It’s that time of year when all rugby league fans start thinking about State of Origin selections, so here’s a team to ponder over your morning coffee.
A team made up of nine sets of brothers, including two sets of twins, who have all played Origin for NSW.
1. Brett Stewart
Stewart played eight Origins for NSW between 2007 and 2012, scoring five tries, but unfortunately lost each series he competed in.
2. Tom Trbojevic
Turbo has so far played eight games for NSW across three series and hasn’t lost a series yet. His most memorable games were game two of the 2019 series, when he scored three tries as NSW won by 38 points to 6, and game one of the 2021 series when he scored another treble as NSW won by 50 points to 6.
3. Matt Gidley
Gidley played eleven games for the Blues but surely the most memorable was his debut in game three of the 2000 series when NSW defeated QLD by 56 points to 16 to clean sweep the series.
4. Josh Morris
Josh Morris had a remarkable Origin career, playing his first game in 2009 and his 15th and last game 11 years later. He’ll best remembered for his defence, particularly when he was up against the great Greg Inglis.
5. Brett Morris
Just like his twin brother, Brett Morris played fifteen games for NSW but only won four, as his origin career coincided with QLD’s unprecedented period of dominance when they won eleven series in twelve years.
6. Matthew Johns
Mathew Johns had an interesting origin career, losing each of the four games he played. The first two losses came in 1995 when Vautin’s “Neville Nobodies” rolled NSW and his last two in 1998 when he was inexplicably used as a hooker.
7. Steve Mortimer (c)
Mortimer first played for NSW in the pre-Origin era, winning each of six games with NSW, but found the going tougher in the 1982, 1983 and 1984 origin series, all of which were won by QLD. He finally had his revenge in 1985 when he captained the Blues to their first series win.
8. Daniel Saifiti
The big bopper has now played three Origin series for NSW, winning in both in 2019 and 2021.
9. Andrew Johns
Andrew Johns was one of NSW’s best performers when it came to Origin, and he represented the Blues 23 times across 11 seasons. He took part in nine series overall and finished on top with five series wins, two drawn series and two losses.
10. Jacob Saifiti
Jacob’s only played one game for NSW so far, but managed to score a try on debut.
11. Peter Wynn
The big Parramatta forward played four Origins across 1984 and 1985, winning three, and was named Man of the Match in game one of the 1985 series. He also played 2 pre-origin games against QLD, winning both.
12. Mark Geyer
Mark Geyer only played in three origins in his career, but his last outing was memorable both for his confrontation with Wally Lewis just on half time, and the fact that he was cited and subsequently suspended for five weeks for elbowing QLD fullback Paul Hauff in the head.
13. Jake Trbojevic
Jurbo is one of those players just built for origin and has run out for NSW on 15 occasions, and counting.
14. Kurt Gidley
Kurt Gidley’s utility value was a great asset for NSW and it saw him represent the Blues on twelve occasions, including seven times off the bench. He was also the only NSW captain to start the game on the bench.
15. Chris Mortimer
Chris Mortimer was an uncompromising competitor who gave no quarter on the field and had the ideal temperament for origin. He made his origin debut in 1984 and was then a part of NSW’s back-to-back series wins in 1985 and 1986.
16. Glenn Stewart
Stewart played five games for NSW across three series during QLDs seven-year unbeaten run.
17. Graeme Wynn
He played two interstate matches against QLD in 1980, winning both comfortably, and then played in the very first origin match which was won by QLD.
18. Matt Geyer
Surprisingly, Matt Geyer played as many origins (three) as his more notorious older brother Mark, and crossed for two tries in his last game for NSW in 1999.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Just read this one. A ripper read. And a pretty good sibling team I gotta say. Tommy T on the wing shows this lot has a bit of giddy up out wide.
Mattpoet
Roar Rookie
10 years apart but Antonio and Felise Kaufusi
Tony
Roar Guru
Not if you support NSW :angry:
Farmyard Friend
Roar Rookie
Have you heard Dennis Carnahan’s “It’s in Queensland”? Very funny.
Tony
Roar Guru
That's obviously the plan John :happy:
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Sure they would. They’d choose players from NSW. Same as normal. :laughing:
Farmyard Friend
Roar Rookie
Good morning Tony. Queensland would be unable to field a team of siblings to take on your NSW side thus would have to forfeit. The Blues couldn’t claim an SOO victory or a “One Game Dynasty” either.
Tony
Roar Guru
Cheers mate. It keeps me entertained :happy:
The Barry
Roar Guru
Nice read Tony… you come up with some great (and often left field) ideas for articles
The Barry
Roar Guru
Brett and Ian French
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Just on Rugby League names. Jett Cleary, Judah Galuvao, Bayden Moran. All junior players related to the other well known league players of those sir names . Jirah Liddiard .. Does anyone know if he’s related to the former players, the Liddiard brothers ?
Nat
Roar Guru
Yeah, that's fair. I struggle to separate the Turbos or Stewarts for both being the best in their respective positions at their prime.
Tony
Roar Guru
He probably would have made Fatty's Neville Nobodies team in 1995 if he was still in Australia at that time
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Pity Peter Coyne never played for QLD
Tony
Roar Guru
The Walters boys, Darren and Jason Smith?
Tony
Roar Guru
As a package, I couldn't go past the Morris boys as they both made large contributions
Tony
Roar Guru
Yes, there's a temporary problem with the numbering. Matt is 5/8 and Andrew hooker
Tony
Roar Guru
Thanks DP, I'll see if I can get the numbers sorted. Can't have Saifiti playing half back
Alex Pace
Roar Rookie
One Johns is at hooker I guess? Joey played there a few times
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
I can't think of any Queensland origin brothers.