OPINION: Corey Parker ages like a fine wine

AGEISM does not exist in the Queensland State of Origin side. And neither it should.

FOREVER YOUNG: He may be 34 but Maroons lock Corey Parker remains one of the game’s leading players at all levels. Picture: DAVE HUNT

AGEISM does not exist in the Queensland State of Origin side.

And neither it should.

With seven players 30 or over the Maroons show no sign of slowing down.

If anything, they are speeding up.

Look no further than 34-year-old lock Corey Parker for evidence of that.

Parker has played 16 Origins and by far the majority of those since he turned 30.

The Broncos captain, quite remarkably, has played his best football in the last four or five years.

Last season he was the Wally Lewis Medal winner, a prestigious award that goes to the best player in the State of Origin series on either side.

Parker spent six years out of the Origin arena, but worked tirelessly on improving his game and has been a regular for the past five series. Not the biggest man on the field by a long shot, Parker has a giant heart and a thirst for work.

His offloading skills are second to none and give the Maroons second phase play that they often capitalise on.

He is a tribute to the fact that, as far as Queensland is concerned, you are never too old if you are good enough.

Originally published as OPINION: Corey Parker ages like a fine wine