State of Origin 2023: NRL players who dominated in other sports as juniors
An Australian shot put champion, an undiscovered beach sprinter, AFL academies, and even a couple of volleyball nuffies. These are the other sports our Origin stars could have excelled in.
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Long before he walked into the spotlight of State of Origin, Queensland champion Cameron Munster was a freckle-faced teenager playing first-grade cricket.
On Wednesday night, NSW centre Stephen Crichton will attempt to do the impossible by beating the Maroons on their home turf.
But before running out for the Blues, there was basketball’s “Air” Crichton.
With his green and white cap of Mona Vale surf club, Tom Trbojevic finished second in the state for the flags in 2010.
A grommet of the surf, Maroons hooker Harry Grant wanted to be Kelly Slater, while NSW prop Payne Haas was the under-11s Australian shot put champion.
Not surprisingly, NSW skipper and speedster James Tedesco went to state and national level for Little Athletics.
Corey Horsburgh, the cult figure from Canberra, won his under-15s AFL and rugby league grand final on the same day.
“He didn’t get to celebrate with the team though because I got him off the field with five minutes to go so he could run on for his league grand final,” Horsburgh’s father, Rick, told The Daily Telegraph.
Gifted with the skill, speed, power and athletic brilliance, these are the sports that almost lured our favourite Origin stars away to a rival code.
TYSON FRIZELL
Rugby union
The hardman of the Blues admits he was only ever good at using his physical prowess as a junior.
“I made the Australian Schoolboys for rugby union,’’ Frizell said.
“I stopped playing rugby league when I was 17 and began to focus on rugby.
“I played NSW Bs and Damien Cook played NSW As and got chosen to tour England, Ireland and Wales. Then I came back to rugby league.
“There were no other sports for me, I wasn’t talented enough.’’
DAMIEN COOK
Tennis, beach sprinting
It’s a running gag in rugby league circles that Damien Cook was a renowned beach sprinter, so often does his past sporting history get spoken about. What people don’t know is that Cook was also a decent tennis player in his younger days.
“I would have loved to play tennis,” he said.
“I played tennis until a certain age but then I chose footy. I went all right, so you never know.”
HUDSON YOUNG
Cricket
Grew up in the Hunter Valley town of Greta, where his family was involved in cricket as well as rugby league. If he hadn’t cracked it as a rugby league star, he would likely have chased the red ball.
“I used to love playing cricket. My family is heavily involved in cricket back home. So if I wasn’t playing footy, I would probably have tried to make it in cricket.”
JAROME LUAI
Basketball and football
“I was good at basketball and soccer. If anyone wants a one-on-one basketball game, let me know.
“I played soccer growing up before I played footy. My son plays soccer now so I give him a few pointers.
“Critta (Stephen Crichton) and I play a bit of basketball now against each other. I have a hoop set up in the backyard. Basketball is pretty cool.”
ISAAH YEO
Cricket and football
“I was a very bad cricketer. I loved bowling more than batting. I used to hate being hit by the ball.
“I played soccer until I was 11. I was a big, tall defender who didn’t score many goals, which was disappointing.”
PAYNE HAAS
Athletics
Long before he was churning out big metres in the middle for NSW, Haas dipped his toe into Little Athletics in Newcastle, and of course, he succeeded.
“I did athletics for a bit as a kid – my dad made me do it,” he says.
“I was actually all right. People don’t know this but I actually have an Australian record for shot put in under 11s. It was probably because I was bigger than everyone. I was a pretty big kid.
“It’s pretty cool to look back on now.”
JUNIOR PAULO
“I wasn’t very good at any other sports but I played as many as I could. For me it was most probably just trying to get out of school.”
XAVIER COATES
Athletics
“I was really big into athletics. I loved long jump and triple jump, they were my events.
“I wasn’t too quick off the mark for 100m, my long legs weren’t good for that short distance, so I stuck to the longer stuff.
“I got a couple of school records, but nothing too special. I enjoyed my athletics.”
VALENTINE HOLMES
Baseball, softball, touch football, OzTag and rugby union
“I played a bit of baseball and softball in school – I loved hitting the ball. My brother was pretty good at baseball and I just wanted to do what he did.
“Up north it’s all rugby league-based. I played touch, Oztag and rugby union.”
MURRAY TAULAGI
Basketball
“I played basketball at school and still play it. I play with some of the boys at the club in free time. I follow the NBA in America, particularly LeBron James. I follow him wherever he goes.’’
CAMERON MUNSTER
Cricket
He is now arguably the NRL’s No.1 player but Munster was a cricket star before he made it in the NRL.
He made his A-grade cricket debut in Rockhampton as a teenager and even made a celebrity appearance on the Sunshine Coast in 2020 after his Origin heroics.
A left-arm quick, Munster picked up a prized wicket playing for Tewantin-Noosa against the Sunshine Coast Scorchers rep side. He finished with 1-16 from two overs in the T20 clash.
LINDSAY COLLINS
Volleyball
“I loved volleyball. I played at school and it was good fun. I really enjoyed smacking the ball. The big spikes and stuff.
“I see a little bit of the Europeans on YouTube. They are very skilful guys.’’
HAMISO TABUAI-FIDOW
AFL and athletics
Was in the Gold Coast Suns AFL club’s academy in Cairns and the Queensland Reds rugby union academy as a teenager before choosing rugby league with the Cowboys.
TINO FA’ASUAMALEAUI
Athletics
“I was good at athletics, that’s what I did before league.
“I was a runner but the 800m was about my limit. We changed to league because my brother (Iszac) was too shy to run in front of everyone. That’s why we started league.
“I also love basketball but I’m not good at it.”
COREY HORSBURGH
Cricket and AFL
“I played cricket as a (fast) bowler but had to give up because of back injuries. I also played AFL and was better at it and was in the Lions academy when I was 14.
“I stopped playing AFL when I was 16. I was a hard worker so I guess you never know (if I could have made it). When I was 16 I was starting to play two games on the one day and knew I had to give one up.
“One year I had two grand finals – in AFL and league – on the one day. I played both – AFL for Caboolture then for Redcliffe in league after that. We won both of them.
“I remember I had to leave at three-quarter time in the AFL grand final to make the league game for Redcliffe.’’
DAVID FIFITA
OzTag and touch football
“I loved OzTag and touch footy. I played touch at Keebra Park all schools tournament and we lost to Rockhampton. I was actually pretty fast in touch, believe it or not. I was on the wing.
“The goal was to always be an NRL player.”
JEREMIAH NANAI
Volleyball
“I had volleyball and it has come in handy, I didn’t know I had that jumping in me.
“I just liked playing every sport – basketball, if I was good at it.
“I played backyard footy every day with my brothers. Before and after school. Footy was our family household.
“I like being active and learning new sports. Everything can come in handy.”
HARRY GRANT
Surfing and AFL
“I like my surfing, but that was probably out of reach.
“I played a bit of AFL and was in the Gold Coast Suns academy when I was 13-14. They only liked me because I could tackle. It was good fun but I’d be too slow for AFL.
“I loved all sports growing up. I played anything I could get my hands on, anything to get a day off school.”
TOM FLEGLER
“I only ever really played rugby league. I played since I was a young boy and that’s it. In the off-season I did a lot of diving, spearing and fishing.”
REUBEN COTTER
“I was always pretty footy-driven. I played one game of union but I didn’t enjoy it as much. I did a bit of athletics but that’s about it.”
MOEAKI FOTUAIKA
OzTag
“I liked playing OzTag, it was more fun and games. There were no big steps, I would try and move my hips so they couldn’t get the tag off me. I never went too far with OzTag, it was a bit of fun for me. My heart was always set on being a rugby league player and making it in the NRL.”
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