Origin 2021: Heavyweight champ Justis Huni honorary Maroon as he prepares to face former NSW skipper

Justis Huni will stage his own State of Origin war when the Brisbane monster faces NSW legend Paul Gallen on June 16. And the heavyweight champ has the Maroons in his corner.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 06: Boxer Justis Huni poses with Tino Fa'asuamaleaui during a Queensland Maroons State of Origin training session at Cbus Super Stadium on June 06, 2021 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The Queensland Origin team gave Paul Gallen a decade of hidings.

Now the Maroons are returning to haunt Gallen with coach Paul Green‘s Queensland Origin side joining forces with Justis Huni as the Australian heavyweight champion prepares to inflict more pain on the former NSW skipper.

The Brisbane-born Huni stopped into Queensland training on Sunday to be presented with a Maroons jumper ahead of his title showdown with Gallen at Sydney‘s International Convention Centre on June 16.

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Justis Huni loved seeing the aggression of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui last year.

The hulking 106kg Huni has a historical link with the Queensland Origin family. He started out playing rugby league for Souths Sunnybank, the very junior club that turned current Maroons assistant coach Johnathan Thurston into an NRL champion.

The Maroons made life miserable for Gallen, who won just one of 11 series during his 24-game career for the Blues, and Huni is determined to knock out the former NSW enforcer for all Queenslanders.

“It‘s awesome to come into camp and meet the Maroons boys,” Huni said.

“I was a back-rower as a kid at Sunnybank and I looked up to all the Origin legends, so it‘s unreal to be able to go into camp and meet today’s players.

“Growing up, Origin was a massive thing. It was a real tradition for our family like many people in Queensland. We were gather around the TV, you would get the pizzas out and hope Queensland would win so you could go to school the next day feeling proud.

“My first memories are of Gorden Tallis playing for Queensland, but as I got a bit older I began to appreciate guys like Billy Slater, Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith. They had a great combination and they were unstoppable going on that winning streak.

Justis Huni was a big hit with the Maroons players.

“I loved seeing them smash the Blues every year, especially when Paul Gallen was NSW captain.”

Huni, who will fight for Olympic gold at Tokyo next month, said he relished the sight of Maroons giant Tino Fa‘asuamaleaui going toe-to-toe with NSW rival Payne Haas in Origin II last year.

“There‘s a couple of boys in the Queensland team who would go OK in the ring,” he said.

“I love watching David Fifita (Maroons back-rower) play, he is an explosive sort of player and big Tino would go well.

“I remember his fight with Payne Haas last year and I would love to see those two boys go at it in the boxing ring.

Paul Gallen had plenty of tough times in the Origin arena.

“They have the size and aggression.”

Unbeaten as a pro, Huni (4-0, 3KO) easily disposed of Christian Tsoye in a 10-round hitout last month and is confident of picking at Gallen‘s Origin wounds.

“I would love to beat Paul Gallen for all Queenslanders, we will have our own little State of Origin battle on June 16,” he said.

“When it comes to Gallen, I won‘t be taking my foot off the pedal.

“If I sense he is wobbling or there is an opening for me, I will step it up and finish him off.”