition, and the fact that Coates is still growing and so fast for a big man is scary. Some other heavyweight wingers in contention were Kyle Feldt, Corey Oates and Lote Tuqiri.
Centres – Mal Meninga (110 kgs, 31 games) and Gene Miles (105 kgs, 16 games)
What a nightmare it must have been for the NSW outside backs to come up against these two giants. Tonie Carroll, Chris Close and Darren Smith also tipped the scales well over 100 kilos.
Five-eighth – Chris Flannery (100 kgs, 1 game)
Queensland diehards will be disappointed not to see Wally Lewis here but Flannery probably has him covered for weight.
Halfback – Cooper Cronk (90 kgs, 16 games)
No surprise that poor little Alfie Langer didn’t get a look in here.
Lock – Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (110 kgs, 6 games)
Big Tino wins this one hands down. What a weapon, and he’s still growing!
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Second row – Dave Taylor (125 kgs, 1 game) and Brad Thorn (115 kgs, 8 games)
Wow! That’s a combined weight of a VW Beetle in the second row. Coen Hess and Gavin Cooper are another couple of heavyweight contenders for the back row.
Front row – Martin Bella (120 kgs, 21 games) and Josh Papali’i (120 kgs, 10 games)
Not so much a pair of bookends but a couple of absolute immovable bollards. Some other heavyweight front rowers worth a mention are Arthur Beetson, Sam Backo, Andrew Gee, Carl Webb, Peter Civoniciva, Darryl Brohman and Neil Tierney. Seems that Queensland always had more than their fair share of big boppers.
Hooker – Steve Walters (95 kgs, 14 games)
A lot more solid and built much closer to the ground tan twin brother Kevvie.
So there they are, 1.415 tonnes of cane toad. Are there any big Maroon boppers missing from this list?
Next will be a list of NSW heavyweights to take on this line up of prime Queensland beef.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
I deserve two jerseys: one for the fight and one for the goal line drop out in the pouring rain. When you think of origin moments, you think of: Choppy Cleal
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
That's your next team: a team of non immortals made up from Origin legends. Miles would be one for sure. O'Connor. Lazarus. Lockyer. ET. Webcke. Dufty. Etc. Etc.
Tony
Roar Guru
Thanks mate :happy:
Glumby
Roar Rookie
Another great article.
Glumby
Roar Rookie
Great player but was short and nuggety- wouldn’t have topped 90kgs.
Albo
Roar Rookie
The bench suits my style of play these days ! :silly:
Tony
Roar Guru
You'll have to play off the bench
Albo
Roar Rookie
My weight is up 30 kgs since the 1970's ! But I blame Foxtel ! :silly:
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Too true
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Some of us have doubled that plus inflation
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Is he eligible for Queensland? Of course he is. Everyone is.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Mark Geyer said before his debut he was scared of Gene Miles. I would have been too. Still am.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Mike McLean? Poor bloke had no end of knee injuries. Will he play Wednesday night?
Tony
Roar Guru
Yep. I reckon the average weight is up easily 20kgs since the 1970s
Tony
Roar Guru
Haha. He's certainly not wasting away
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
It's interesting those weights . When you look at some of those old programs a lot of front rowers were lucky to be 90 kgs . Most half backs are that these days . Those weights were in stones and pounds and most backs were about 13 stone and the forwards no more than 15 .
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
He scares me just looking at him .
JennyFromPenny
Guest
There's that, and only having GI eligibility to play for Qld.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
No Beetson in the run-on is like leaving Tyson and Ali out if there was a list of heavy boxers.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
I believe it was more , I'm allowing him a bit of leverage .