Queensland State of Origin coach Kevin Walters says ‘invitation is there’ for Greg Inglis to play again

In a wide-ranging interview with Robert Craddock, Queensland coach Kevin Walters suggests Greg Inglis’ Maroons career may not yet be done: ‘Once you are part of the Origin family that door never closes.’

Greg Inglis’ comeback in the UK has led to speculation he may have another Origin series in him.

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Queensland State of Origin coach Kevin Walters will know every inch of enemy territory by the time the rugby league season ends.

Walters has joined his old mate Gorden Tallis on weekly 10-hour drives from Brisbane to Sydney and back for Fox League duties until normal flying schedules resume.

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We caught up with him near the end of his first drive to find out the hot topics chewed over by the duo during their first trip.

How’s the trip? Any fights?

We’ve had a big blue and I have head to leave Gordy back at Port Macquarie … he can get his own way.

Queensland State of Origin Coach Kevin Walters poses at Origin venue in waiting Adelaide Oval.

Where are you?

Near the Newcastle turn-off. Gordy and I go back a long way so we have spent a lot of time talking about our childhoods, families and old car rides. We will be doing this trip until they tell us not to – probably a month or so I reckon. It’s fine. You often drive past people working on the roads and I just think “how lucky are we?” It was Gordy’s idea to do it – we love our work at Fox and the game so I thought “why not?’’

They say the ultimate sign of good mates is to sit beside each other and be able to say nothing for half an hour. Are you at that stage yet?

Actually we are just getting there now – and we are getting hungry as well. But we both realised our families grew up with Kingswoods (Gorden: “ours was supposed to be silver but it was so sunburnt it turned grey’’) and (twin) Kerrod and I had to sit in the “back, back’’ behind the back seat where you threw your gear because mum and dad were in the front, Steven, Andrew, and Brett were in the back so Kerrod, I and the dog squeezed in right down the back.

Walters and Gorden Tallis embrace after the Broncos beat the Roosters in the 2000 grand final

How tough would it be for Queensland to lose Josh Papalii for the Queensland game in this State of Origin series if he refuses to have a flu jab?

We will sort that out. He will be in a maroon jumper if we play at Suncorp. I think by November the Queensland government will have relaxed a lot of their restrictions but we will make it happen if we have to smuggle him in the boot of Gordy’s car.

Give us a peep into your black book Kev and youngsters who could be this season’s Origin bolters?

There are four or five kids who, if it was played next week would not be selected but by November they could be big chances. Guys like Ronaldo Mulitalo (Cronulla), Reed Mahoney (Parramatta), Corey Horsburgh (Canberra formerly Caboolture Snake), Thomas Flegler and Pat Carrigan (Broncos). They will get another 20 games under their belts and could even play finals before we choose the Origin team. Some of them could easily play Origin – I’m just not sure who at the moment.

Roosters hooker Jake Friend is an interesting one. He could make his Origin debut at age 30, couldn’t he?

I have not had a lot to do with him over the years but I really like the look in his eye. He wants it. He puts his body on the line. There is no mistakes in him. He is a just a great team player.

You feel the quick-fire three match series in November will suit the Maroons. Why?

We draw our players from North Queensland to Melbourne, Canberra, Gold Coast, Brisbane and other areas and when Origin is finished they go back to their zones. This is a great chance to get them all together for three weeks and that will be to our advantage.

Walters sees Patrick Carrigan as an Origin player in the making.

I know Greg Inglis said his State of Origin days are over after he announced he was coming out of retirement to play in the English Super League … but you are short of centres. Any chance?

I did say the other day once you are part of the Origin family that door never closes. It is just like Cameron Smith – the invitation is there. If they change their decision we will be there for them. You never know.

Did Inglis’ comeback shock you?

I saw him in February when he was doing some stuff for our Origin camp and he could have run out tomorrow. I said “are you going to play for Souths again?’’ and he gave me that Inglis smile and I thought there was something in that. He looked fit, happy and healthy.

How was crossing the border on your trip?

No problems at all. Straight through. When you leave Queensland there was not a lot of cars but there were heaps coming back the other way.

How do you feel about your son Billy playing for the Wests Tigers?

I’m excited for Billy. Being his father I understanding his mentality and how hard he had worked for it. He certainly has the ability.

Is there anything he does better than you did?

He tackles better than me. Gordy said before “he didn’t learn to tackle from you because you were horrible.’’ The reason I was horrible was I defended outside Gorden and I could see them look at him then see me outside him and think “this is Christmas.’’

Greg Inglis’ comeback in the UK has led to speculation he may have another Origin series in him.

Will you have to weather coronavirus cuts as State of Origin coach this season?

There is a meeting in July where that will be discussed by the QRL and NRL and we will get some more clarification around where the games will be played and the like and we will then plan camps around our budget.

Your relationship with Wayne Bennett is one of the most intriguing in football – how are you at the moment?

We are fine. Obviously I have a lot of respect for him. There are no problems at all. Obviously we were together for a long time but I have broadened my horizons as a coach but we are good.

Have you and Gorden had to revert to music to keep you company yet and if so what song would you choose?

Not yet but I really like Jimmy Barnes Flame Trees which is about driving into a country town (Grafton) with jacarandas. But anything Jimmy Barnes gets you up and makes you grab the steering wheel.

How did you and Gorden become such close mates?

I just liked the way he went about his work. In 2000 after we lost a lot of senior players the year before I was having a beer with him at the leagues club four weeks from the finals I asked him how we would go. He said “leave it to me, we have got this.’’ Anyone can say it. Few live up to it. He just had that look in his eye. He was our best finals player and we won the grand final.

Do you still have ambitions to coach in the NRL?

I am not in any hurry. If the right opportunity came along I would have a look at it but right now I am focused on Queensland and the NRL season.

Every time players of your generation get together they start telling Allan Langer stories. Have any come out during the trip?

Gorden: We have spoken about him and would have liked to have him with us throughout the drive but we would have to have used a booster seat and it would have been too uncomfortable for a 10-hour drive.