McCullough’s Origin recall story is the most Aussie thing ever

Dragons hooker Andrew McCullough has opened up about the moment he found he was returning to Queensland’s State of Origin side.

McCullough is in for injured Maroons hooker Harry Grant. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Andrew McCullough described the last few days as “crazy” after he answered an SOS call at a backyard barbecue to make his return to the State of Origin furnace.

At the age of 31, the Dragons rake thought he had played his last Origin game for the Maroons back in 2018 when he lined up in all three games of the series.

He was sinking a beer and flipping steaks with mates when Maroons coach Paul Green rang to say injuries to hookers Harry Grant, Reed Mahoney and utility AJ Brimson had opened the door for his recall for Sunday’s showdown at Suncorp Stadium.

“I wouldn’t have thought I would be at a mate’s place having a few beers and a barbecue with friends … and then get a phone call from Paul Green to play Origin,” McCullough said.

“I went home straight away and packed the bag. I had no idea that I would be picked and had a completely different week planned.

“It is a crazy thing. The way the game is now, you keep yourself fit and healthy and you just never know.

“I feel for the other young lads who are injured and aren’t in the team but their opportunities will come back, or vice-versa, but you just can’t tell.”

McCullough joins Dragons teammate Ben Hunt in returning to the Maroons’ 17 for Game Two. (Image/Josh Woning)

McCullough looked back on a “crazy time” in his football career. He had been in the Broncos system since his early teens and played 260 games for the club when he was released last year and linked with the Newcastle Knights. A clause in his contract allowed him to return to Brisbane for one final season this year, which he initially did. Then when it became clear he was not in the Broncos long-term plans, he was off to the Dragons on a three-year deal to reunite with his old coach Anthony ‘Hook’ Griffin.

“It was a weird one. Hook asked the question and it snowballed from there,” McCullough said.

“The Broncos were in a position, considering how they went last year, where they wanted to go in a different direction with their roster management. That’s fine. That’s business.

“Kev wanted to see how the year went first and he had every right to. He didn’t want me to leave, but I got a three-year offer.

“I have a wife and mortgage and I knew the players and coaching staff at St George which came into calculations as well. There is no ill-will. It was all about business and timing.

“I went to Newcastle to play some good footy, help those boys out and enjoy playing again. I thought I did that. When the St George thing happened it was at the end of a crazy six months for myself and my partner, but we’ve got security and I have got a lot of good blokes around me.”

McCullough has featured in all 15 of the Dragons games this year as starting hooker where he has mostly played the full 80 minutes. He has made the most tackles in the NRL this season with 689. While no Damien Cook, he is not fazed at being regarded as a night gritty, defensive hooker.

“I am going to play to my strengths and be the player I am, no-one else,” he said.

“Everyone says I am a defensive hooker and that’s fine. I am quite happy with that. I have been lucky enough to play this game a long time and a few Origins. People can say what they want but if I can defend really well and get selected, that is pretty handy.

“I sort of know what to expect a little bit more after playing a couple of games.”

McCullough’s Origin recall has come on the back of strong form and a playing philosophy he has made his own.

“It’s all about simplicity,” he said.

“Good service. A few plays. Get your defence right. Kick when you have to.

“They have looked after my workload at the Dragons during the week at training. Playing 80 minutes in the middle throughout the year is quite taxing but there is good coaching staff there who help me get the body right.”

Originally published as McCullough’s Origin recall story is the most Aussie thing ever