Legends debate who could take over the QLD captaincy: QLDER – Ep10 | NRL on Nine

QLD legends Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer breakdown State of Origin side selection. In light of this bein Daly Cherry-Evans’ final year who will be the next Maroons captain, Lockyer and Lewis look at why the Broncos are struggling. How is the Cowboys draw going to help them out? Plus, will the Hammer be able to make this years Origin side? Subscribe 👉 https://bit.ly/2lvAJT2 NRL News👉 https://bit.ly/2mPWIV9

0:00 Welcome
0:30 Origin is upon us
2:35 Cam Smith’s side
8:24 Will DCE be in form?
9:54 Who will take over the Maroons captaincy?
12:06 Broncos second-half disaster
13:15 Michael Maguire
15:08 Mam returns
16:45 Origins impact on Broncos
17:59 The boys best field goals
20:14 TAB big call
21:19 Cowboys
28:00 Dolphins

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when he’s playing at his best, he can influence the results. So, and he’s played enough football to have uh the leadership um with him without being a burden. Well, hello once again and thanks for joining us thanks to Tab. Today, we’ve got a special State of Origin preview edition as we countdown to the series opener just down the road here in Brisbane, Sunk Stadium. one and only origin game we’ll see for the men here in Queensland. And by this time next week, guys, they’ll be in camp as a player. How much of a buzz is that? First Origin camp, first selection. It’s come around quick, hasn’t it? Yeah. Um Oh, particularly if you’re playing in Brisbane. Yeah. As a as a marone, you know, going into camp and the hype around Suncorp, uh it’s Yeah. It’s I mean, there’s also responsibility that comes with it, too. So yeah, the nerves the nerves kick in, but it’s also good time of year. Yeah, I agree, Locky. Um there’s not a better time of the year. Um players are all excited. Um once they get selected in the side, um that continues. They go on and they have a determination in their mind about what they uh are quite determined to do. And it’s one of those games I think that the first game of an Origin series um there’s not much pressure and much more pressure in any game of the season. So this is going to be an absolute bell ringer. And what about the configuration of this year’s series like you? So game one Brisbane, game two Perth, game three Sydney. How much extra importance is that for Queensland knowing that they’re not going to be at home for the remainder of the series? You got to take your advantage while you got it. Um, you know, so you know, it’s it’s just you got to come out and you get and Queensland always does. They know they’re going to, you know, have a a great atmosphere. They got a lot of pretty much all Queenslanders sitting in the stadium. So, I’m sure they’ll have um spoken about it through the week about wanting to play well for for everyone that’s turned up on the night, but also who’s watching at home. Yeah. And I’m sure they’ll take it into into their mind that they’re uh they’re not playing in Sydney. Um it mightn’t be Suncorp Stadium, but um they’re not playing in Sydney, and that’s certainly going to be a benefit for them, a bonus for them, and they’ll use it to uh to find out um where else throughout Australia. Um people dislike people from New South Wales. Yeah, we can all agree on that as Queenslanders. So um the most cap State of Origin player of all time, Cameron Smith, the Marones legend, has uh unveiled his team for the series opener. Let’s have a quick look. He did it on 100% footy when he was given it to Gon Gus earlier in the week. So his team is at fullback Ponga on the wings, Xavier Coats, Murray Tangi, Val Holmes in the hammer in the centers, Monster and DC the habs, Harry Grant at Hooker the front row, Ruben Cotter, Tino back from injury back row, Tom Gilbert, Bo Furmore from the Titans and Pat Carrian on the bench, Tom Deon, Lindseay Collins, Jeremiah Nai, Motoaker and Kurt Man as the 18th man. Boys, let’s dissect that one. What do you think? Pretty pretty close to the money. Oh, you can you can tell he’s played 450 what is it? 430 games of footy and uh he knows Billy Slater pretty well. That’s it. Yeah. Good indicator for mine. That’s that’s a mobile that’s as mobile a Ford pack as I’ve ever seen. Yeah. That’s quite remarkable and uh they’re going to be almost running New South Wales off their feet. Um, some will suggest that Hammerso being in the centers is a bit of a surprise, but he’s been there, done that before and has performed every time that he’s worn a Marone jersey. So, I think the uh the coach will be quite happy to see that. And perhaps there’s been a little bit of a whisper between the two of them. Well, you know, both of them I I think um you know, he’s been playing very well for the Titans. So, Smithy rates him highly to put him in the starting team. Um Tom Gilbert obviously you know back from injury so there’s a there’s you know I wouldn’t say there’s any outrageous calls here but um you know if if if that comes to fruition that both for Mo’s plays for for Queensland that’s a a big reward for him and he’s been in the squad before Billy and predecessors Kevy as well they do a good job in integrating players and so he’d be the only debut time but I can remember he’s been in at least two origin camps. How important is that beforehand to to get them feeling like they belong? I think it also just helps with, you know, the the nerves. I think getting an insight into the environment, getting an insight into what goes into the preparation of an origin game and what is required on the night, you know, to get see that firsthand is obviously, you know, it’s hugely beneficial. I think the thing that stands out is the mobility of the team. Wow, that is something else. See on the reserves bench. Lindsay Collins boy up front to be handling the the big tough stuff. Jeremiah Nani and Mo Fatawa. Um if they’re in that that side there, it’s it really does indicate that the Marones um they’ve certainly um you know can be quite quick across the park, but they can also handle the the battle up front. And well, how much more confidence do you have with Tino and the team? He was out injured last year, had that ACL. Just to have a big dominant aggressive forward. Yeah, he’s he is at that, but he’s he’s remarkably mobile how quick he can get around the field and having watched um you know his his efforts. Um I think teammates will be over the moon about having him there up front. He can he can play basically anywhere. Um he’s he’s quite a remarkable player and one that I’m damn sure every player in the team will be great to have alongside him. What about Cobo? Is he the unlucky one in that team? He’s he’s there in the bouts. Yeah, you know, I know he’s been filling in for Reese at fullback and but Murray’s been very good. So, Xavier’s been exceptional. Um, so I would say that uh, you know, look, someone’s obviously in the conversation where it lands. Some of these positions might just come down to this weekend. Yeah. Injury or suspension. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Ruben Cot is actually out suspended at the moment, but he’ll come back for game one serving his second week. Was Harry back this week? Yeah. So, Harry Grant. Yeah, he there’s talk he he will play. So, I guess with that in mind, how important is it to have a 14 who can play hooker knowing that your regular hooker is coming back from a hamstring injury? Uh, yeah, but I would say like, you know, my argument would be Tom’s very similar to a Cooper Kron or a Ben Hunt. He could play, you put him anywhere. Yeah. Yeah. As you know, mate, I’m president of the Tom Deon fan club and um he can play anywhere. Anywhere in that side. I don’t think he’d like to play fullback, but he could play pretty much everywhere else. And I think he’d fit into it quite quite comfortably. The only other name I think might be missing is Big Red from the Raiders, Cory Horses. He’d have to be very close as well. He he couldn’t have done much more. He’s been quite impressive this year. Well, Camber’s been going Yeah. very well. And uh he’s you know, I thought well, we thought his career at the Raiders was done. Yeah. He was in a bit of a I guess he was in I wouldn’t say a bad way, but he was, you know, at the crossroads. Yeah. He’s definitely come back with vengeance. It’s been good to watch. Crossroads is a perfect perfect word there, Locky. And he just seemed to be having some difficulty in um producing his his performances on the field. got into a couple of push and shves, a couple of fights. Um, and it wasn’t his great performances that were on show, but um, you know, there’s a there’s an opportunity there for him. I guess that’s a big bonus for Queensland, too, this year. Like, we were short in middle forwards last year. Now, we’re actually there’s going to be two or three good ones who miss out. Yep. No. Well, it’s, you know, we were short with go forward in the middle of the field last year. So, that we’re touchwood. We still got a week to go. Touchwood that um they all get through and we’ve still got you know will potentially leave some good players out. Yeah. And with that team they’ve reunited the halves pairing of Cameron Mun and DC manly struggling a bit of late DC’s form is is that all worry wall or is he experienced enough to just put club form behind him? Uh I I think Locky and I have both been there. um you’re not quite producing your your best form um in the build up to it, but soon as State of Origin comes around, you start um you’ve got the u the determination, the will to win, uh the necessity to produce your best game. Um, and uh, sometimes it’s a strange thing that you’re week to week you’re not producing all that good a game, but when you come up against the best in the business, other the great players of the game, that comes out and you uh, you do you produce the best game that you have for all season long and that’s an instant inspiration for for your teammates as well. I think he’s always played well under Billy. Yeah. Um, so I got no no no um, you know, concerns about that. I think maybe there is some distractions playing at Manley at the moment with with his, you know, he’s what’s happening next is un, you know, it’s uncertain. So maybe that’s playing on his mind. But I think once you get in that arena, like W said, you know what’s at stake and you you you’re 100% focused on what you need to do. Yeah. In a way for everyone, it’d be good if that Rooers deal got announced sooner rather than later. I think for Manley’s sake as well and for Queensland’s origin sake. Hopefully that’s the case. But uh moving forward, if DC was to call it quits after this year’s Origin Series, he’s been a phenomenal skipper for Queensland. I think only behind U2 and Cameron Smith for most Origin series victories for Queensland. Who stands out as a future captain? Could Monster take on that responsibility or do you look at maybe a Carigan? Tino’s also a captain his club side, so is Cotter and Dean at the moment. Who stands out as a future captain? Uh there’s a couple there, but you know, you said monster and you know, sometimes giving um one of your most influential players on what they can do on the field uh the the the captaincy um is often a good call. So, you know, number six, you know, Cameron um when he’s playing at his best, he can influence the result. So uh and he’s played enough football to have uh the leadership um with him without being a burden. So but there’s other there’s other players there as well. Pat Caragan’s another one. Yeah. You got Tino who’s captain at Clubland. Yeah. So there’s a few there, but I think Cameron can probably dictate or determine a result more than some of the others. Yeah. And he’d uh he’s he’d be doing it with almost monotonous regularity. He’s his performances for Queensland previously have been at such a standard. Um he really leads well, inspires those around him. Um but yeah, I’m I’m kind of excited by Tino as well. Um I think that he’d be one of those guys that um while he will probably have a little bit of or several of the uh of the onlookers a little bit um you know up in the air about it, not knowing whether he’s a captain. uh he’d be the the type to uh to lead from the front and just take off and lead the way and um leave all the the comfortable um creation or or creative work uh for for the boys behind him. But he would just take off and and make sure that um he shows them what it’s all about. Now the other one’s Harry Graham. Yeah, he was that’s what I was going to mention. I’m looking there going who else? I mean Pong is a captain. Yeah, but Harry’s he can be very influential in the result too. Tom Gilbert also captains his club side even though he’s come back from Gez there’s a lot of captains in that team when you go back and look through it so it’s good for the leadership ranks um a club that does need a bit of leadership at the moment Locky you’re Broncos what did you learn about that Rabbito’s game I learned they can’t hold a lead 140 nil up and they got run down by Latrrell yeah I think what it what it says and I think it’s been a bit of a um a pattern across the game but you know Bronx have been guilty of as well once they comfortable, they take their foot off the pedal. Yeah. Um and a lot of teams are doing that. And I think, you know, that’s something that they need to find ways to fix because you can’t when you get yourself in a winning position in this competition, you got to take you got to make the most of that and and and get the result because it you know again you know they’ve they’ve had one good half then one poor half and they lose the game and just puts unwanted pressure on them. Yeah. Interesting to you say that Locky. You know, one good half, one bad half. It was just um they had some outstanding starts um got going. Others it’s been the middle of the game where they’ve really improved and uh and almost torn the opposition to to pieces but haven’t been able to do it for the full course of the game. Um that’s something that that needs to be addressed pretty pretty quickly. And the talk at the moment is have they improved under Michael Maguire. So, I think it’s a very similar record to this time last year when Kevy eventually got the the flicker at the end of the year even though they struggled in that back half. What are your thoughts on that? Have they improved under Michael? Um, I think defensively they have. Um, you know, they I know the score ended up 224, but it was really 164. And, you know, you would think with the the list the Broncos have, you know, they could score more than 14. So, I think defensively they’ve been okay. There’s been a few blowouts. Um um obviously Penri the week before, but it just probably I think that clunkiness in attack is still still u you know affecting the score line from their perspective as in the points they’re scoring. So they what did they get against Penri? I think it was was it single figures? Was it eight maybe? Yeah. So, they’re just they’re not being um I guess efficient with the ball. They could be better. Yeah. How frustrating is it while there’s an ex captain watching them knowing the potentials there? Yeah. Yeah. And it’s um you know, it’s easy to sit back and say, um I would have done this or we could have done that um in u in looking at the game. And I think that’s that’s being uh a little bit too hard on the on the players. But uh for me it just looked like um I was listening to one of the guys said um it it appeared as though they were a boxer forum boxing for the heavyweight title that was just trying to win on points and make sure rather than going for the knockout punch. Yeah. Um and I thought well that’s that’s a that’s a big call a big way to to look at it in a different sport but um I think that they probably had um the majority of their game without um being absolutely determined to win it and win it in the best possible way. Yeah. Well, Ezra M comes back into team this week because Ben Hunt’s out with that hamstring strain. About six weeks he’ll be sidelineed. Does that change the attack Locky? Because man’s more of a runner whereas Hunter is more of a creator. Yeah, I think it does without putting, you know, pressure on Ezra. I think if he just plays his natural game, there’s a there’s a more run Yeah, there’s a more of a run uh danger there for for the Broncos. And but you know at the end of the day it’s you know back to the old you know sort of saying the forwards have got to lay the platform for those backs to be able to do what they got to do. So um you know Pay was outstanding again the other nights. Patty was good. Um so they just need to those guys need to get some ruck momentum and then players like Adam can kick off the front foot and players like Ezra and Selvin can you know run with space in front of them. Yeah. And I think Ezra will will have plenty of his running game in mind, but um I think it’s his support play will be the standout feature. Again, he’s going to be um making the most to see what he can milk out of every time he he catchs the ball. Um but if it’s, you know, not um the the part of the game that’s that’s leading to a try, uh his support play will come into it and we’ll see him backing up at every opportunity. And I think he will want to be impressing those around him as well. Uh and usually that uh indicates um a wonderful effort in support. It’s interesting you say that because I think it was Katon Stags made a break late in that game against the Rabbidos and there was like five Rabbidos players to tackle him. He looked around there was no Broncos support players. So fifth and last too. Yeah. If if Mam’s there or Reese Walsh or someone definitely would have helped out just finally on the Broncos locky the origin period always difficult them for them to navigate. would match have a plan of how he’s going to get through it because you’d think definitely Haren Carrian, maybe CBO as well, maybe even Stags if Blues have a few injuries. Well, I think the spine stays intact. That’s a positive. Um, but you lose, you know, you lose pat, you lose pain. That’s a fair bit of go forward. So, that you know, opportunity for some young fords to to um come in and do a job. Um, but that’ll be while the spine stays intact, they still need to go forward to do their thing. Yeah, I think that’s the area they’re short of. They’re lacking another middle forward in that squad. If you could go back and rejig the salary cap. Obviously, there’s too many hookers in that team at the moment. They’re going to get rid of Tyson Smoothie to the English Super League. I think that’s just a bit of a downfall. if they had one more extra middle forward with a bit more go about him to support Haren Carrian because it’s going to get to a point where it’s a bridge too far just with those two and ones that angle themselves very well close to the ruck. Um the work rates certainly got to be increased and um looking for those guys that are just targeting back in um looking for a little bit of a lazy marker or a a first defender that’s standing a little bit wide. Yeah, but credit to Mitchell in that game. How impressed were you guys with his performance? Well, tight. Well, big games, tight games are won in moments. And those moments, he won them all. The tackle on Dean Mariner, tackle on Har. Tackle on Har. Um, then there was the field goal. Field goal and the alleged try at the end. The alleged try. We won’t call that a proper try. But speaking of field goals, I think that was 48 m. You guys longest field goal for memory off the top of your head that you ever kicked. would have been hard if you w with a leather ball back in the day. Can you remember a field goal that stands out? Well, the the only one I remember there was no there was no pressure on this one. I just let it go right on Halime was about the same spot as the tri probably about 5 meters in front of him in on the same ground just before halftime. I could hear Gus in the in the back of my head going be wet, you know, the first the first half field goal after I kicked it. But I just let it rip. And you know, there was no pressure on it cuz we were I think was 126 at the time. And sometimes when you just let it rip with no pressure on you, it just it just sailed. Yeah. And that’s probably the the longest one I can remember. Yeah. I got one from about 40. Um but that was the days when they used to have the the old Additus balls and they were the lightest balls that I ever played with. Yeah. Yellow. They yellow. Were they yellow or green? Greeny. No. No. you although more of a yellow a yellow color. Um but it was a uh um a ball that was I’m trying to think of what what they’re made out of. Um but managed to make contact at it and it just flew away. Uh it was one of a kind. Never got to be able to do it again. Um but they were the ones that I used to find that they were the easiest ball to to throw when I was looking for a spiral pass or kicking them. And uh certainly if you were anywhere near the uh the try line to be able to kick them uh on the bottom of the ball um you were waiting for the ball to come down. They were such a light footy it was it was very easy to gain dominance over it. Nice. Well, as we’ve learned, it’s never too early to kick a field goal. I think that’s another one of Gus’s saying as well. Well, now that two points, too, outside the 40. Yeah, definitely too. Yeah. Yeah. Uh moving along, let’s go into the TAB big call this week. Thanks to our upkeep partner this year, Tab, it’s time for the big call of the week. I You almost got yours right last week, Locky. You said all four Queensland teams would win. Your Broncos just let you down the death. Yeah. Yeah. I said the Titans would win, which I thought was a big call, but I said Lafy two tries. You had two try assist Brimson. So, we were all pretty close last week. My tab big call this week is the Broncos beat the Dragons, but it’s Ezra M who scores the match winner. They win by six or four points and Ma’am scores a try right at the end. Be cool. Uh I’m going to go Tommy Dean to get man of the match against uh Manley DC. Yeah. So uh uh old dog verse young pup. Yeah, that’s a good one. Well, I’ll go for the Cowboys. Um as you know, Adam, I don’t think I tipped against the Cowboys the last couple of years. I haven’t given them a lot of support this year, but um it’s time that they uh they turn their season around. Uh important. I think that we’re about to see some of their best football on display. There we go. After that great game against the Panthers they had on the weekend. So pretty impressive. Locky. If you said to the Cowboys 10 rounds in, you’re going to have to play the Panthers twice and you don’t lose either of those games. Yeah. That’s good for the confidence. Yeah. Well, they started the season slow, but once they found their their groove, um they’ve been good. And I know they’ve only a draw last week and they lost the previous week and they they you know, they probably should have won. Um but compared to where they were at the start of the season, they’ve come a long way and they’re showing a bit of resilience. Um so they’re got themselves but they’ll probably be I don’t know how many will they lose for Origin. Maybe only Deon Ni uh Cotter Cotter. They could be Oh, Reese Robson too goes to New South Wales. So that’ll be tricky for them too. Origin. Yeah. Hopefully they got a couple of buyers wedged in between there. But the big talking point that came out of that Panthers Cowboys game, guys, was the the Trainers wetting the ball. Oh, yeah. What do you make of that? Both teams were guilty of it. It was the Panthers who were caught out first and then vision emerged into the Cowboys trainers. What do you think about that? The first time I’ve seen that, but for the both trainers to do it, is it like one trainer saw the other one do it and thought, “I’ll get you back.” Yeah. Like I’ve just never seen that before. And but to see both teams do it on the same night. Unusual. Yeah. I’ve seen um uh grease taken off the knees and put all over the ball that’s been used like rub type. Yeah. Uh no, you know, to me slippery uh over it and and used on a on a ball. This blood’s going to know I’m about to give him up. Um we used it um down at Winter Manley on on one or two occasions. So you’re narrowing it down. Actually, I do remember big tall Santa used to a lot of grease on his knees. I think the fields down there are a bit hard. Yeah. Yeah. Well, Gino, he used to just I didn’t say Well, I did. I gave him up. And I don’t mind giving you up, Jean. Uh he used to have enormous amounts of grease on his knees. And um it came for it came to do a a couple of jobs, not just um give his knee a u little bit of looking after. Yeah, I do remember another Queenslander. He obviously um he playing against James Graeme. He used to wear a lot of grease on his knees and elbows and obviously one Queenslander uh Nate Miles took offense to it. So he tackled him one day and just grabbed a scoop of it off his knee and just rubbed it across his across his across his forehead. Yeah. If it made contact with the eyes as well, the grease, it wasn’t that easy to to get rid of. Yeah. Yeah. I’m pretty sure it was Nate. Well, he’s he’s lucky they’re both retired at the moment, so no retaliation there. What about the Cowboys do have that draw? How handy could that be in the leadup to the finals? It’s it’s always weird looking at the table seeing an odd number of points. Uh yeah, I look, you know, I mean, one’s better than none. So the competition is so close and I I reckon we’ll I reckon it’ll be like that for the rest of the season. I I I think you know four and against is going to come into it one point like that will be you know it could be the the the difference between playing finals or not. So it’s a tipster’s nightmare and I just think that every little bit counts at the moment. I mean you look at the Tigers on the weekend, you know that that that’s just smashes they’re for and against. Yeah. Yeah. It’s almost like a double loss in a way. It kills their for and against and the points. But the end of that Cowboys Panthers game, the Cowboys really struggled to ice it in field goals. Like how often did you guys practice field goals? Because to be honest, it looked like the Cowboys had never practiced a field goal in their life. Well, the the key is you if you’re the kicker, you just got to you got to know the position where you want the ball and you’re just telling your forwards or you’re pointing to your dummy half that that spot over there is about where I want to get to by play four. Yeah. And then let me have a go. You know, like I was a left footter so I wanted it just outside the right post. So I’d come on and I’, you know, I’d be left foot whereas a right foot would be the opposite. But you just got to know roughly where you want to play the ball and where you want to stand and get there. Yeah. Yeah. And give the instructions out on where it’s got to take place. That’s that’s exactly right, Loy. And um it’s uh it’s easier said than done for uh for a lot of the players, but if they can cut the ball into prime position, um you’re you stand a great chance. For me, though, one of the the big issues comes when it’s time to to do the the field goal. You can see that there are guys there. There’s usually three markers. Um there’s another guy that that runs um 10 meters to to get past the uh uh that play the ball area um in world record time. So it’s uh it’s hard to see that it’s never going to play a dominant part in the game, but uh interesting because you practice it plenty of times at training. Unfortunately, you don’t get to put it into effect all that often throughout the course of the game. And both both coaches were critical after the game uh about the referees, you know, in that in that moment of the game. They’re they’re I guess they’re the they don’t want to blow a penalty because it could mean the the game, you know, so they put the whistle in the pocket and there’s a lot of fudging of offside that happens in those particular moments. And um I’m I’m pretty sure uh that that happened the other night. Yeah. I don’t you don’t see too many penalties blown as as you say in that they’d rather um there be um a field goal kicked or a field goal missed where they can make a simple ruling on it other than come up with that penalty that is the uh the dictator of the game. I’d love to see a golden point become golden try. So you can’t win in extra time with a field goal or a penalty goal. You have to score a try. And I think that would make it more exciting and opening up because currently you watch it it’s just a field goalathon. Yeah, it is. There is a theory though if you did that um you give way too many penalties penalties just lay on the you just lay on the ball but I guess then the responsibility have to come back to sinbin. So then like if you try and penalize me and you lay on the play the ball I sin bin you you’re down to um 12 players. So it makes it easy to score a try. Well, you instead of what goal point, you got to win by two or more. So that way, you know, if you’re laying on the play, you can still kick a penalty goal. Still kick a penalty. And the try is still an option as well. But yeah, they Yeah, there’s all We’ll have to chat to Andrew Abdo next time he’s up for Origin. We’ll sell him our um plans for Golden Point. Uh just finally before we go and wrap it up, the Dolphins, they had that crucial win over the Eels. I think if they win this week, the the No, they beat the Eels. Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. They beat the Yeah, they beat the Eels in Thursday Night Footy cuz Mitch Moses was blown up to the referee all game. That’s what I remember. Um Herby scored me. Yeah, Herby scored that amazing try. Where does he rank for you guys in terms of centers? Oh, he you know he’s um his uncle who used to coach him. He used to show me the drills he used to do. And he used to he he used to get these two pads and make him run towards him and as he got to him, he he’d step in in the middle of them. He’d step around them and it’s amazing when you watch him play the drills that he was taught as a kid. He’s doing that out on the field. And that’s what happened the other night. And then he decided to run around um who’s the fullback? Um we took him on. Uh Yongi. Yeah, that’s fullback. He’s not no slouch. Yeah. And he just blitzed him. Yeah. And so the individual brilliance like sometimes in those tight games you just need a bit of individual brilliance to to win it. And Herby did one and Hammer had one as well. Yeah. And when he gets the ball, you can just see that the uh the defensive players, they’re feeling pretty nervous. Yeah. They’re thinking if he comes this way, I’ve got to try and do this. Well, I when you get to a situation like that, um I think the ball carrier’s almost got half the job done already. Uh and certainly Herby’s evasive skills, they’re quite remarkable and they seem to be getting better every game. I think Steven Kiteon is the only other one like to me they’re equal first in my mind. It’s hard to think of a center who’s going better. Well, those Yeah, Kiteon was outstanding in the comeback the other day. Um and they would they would they would mark up against each other. Yeah, cuz Kiteon plays right and Herby plays left. So that would be big match up. We’re actually interviewing Hammer the other day and he was ging up saying Herby should be eligible for Queensland if they’re going to change the regulations. How good would that be? Yeah, because he’s been here since he was 15, I think, was the the theory. Well, I’m actually I’m more of a I’ I’d go the other way. I I I feel like um I know it’s been a big talking point, but uh cuz if you know if you’ve been here 15 and you’re playing in the NRL at 18, 19, you’ve only been here five years, four or five years, you know. Yeah. Um I’d go back. I I reckon you need to be here before you start school. Yeah. Okay. To be a Queensland or New South Wales one. And people say it’s about the best of the best. Well, not not necessarily. It’s the passion that comes from both states that goes into the contest that makes what it is. Yeah. And so I’m not I’m not saying the product is not necessarily it’s the best vers the best out there. I I reckon sometimes it’s just what it means to the player in the jersey that makes State of Origin and increases the value of international footy. Yeah. And the opportunity to be able to go back. they um you know for so long um Australia have have dominated uh the international uh scene but if it can be made look a lot stronger by having these players available for that country uh I’m sure the the international game will only prosper and that’s where you’ll eventually get the best of the best. You’ll get the best of Australia verse the best of the Pacific Island nations and you know Kiwis. So that’s where I’d I’d like to see the best of the best. Yeah. And I guess to illustrate your point, the 95 Origin series, one of the most memorable with all due respect to Fatty and his players, wasn’t the best of the best, but turned out to be an amazing product. So, it is the entertainment. Last one on the Dolphins Hammer. Do you see is he realistically a chance to play fullback at origin level or is he always just going to be the center or unfortunately the guy who misses out? Well, you know, I you know, he he could he could do both positions very well. I think he’d be able he’d be very good in both. Um probably the one thing that Hemer is a little bit different to a Kalin Ponger or a Reese Walsh is he probably doesn’t pass the ball as much. Yeah. Um but that doesn’t mean he’s not effective playing fullback cuz he is cuz he backs up so well and he can just beat you with his blistering speed. But I think Kalin or player like Kalin allows you to have set up your outside backs. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I agree with with with Locky. But um when you get to um you know the just you see the the value of these two guys and where they’re uh um where their skills are at an all-time high. Um it’s fantastic and um you know Hammers um got the opportunity to be able to play fullback at at Origin. um in the eyes of some people, uh many many others disagree with it. But it’s um it’s whatever that the selectors come up with, I think that I’ll uh I’ll stand to support. Yeah. How good was he the other night when he almost defended three players right time? He almost like dared like we’ll make a decision. Yep. Well, that’s one thing he’s been doing well is his defense. Yeah. So, you know, and Billy’s probably got an idea of how he wants the team to play and sometimes that dictates who he picks where. We got two experts to be able to to pick that. Billy and Locky, both fullbacks um for for a portion of the of the career. And um one thing is is certain, we’re going to end up with a good side. Yeah. And fingers crossed all the Queensland players playing this weekend stay injury and suspension free. So we get a great spectacle for Origin one. But a reminder to Thursday night is Origin 2 in the women’s competition. Queenslanders need to win that. So, good luck to Alli Brigenshaw and the team. Hopefully level the series and go to a decider there. But as always, catch all the Origin action live and exclusively free on the Wide World of Sports. [Music]