State of Origin 2023: first look at new Queensland Maroons jersey
Wally Lewis Medal winner Pat Carrigan believes the Maroons are primed to inflict more pain on the Cockroaches as Queensland unveils its 2023 State of Origin jersey.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Queensland’s Wally Lewis Medallist Pat Carrigan has put NSW on notice, declaring coach Billy Slater and his Maroons band of young guns are primed to inflict more Origin pain on the Blues this season.
The Maroons’ program has received another shot in the arm, with Hostplus inking a lucrative naming-rights deal for the Queensland Cup competition that helped turn the likes of Carrigan, Slater, Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans into Origin stars.
The three-year extension will see Hostplus feature on the men’s and women’s Origin jerseys and ensure Queensland’s premier rugby league competition remains as the Hostplus Cup until the end of 2025.
The Maroons conjured one of the greatest boilovers in Origin’s 42-year history last season, with rookie coach Slater blooding seven debutants in Queensland’s epic 2-1 series defeat of the Blues.
Carrigan was at the vanguard of ‘Billy’s Babes’, clinching the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series and the Ron McAuliffe gong as Queensland’s best-and-fairest in a dream debut campaign for the Broncos ironman.
As he prepares for Brisbane’s season-opening blockbuster against Penrith on Friday week, Carrigan says Queensland are determined to keep their foot on the throat of Brad Fittler’s Blues.
“To win last year’s series was a career highlight for me - we’re hungry to do it again,” Carrigan said.
“We’d love to win another series. I think we have the group of young guys to do it.
“It’s hard to get a Queensland jumper and there’s plenty of competition for spots. Whoever pulls on the Queensland jersey this year, that Origin series is going to be a cracker.
“It was a great series (last year) and an awesome experience. As a young kid, you dream of pulling on the Maroons jersey or in my case, the Broncos and Queensland jersey.
“It was a pretty unique opportunity to achieve that last year, but something that always stuck with me is ‘Bill’ (coach Slater) saying, ‘You never have a mortgage on a Queensland jumper’.
“I know I won’t be complacent, I want to earn another Maroons jersey this year, but first I have to play good football for the Broncos to be there.”
Carrigan is just one of many Maroons graduates of the Hostplus competition, which unearthed Origin greats Slater, Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis.
The pathway is still effective to this day, with 18 members of Slater’s Game One squad last year having played 394 games in Queensland’s top league.
“The partnership the Queensland Rugby League has going with Hostplus, it’s unreal for the Queensland Cup competition,” Carrigan said. “I spent a couple of years with Wynnum with Payne Haas (Broncos teammate) and as young guys it was a good stepping stone to the NRL.
“I couldn’t believe the medals I won (last season). You don’t think about those things when you start the series. I just kept turning up for my mates and that was all the legends instilled in the Maroons jersey.
“It’s always a nice feeling to get acknowledged individually, but the series win meant more to me than the medals.”
QRL boss Rohan Sawyer said Hostplus’ investment would help the Maroons in their quest for back-to-back titles.
“It’s wonderful news for us to announce such a valuable partnership extension,” Sawyer said.
“The connection between the Hostplus Cup and our elite programs is also about sustained performance, with many Cup players each year developing their skills and earning their way to the next level of footy.”
YOUNG GUN READY TO FILL REYNOLDS’ BOOTS
New Broncos recruit Jock Madden says he is ready for a big-game showdown with Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary if champion halfback Adam Reynolds fails a fitness test for Brisbane’s season opener.
Wests Tigers import Madden impressed in his first senior outing in Broncos colours on Saturday night, having a hand in two tries to pilot Brisbane to a 20-18 trial defeat of the Cowboys at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Injury permitting, Broncos coach Kevin Walters confirmed that Reynolds and rookie five-eighth Ezra Mam will be Brisbane’s starting halves for their Round 1 away blockbuster against the premiers on Friday, March 3.
But if Reynolds is a late scratching, Madden showed he is a handy halfback safety net for the Broncos after displaying composure, confidence and a clever kicking game to help sink the Cowboys.
The 22-year-old played 17 NRL games in his two seasons at the Tigers and is relishing the prospect of taking on two-time Penrith premiership playmaker Cleary if the loss of Reynolds was to hand him the famous Broncos No.7 jumper.
Asked if would be ready to match it with Cleary, Madden said: “100 per cent I would be.
“I have done the hard work at training, I have had the experience of playing NRL the last few years so I’m ready to go if required.
“I will just put my best foot forward and do what I can control. That’s all I can do.
“’Kevvie’ (Broncos coach Kevin Walters) will do his selections for the team and what’s right.”
Having overcome a minor hamstring injury, Madden underlined his talent with some nice touches against the Cowboys.
Thrust into the nerve centre after Reynolds succumbed to a back injury, the former Australian Schoolboy was vocal in attack and two of his kicks led to Broncos tries, including a cross-field effort for Corey Oates’ try for a 16-6 lead after 23 minutes.
“It was a good opportunity, I was excited to put the Broncos jumper on for the first time and do my job for the boys,” Madden said.
“The seven is a big job for the Broncos. ‘Alfie’ (Brisbane’s greatest halfback Allan Langer), Reyno, they have all played there so I just wanted to go out there and do my job and do what I do best.
“Reyno had a chat to me before the game and he said, ‘Just go out and have fun and enjoy it’. That gave me confidence to play well.”
Madden said Walters, himself a Broncos playmaking legend, and former Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall have been crucial in his development.
“Benji helped me all the years I was down there (at Wests Tigers) and that helped me get the confidence to play in the NRL,” he said.
“Since coming here, Kevvie instills confidence in me and backs what I do as a player.
“He continues to drive working on my defence, Kevvie has been really good for me in pre-season, I am excited about the year ahead.”
More Coverage
Originally published as State of Origin 2023: first look at new Queensland Maroons jersey
Gus’ ‘doctored’ claim ignites NRL conspiracy
The NRL Grand Final’s controversial no try scandal has taken a wild turn despite the game releasing the angle the decision was based on.
Kangaroos selection shocks: NRL legends’ Test careers appear over
Mal Meninga has dropped a major selection bombshell by overlooking both James Tedesco and Kalyn Ponga for Kangaroos selection, with the list of surprise omissions and debutants not ending there. See the full squad.