State of Origin: Wayne Bennett backs Tom Gilbert to follow in the footsteps of Gorden Tallis

Felise Kaufusi’s suspension and the axing of Kurt Capewell has paved the way for a Dolphins dynamo who is ready to shake up NSW in Origin I.

(L-R) Terry Hill and Gorden Tallis go head-to-head in Origin.

Look out New South Wales, here comes the new Raging Bull.

Wayne Bennett once coached Gorden Tallis and now the supercoach believes his Dolphins tearaway, Maroons rookie Tom Gilbert, is primed for a Tallis-style shake-up of the Blues in Origin I on Wednesday night.

The suspension of Felise Kaufusi and axing of Kurt Capewell has opened the door for coach Billy Slater to unleash a youthful back-row strike force of Gilbert and David Fifita in the 2023 series opener at Adelaide Oval.

Bennett played a critical role in Tallis’ rise as an Origin force, handing the Raging Bull his starting debut in 1998 before anointing the back-row firebrand as his skipper for Queensland’s epic series boilover of the Blues in 2001.

Tom Gilbert has the competitive fire, hunger and aggression that made Gorden Tallis one of Queensland’s great back-rowers.

Now, two decades later, Bennett sees shades of Tallis’ take-no-prisoners style in Gilbert and has backed the Dolphins dynamo to uphold four decades of never-say-die, Maroons back-row tradition in Origin I.

“Tom exemplifies 40-odd years of Queensland back-rowers,” said Bennett, who won 13 of 25 games as Queensland coach in four stints spanning 1986-2020.

“They (Queensland’s back-row servants) are invaluable, they’re the backbone of what Origin is.

“They are the unsung heroes.

“They are guys that do all the tough stuff for the team and don’t get all the accolades.”

The 22-year-old underscored his maturity last year when he was handed his debut for the death-or-glory Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.

Maroons legend Gorden Tallis (right) and NSW’s Terry Hill famously square off in 1999.

Rather than freeze under pressure, Gilbert flourished in the biggest game of his life before 52,000 fans, throwing himself into Blues ballrunners like a man possessed to help the Maroons to a famous 22-12 victory.

Without Kaufusi and Capewell, Gilbert makes his Queensland starting debut in the No.12 jumper Tallis wore in his Test debut for Australia in 1998, reward for the relentless toil that has turned the new Dolphins franchise into a credible force.

“Tom’s character is one of his strengths,” Bennett said.

“He’s been a pleasure to have here (at the Dolphins).

“He does everything as well as he possibly can.

Queensland back-row duo Tom Gilbert (left) and David Fifita are ready to rumble in Origin I.

“Tom was wonderful in that game last year (his Origin debut) ... he won’t let anybody down.”

When Queensland hit man Josh Papalii announced his Origin retirement a fortnight ago, the Raiders veteran said it was time to pass the baton to a new generation of Maroons forwards.

No doubt he had the likes of Fifita, Tom Flegler and Gilbert at the forefront of his mind, with the Dolphins tackling machine determined to be at the vanguard of Queensland’s new pack leaders.

“’Papa’ is a great example of what a great Queensland forward is,” Gilbert said.

“Guys like him, Matt Scott and Nate Myles, I could rattle off a list straight away and one thing that was a part of their DNA was to be selfless and do the tough things over and over for Queensland.

“If ‘Fleggy’ and I want to be like those players, you have to be willing to pay the price and you have to be willing to do whatever it takes for your state and I’m prepared to be that guy.

“I want to show to millions of Queenslanders — and to Papa himself — that there is a legacy to uphold and the right way as a forward to play for Queensland.”

Super coach Wayne Bennett has played a key role in the development of Gilbert.

A veteran of 58 NRL games, Gilbert attributes his competitive spirit to his junior years taking on more naturally talented rivals.

It was a trait he admired in his childhood hero Johnathan Thurston, the Cowboys playmaking great who overcame doubts over his skinny frame to become a 37-game Queensland champion.

“My competitive streak is a by-product of my past,” he said.

“I wasn’t always the biggest kid growing up and I felt if I wanted to play footy professionally, I would have to do the things that other people weren’t willing to do.

“I liked Johnathan Thurston for that reason.

“He had an identity and a pinnacle career that all Queenslanders should aspire to follow. And it wasn’t just the fancy stuff, he did a lot of tough things for a smaller bloke.

“Thurston always put the team first and that’s my attitude.

“I like to pride myself on doing my job and while losing Felise is a blow, if the team needs me to step up, I will do that.”