Ipswich’s 10 best State of Origin players revealed
We’ve ranked the best players to pull on the Maroon jersey from our region. Who’s number one? VOTE IN OUR POLL
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Ipswich is one of rugby league’s great breeding ground.
An array of current NRL players like Philip Sami (Queensland. Titans), Treymaine Spry (Titans), Ronaldo Mulitalo (Sharks), Tautau Moga (Knights) Jo Ofahengaue (Wests Tigers), Luke Keary (Roosters), Jake Turpin (Broncos) and Sam Walker (Roosters) represent the district each week.
Peer into the past and you have elite past players like Noel Kelly, Ian Robson, Denis Flannery, Dud Beattie, Des Morris, Greg Quinn, Larry Briggenshaw and Gary Purcell to reflect upon.
But who are the best 10 players to represent Queensland in State of Origin?
WHO’S YOUR NO. 1? HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE COMMENTS AND SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE IN OUR POLL
1. Allan Langer
34 Origins
Is Alfie the Brisbane Broncos’ greatest ever player? Most say yes. When you see a slender Sam Walker starring for the Roosters, it is amazing to think Langer was 10kgs lighter when he hit the BRL with Ipswich and the Queensland State of Origin side. So small was he, that when he scored a try for Queensland in his first series, Wally Lewis scooped him up off the ground and carried him back to celebrating teammates like he was one of his children. With his instinctive play, short kicking game and darting runs, Langer, an Ipswich SHS alumni, was an extraordinary player.
2. Steve Walters
14 Origins
Before Cameron Smith came along, Walters was Queensland – if not Australia’s – greatest hooker. Don’t take our word for it. The late Bob Fulton said as much of Walters, a Canberra Raiders legend who got a leg up when he was signed to play with Brisbane Norths. From a working class family, Walters phoned his mum after signing his first contract with Canberra, declaring the family could now afford the best fish and prawns from the local fisho instead of flake and chips which was the normal treat. A wonderful running hooker and clever creator, he was a part of Canberra’s greatest sides between 1989 and 1994. He also played 15 Tests.
3. Rod Morris
4 Origins (6 Qld residents games)
Those of us old enough to remember – or even attend – Origin No. 1 in July, 1980, will always pay homage to Rod Morris who led the charge in the first three seasons of Origin when – you guessed it – Queensland were underdogs. A tight prop forward, Morris owned either side of the ruck and never strayed from his task. He made his name playing with his brother Des – arguably a better player who played for Queensland pre-Origin – at Brisbane Easts where he was a premiership winner and Queensland residents prop (6 games). Morris then signed with the Balmain Tigers, a rough and tumble mob of forwards with names like Spears, Grant and “Bingles’’ Pringle. From Sydney he played six times for NSW before being recalled to the Queensland side when the State of Origin concept was born. A veteran of 16 Tests, Morris was not unlike Matthew Scott, and as one of Origin’s early settlers he needs to be cherished forever and a day.
4. Kevin Walters
20 Origins
If Alfie Langer is Brisbane Broncos’ greatest player, Walters is their most successful. The clever five-eighth won an amazing five premierships. At club level watching Langer, Walters and his brother Kerrod Walters play for Ipswich Jets in the BRL was like watching rugby league’s Harlem Globetrotters. With an instinctive understanding from playing together as juniors and on the streets of Ipswich, they would ping the ball around and bounce off each other, causing havoc to ruck defences. Walters’ service to the great Steve Renouf was also a feature and as great as Renouf was, Walters played a role in sending the legendary centre on his way to the tryline.
5. Kerrod Walters
7 Origins
Before Steve and Kevin played for Queensland and Australia, Kerrod Walters did. A hooker, he was a wonderful running dummy half who would tear off from the ruck, upright with his head backwards. Walters, a veteran of 8 Tests, had the distinction of playing in the great Queensland Origin side of the late 80s, possibly an outfit even better than the one which would later contain Smith, Thurston, Lockyer, Inglis and Slater. Kerrod, a Broncos premiership winner, was a fabulous player who would have played more Tests and Origins had his brother Steve not been so damn good.
6. Gary Coyne
4 Origins
Steady eddy, Gary Coyne was a wonderful workhorse who was the worker in an all-star Canberra Raiders squad of the late 1980s and early 1990s. A second rower or prop, Coyne would work, then work some more. He was made to be a Queensland forward, such was his work ethic and desire, and he upheld the proud tradition of no frills forwards who went before him like Paul Vautin, Rohan Hancock, Bryan Neibling and Wally Fullerton-Smith.
7. Kurt Capewell
Charleville raised, Capewell also played junior rugby league with Norths Ipswich Tigers which makes him eligible for the Ipswich top 10 Origin list. An outstanding backrower and fill-in centre, Capwell’s career rose to great heights in November when he helped the so-called worst Queensland team ever deliver a remarkable State of Origin series win. Capwell is now a key player in Penrith’s push for the 2021 NRL premiership.
8. Craig Smith
3 Origins
New Zealand born, Smith is an Ipswich Grammar School old boy who was introduced to rugby league in Ipswich. A prop, he played for Souths and Illawarra, St George Illawarra and Newcastle, as well as in England in a top flight career spanning almost 250 games. He also played 12 tests for New Zealand. His best league moment was snatched away from him in 2000 when, as co-captain of the Dragons, his side lost in the last minute to a penalty try.
9. Chris Beattie
3 Origins
A big hearted front rower, Beattie paid three matches for Queensland, including helping them to the 2001 series win. He was a no-frills type, an old fashioned prop who ran hard, tackled hard and hugged either side of the ruck.
10. Phillip Sami
2 Origins
From Ipswich SHS, the same school as Allan Langer, Sami has set a great example to the youth of Ipswich by his work ethic. A good player, he has made himself into a better footballer and his reward was playing in two Origin matches last season, including the Game 1 upset victory in Adelaide.
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