Origin news: Undersized Maroons draw on the spirit of Carl Webb

Reuben Cotter and his Maroons mates may be conceding some size to their NSW opponents but what burns within them is a Queenslander spirit.

(L-R) Reuben Cotter and Karl Webb.

Reuben Cotter has rubbished suggestions he will be monstered by NSW’s big boppers as the lightweight Maroons prop vowed to uphold the legacy of Carl Webb in Origin I on Wednesday night.

Queensland will roll out one of the smallest props in Origin’s 44-year history when tough-as-teak Cotter braces for midfield fireworks with the Blues in the series opener at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

At 95kg, Cotter will give up 50 pounds against NSW’s 118kg superstar prop Payne Haas and is tiny compared to Queensland’s greatest bookends Arthur Beetson, Petero Civoniceva and Nate Myles.

But the Cowboys ironman says he won’t be mauled in midfield, with Cotter to be inspired by the Origin heroics of former Maroons enforcer Webb, who tragically died last December.

Webb, who lost his battle with Motor Neurone Disease, scored one of the great Origin tries on debut in 2001 and is remembered for his fiery stoushes with former NSW warhorse Luke Bailey.

Webb famously had the letter ‘Q’ shaved into the side of his head and his Queenslander spirit will live on via the industrious style of Cotter, who says he won’t quit if NSW attempt to steamroll him.

Queensland enforcer Reuben Cotter. Picture: Getty Images

“NSW have plenty of big boys, so we just have to keep turning up together,” said Cotter, who says Queensland’s pack make up for a lack of size with defensive heart.

“I reckon it (Queensland’s back-to-back series wins) is through our keep-turning-up mentality.

“It’s the all-round, effort areas for us.

“We built a good foundation when this group came together a few years ago and it’s something we have tried to continue as the main theme heading into this game.

“Everyone will hurt out there at some point, but the only way to get through it is by looking to your mate beside you.”

And, undoubtedly, looking to the heavens, where Webb will be a motivating force for Cotter and his Queensland forward cohorts.

Webb played 12 Origin matches and Queensland’s coaching staff have put together footage of ‘Charlie’s’ greatest hits to fire up the 2024 Maroons.

“We’ll all look to bring his aggression and his style of footy on Wednesday night,” Cotter said.

“It’s a very special, important series this year, representing what Carl did for the jersey and for so many Queenslanders.

“They made a little highlight reel of what he brings and it gave us all goosebumps and made us feel like we were ready to run through a brick wall, so no doubt we’ll be thinking of him on Wednesday night.

“He just threw himself at Luke Bailey. That sort of aggression sums up a Queenslander with the backs-against-the-wall sort of mentality and just going after it.

“Back up each other and look out for each other … it’s the only way you get through during the tough times in Origin.

“You relate it to the millions of Queenslanders that go through tough times as well, and that’s the only way you get through something, is together.”

Queensland legend Carl Webb.

Cotter had a dream Origin campaign last season, claiming the rare quinella of winning the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series and Ron McAuliffe Medal as Queensland’s best-and-fairest.

“I’m not really one to boast about it, but they’re great accolades to receive and I’m happy with how I performed last year,” he said.

“But it’s a new year, it’s a new series and some new players in the mix now, so it’s time to re-earn my position in the team and re-earn the jersey.

Former Maroons prop Greg Dowling believes size won’t matter with Cotter, whose presence invokes the spirit of legendary Queensland hit man Trevor Gillmeister.

“Reuben is one of the guys you just need in your team no matter where he plays,’’ said Dowling, who lives a five-minute walk from the new Cowboys stadium and is a regular at their games admiring Cotter’s courage.

“He reminds me a bit of Trevor Gillmeister is that they just never take a backward step. They just never let you down. The sort of player you like going in to battle with.’’

Dowling himself proved that spirit and soul meant more than a few extra kilograms when he launched a distinguished 11-match Origin career in 1984 weighing just 85 kilograms.

By the time he retired seven years later, the birth of the Broncos and their weight-inducing gym sessions saw him pack on more than 30 kilograms.

But, for the majority of his career, Dowling was held up as an example of a fierce competitor who played well above his weight.

“Cotter plays 80 minutes. His workrate is phenomenal,” he said. “You build sides around him. He gives 100 per cent for the 80 minutes. We have seen that in the past.

“It is incredible how fit all footballers are but this guy is incredibly fit. He gets through 40 to 50 tackles a game and he will do 30 hit ups. He chases in broken play and when he has to get back he runs when everyone else is walking.

“Don’t worry ... Reuben Cotter won’t let you down.”

SBW URGES HAAS TO GO GLOBAL AND SWITCH TO RUGBY UNION

NRL legend Sonny Bill Williams believes NSW and Broncos superstar Payne Haas could emulate Blues teammate Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and defect to rugby union.

NSW’s hopes of denying Queensland a hat-trick of Origin titles are resting on the front-row muscle of their chief enforcer Haas – starting in Wednesday night’s series opener at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

But Haas’ good mate Williams says it could be only a matter of time before the NRL hardman is lost to NSW and the Broncos, especially if he enjoys Origin and premiership successes.

Haas has credited Williams with guiding him in his conversion to Islam in 2019 and dual international Sonny Bill revealed he wouldn’t be surprised if the Blues bookend ended up in a Wallabies jumper.

Haas received a monster $2 million-a-season offer to play French rugby last year, only for the five-time Paul Morgan Medallist to stay loyal to the Broncos by inking a three-year extension.

Former NRL star and All Black Sonny Bill Williams. Picture: Getty Images

“Payne would be a fearsome sight in rugby,” said Williams, who played for NSW at junior rep level and made his NRL debut for Canterbury before defecting to play 58 rugby Tests for the All Blacks.

“For myself, it may come from a greedy point of view, and it may rile up a few league people, but I would love to see Payne playing rugby union once he has achieved what he sets out to achieve in rugby league.

“Ultimately, that’s up to him.

“I consider myself a rugby league and rugby union player and I loved playing both sports and what they gave me.”

Rugby Australia has already had Haas on their radar.

Former RA chairman Hamish McLennan, buoyed by his successful poaching bid for Suaalii, held talks with the Haas camp last year as the NSW Origin star weighed up his future at Brisbane.

Haas is contracted to the NRL and the Broncos until the end of 2026, but Williams says the 24-year-old has time on his side to switch codes and would be a global force in rugby.

Payne Haas has been urged to quit the Broncos and play rugby union.

“I understand the benefits of playing rugby union, just as I see the benefits of playing league,” he said.

“I’m saying this just from a ‘brother’ and sports-loving point of view.

“Players that have Payne’s talent, just like Joey Manu, the world deserves to see them.

“Yes, rugby league is a big sport in Australasia, but from a global point of view, rugby union far exceeds it and that’s the honest truth.

“Payne is (24) ... say he wins a comp in the next few years, imagine him running off the back of the scrum in a Wallabies jersey?

“He is used to the tough stuff.

“In rugby they use the term you have to be prepared to put your head in a dark place and Payne is in the engine-room every week, week in, week out.”

Williams lauded the character of Haas, who has maintained remarkable standards of consistency on the field despite the family firestorms engulfing him off it.

The Broncos forward’s mother Joan was jailed last year following a road accident that killed three people, while his father Gregor was last month charged with drug trafficking in the Philippines.

“It’s been great to see what Payne has done. He is special,” Williams said.

“From the path he has to walk and endure, to see him rise above that and shine is an inspiration.

“He hasn’t been perfect at times, but he is learning as it goes and I know that path and struggle, but it’s quite nice to see him reach his potential on the field and off it as well.

“You would have to ask Payne how it has affected him, but Islam teaches you to continually improve in the continuous pursuit of improving oneself, not just in your daily life but as a man from a spiritual point of view.

“It’s quite humbling when people say I have helped Payne. I don’t consider myself his mentor. I am just proud to call him my Muslim brother.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve helped him on the field, he is a beast of a player and he doesn’t need any help there. But off it, he is doing his thing, he is learning on the go and he is humble enough to understand he is not perfect and that’s all it is.

“Payne is a big Teddy bear. He is a great human with a big heart and that’s the thing he needs to concentrate on, leaning in with his heart but understanding the blessing of the talent that he has.

“He can transform a lot of people’s lives just by being himself.”