Which Brisbane rugby league club can field the best Queensland Origin team? Experts have their say
Which Brisbane rugby league club can field the best Queensland State of Origin team? Some experts have their say as the Maroons close out another series win.
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THERE is no shortage of legends who have given their blood, sweat and tears for Queensland in the 35 years of State of Origin.
As the Maroons celebrate their 10th series win in 11 years, and 20th overall, we take a look at which club in the Quest Community Newspapers area has the best all-time Origin team.
The teams, listed below, are made up of players who have represented that club at senior or junior level and worn the famous Maroons jersey in the Origin era. They were judged by Greg Adermann, Greg Shannon and Steve Ricketts from the Queensland Rugby League history committee.
WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS
1. Colin Scott 2. Terry Butler 3. Gene Miles 4. Chris McKenna 5. Brett French 6. Wally Lewis 7. Paul Green 8. Rod Morris 9. John Dowling 10. Greg Dowling 11. Bob Lindner 12. Dane Carlaw 13. Ian French
Greg Adermann - “Any team that includes The King (Wally Lewis) is going to be the one to beat. He is the best player I have seen in my lifetime. His ability to be able to read the game and seemingly make a play out of nothing, not to mention his competitiveness, gives Wynnum a huge advantage. Add Wally’s combination with another legend Gene Miles in the centres and a pack that includes mobile forwards like Bob Lindner and Ian French and you have a team that will be very hard to beat. Favourites.”
Greg Shannon - “Apart from Paul Green, Dane Carlaw and Chris McKenna - these players show how strong Wynnum were in the old BRL days. Wally Lewis is obviously the greatest player to ever play the game and then there is Gene Miles and in the forwards I would add Greg Dowling to Bob Lindner as one of the really influential Queensland forwards of the 1980s. Colin Scott was brilliant for Queensland in the early years of Origin but Gary Belcher and Billy Slater probably overshadow him in historical terms. As a side though, they would have to be favourites.”
Steve Ricketts - “Obviously any side with the greatest Origin player of them all, Wally Lewis, has to be rated highly, but this Wynnum side would be outclassed out wide by Norths, despite the presence of Gene Miles, and Souths. Hooker, John Dowling, while a great ‘old school’ player, would not be able to handle the pace of the game in recent years.”
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS
1. Adam Mogg 2. Dane Gagai 3. Chris Close 4. Brent Tate 5. John Ribot 6. Mark Murray 7. Greg Oliphant 8. Arthur Beetson 9. Greg Conescu 10. Petero Civoniceva 11. Brian Niebling 12. Wally Fullerton-Smith 13. Michael Crocker
Greg Adermann - “What immediately hits you about Redcliffe is the forward pack, which I rate the best of all of teams here. There are absolutely no weaknesses – all internationals, Beetson the best ball playing forward the game has seen, Civoniceva and Niebling both with a heart the size of Pharlap, and Fullerton-Smith, who along with Gillmeister, is the best defensive second-rower I can recall. Smart and durable halves, two excellent centres and speed to burn on both wings. Good value for money bet.”
Greg Shannon - “I think it was the 1985 Australian tour of NZ, Redcliffe provided four players, Wally Fullerton- Smith, Mark Murray, John Ribot and Greg Conescu, something of a record for that time. An all-Australian forward pack led by Arthur Beetson is hard to go past and they have Murray in the halves with Oliphant. If I remember right Mark Murray actually played five-eight for Queensland pre-Origin so would not be out of place in that spot.”
Steve Ricketts - “A strong pack, but I think Norths are their equal in that area, and the spine of Conescu, Oliphant and Mogg does not excite to the extent of some of the other combinations.”
NORTHS DEVILS
1. Billy Slater 2. Joe Kilroy 3. Greg Inglis 4. Will Chambers 5. Israel Folau 6. Mark Murray 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Greg Dowling 9. Cameron Smith 10. Darryl Brohman 11. Trevor Gillmeister 12. Michael Crocker 13. Matt Gillett
Greg Adermann - “This team excites me which for an old Valleys supporter is hard to say about Norths. What you have to immediately like about this team is the “spine” – the successful Melbourne Storm, Queensland and Australian combination for many years – Slater, Cronk and Smith. Throw in the arguably the best centre of the last decade in Greg Inglis, a clever five-eighth in Murray, the toughness of Dowling, the creativity of Brohmann and Gillett and the defence of Gillmeister and you have a great side. Huge contenders.”
Greg Shannon - “From a modern day point of view they would have to be up there with Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Will Chambers, Cooper Cronk, Cam Smith, Michael Crocker and Matt Gillett in their ranks. Daryl Brohman, Mark Murray and Joe Kilcoy probably underrated in by history in my opinion. Mark Murray was so tenacious and he overshadowed both NSW halves Sterling and Mortimer in the mid 1980s. If you had Wally Lewis and Gene Miles in this side it would be brilliant. Big chance.”
Steve Ricketts - “I can’t go past the Devils’ outfit, given it has the Melbourne big four (with Inglis at Souths now, of course - Smith, Cronk, Inglis and Slater and few, if any weak spots elsewhere. I love the backrow of Crocker, Gillmeister and Gillett.”
EASTS TIGERS
1. Colin Scott 2. Brad Backer 3. Steve Renouf 4. Darren Smith 5. Steve Stacey 6. Greg Holben 7. Paul Green 8. Martin Bella 9. John Lang 10. Rod Morris 11. Gavin Jones 12. Paul Kahn 13. Cavill Heugh
Greg Adermann - “If only Des Morris’ career had been extended a little to allow him to play Origin, Easts would be a better team. It’s a solid combination. There’s speed to burn out wide with Renouf and Backer, dependability in defence with Darren Smith and Cavill Heugh and creativity with Paul Green and John Lang, the best hooker in the game until the emergence of Cameron Smith. Would need everything to go right on the day to win.”
Greg Shannon - “Easts, like Wynnum seemed to have provided a much stronger Origin presence pre-1988 with Gavin Jones, Rod Morris, Brad Backer and Marty Bella a big part of the early years of Origin. Any side that has Darren Smith and Steve Renouf in the backs is going to be a big hit, of course John Lang is an absolute legend. I agree with Greg, the bounce the ball would have to go well for them on the day.”
Steve Ricketts - “A good, steady team at best.”
SOUTHS & LOGAN
1. Gary Belcher 2. Israel Folau 3. Mal Meninga 4. Darren Smith 5. Lote Tuqiri 6. Peter Jackson 7. Jason Smith 8. Josh Papalii 9. Cameron Smith 10. Chris Phelan 11. Tonie Carroll 12. Bob Lindner 13. Corey Parker
Greg Adermann - “I have some questions about the Souths forward pack. It’s missing a couple of hard heads for when things get tough. And halfback is major problem. Jason Smith needs to be in the team somewhere but not at seven. He was a lock first and a good five-eighth, but you run a huge risk playing him there against experienced halves like Cronk, Green and Oliphant. Not contenders.”
Greg Shannon - “Apart from Wynnum, Souths epitomise just how good the old BRL competition was, with the likes of Gary Belcher, Mal Meninga, Peter Jackson, Bob Lindner all making the Queensland side in the 1980s from Souths. Add the likes of Israel Folau and Cam Smith and it is a formidable side, but half back would be a weakness, Jason Smith is more a five-eighth/lock.”
Steve Ricketts - “Sensational backline with Meninga, Jackson, Belcher, Folau, Tuqiri, Darren Smith and I don’t mind Jason Smith at half. No one could slow down play and create try scoring chances like Jason Smith.”
SO WHO WINS?
Greg Adermann - “Using the old BRL top five finals system, Easts knock out Souths in week one while Norths in a tight one beat Redcliffe in the qualifying final. Week two, Redcliffe account for Easts in the knockout final while Norths upset Wynnum and go through to the grand final in a fortnight. Wynnum bounce back the following week and beat Redcliffe in the preliminary final. So its Norths v Wynnum in the big one with Wynnum emerging victorious off the back of one Wally Lewis piece of magic.
Greg Shannon - “I would say it would go something like this: Souths roll Easts and Redcliffe account for Norths in week one of a finals series. Week two, Wynnum, who were minor premiers, beat Souths, who play and lose to Redcliffe the following week. That leaves Wynnum versus Redcliffe in the grand final and despite the all-Australian pack led by Arthur Beetson, Wynnum win because of the Wally Lewis - Gene Miles factor.”
Steve Ricketts - “1st - Norths, 2nd - Souths and Logan, 3rd - Wynnum Manly, 4th - Redcliffe, 5th - Easts.”
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