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Prior to the current series, more than 300 players have had the honour of representing the Blues in State of Origin, from the likes of legends like Tom Raudonikis, Steve Rogers and Mick Cronin who all played in the first game back in 1980, to today’s stars like Nathan Cleary, Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco who all seem to have a mortgage on their blue jerseys.
There are some players though whose Origin careers were brief, either through injury or other circumstances beyond their control, or just because they shouldn’t have been there in the first place.
Here’s a team of NSW Origin players who you may have forgotten, and the one thing that they have in common is that they’ve all played five Origins or less for NSW.
1. David Peachey (1 Origin, 3 Super League Origins) – Peachey was some player and in most other eras would have played far more origins. He played for NSW in all three SL interstate matches in 1997 but had to battle against the likes of Tim Brasher and Robbie Ross for a position after that. Wrong place, wrong time.
2. Nick Cotric (1 Origin) – Cotric had one opportunity back in 2019 when, as a 19-year-old, he was selected for game 1, missed the rest of the series with injury and lost his place to Daniel Tupou the following season. He hasn’t really looked like winning a blue jersey since.
3. Dylan Walker (2 Origins) – Walker had a break-out season in 2014, winning a premiership with Souths and being selected for Australia. Two years later his behaviour was seriously beginning to unravel but he still made the team for games 1 and 2 of the 2016 season. Could have been a champion but for his off-field issues.
4. Jamal Idris (1 Origin) – Idris played off the bench in game 1 of the 2010 series but although he scored a try, was overlooked for games 2 and 3. If only Idris had the temperament to match his physical prowess.
5. Hazem El Masri (1 Origin) – Not only was El Masri one of the best goal kickers ever to play the game, but he was also a pretty handy winger crossing for 159 tries in his 317 first grade games. He represented Australia in a Test in 2002, but he had to wait another five years to make his NSW debut at 31 years of age in game 3 of the 2007 series. He certainly didn’t disappoint, scoring a try and kicking three conversions from the sideline as NSW registered their first win for the series.
6. Jamie Soward (3 Origins) – Soward was a very good club player and played a big part in the Dragons premiership win in 2010 but NSW coach Ricky Stuart could best be described as optimistic in thinking that a NSW halves combination of Soward and Mitchell Pearce could match it with Queensland counterparts Darren Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston. They couldn’t.
7. Jarrod Mullen (1 Origin) – Mullen was once touted as the next big thing at Newcastle but he was thrown into the deep end when selected in game 1 of the 2007 series aged just 20 and with only a handful of games in the No.7 jersey under his belt. NSW managed to turn a half-time lead of 18-6 into a 25-18 loss and Mullen never played for the Blues again.
Matthew Prior is tackled in 2018. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
8. Matt Prior (1 Origin) – Prior was always an honest toiler, so it came as some surprise when he was selected to make his NSW debut at age 31 in game 2 of the 2018 series. He played his part as NSW registered their first series win in four years, but was replaced by Tariq Sims in game 3.
9. Mario Fenech (2 Origins) – A long time before Fenech launched his career as the reluctant fall guy on The Footy Show, he was a very good and very tough hooker at a time when they actually had to work for a living and not just lean on the back of a scrum. He was selected in games 1 and 2 of the 1989 series, both lost by NSW, and was left out of the side for game 3.
10. Michael Weyman (4 Origins) – Weyman played games 1 and 2 of each of the 2009 and 2010 series and didn’t win a game. He’s not the greatest front-rower ever to play Origin, and a long way from the worst, but he’s the only player in this team with a statue erected in his honour in his hometown.
11. Les Boyd (3 Origins) – As quiet and unassuming as he apparently was off the field, Boyd was fully committed to mayhem once the referee blew his whistle. His career ended abruptly in 1983 when he broke Maroons forward Darryl Brohman’s jaw with an elbow, and then further suspensions saw him leave Australia in 1984 to play out his career in England.
12. Tony Williams (3 Origins) – Williams was another glaring example of application and commitment falling well-short of size, speed and natural ability. What a waste of talent.
13. Nathan Brown (2 Origins) – Brown’s poor on-field discipline has held the rugged lock’s career back since he was named on the bench in games 2 and 3 of the 2020 series. Some players just can’t change their natural game, I guess.
Next, the forgotten Maroons.
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