Ray Warren rules out online push for him to return and call 100th State of Origin game
Ray ‘Rabs’ Warren has labeled suggestions that he would make a miracle comeback to the commentators box for one last State of Origin match. Follow our rolling coverage ahead of tonight’s game.
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Ray Warren will forever remain the Bradman of State of Origin broadcasting.
Legendary caller Ray ‘Rabs’ Warren has formally ruled out any chance of returning to call his 100th State of Origin game.
Warren, 80, retired from rugby league commentary in 2022 having called 99 State of Origin games.
There was an online push last month for Warren to come back for one last Origin game to complete an incredible century.
But like Sir Donald Bradman’s famous Test batting average, Warren will forever be stranded on 99.
“No, I’d rule that out almost without any thought at all,” Warren told Gold Coast Triple M.
“I had a great career, 55 years.
“At the end of 2021, I decided that that would do me, why would I take that risk of undoing whatever good I might have done?
“I got out while I was going reasonably well.”
‘ABSOLUTE SCUTTLEBUT’
Pressed on speculation he would return for his 100th Origin game, Warren said:
“It’s absolute scuttlebutt.
“I never ever said that I would agree to do another game of Origin, and somebody took the liberty via social media to absolutely misquote me and it’s made things a bit uncomfortable for me.
“I get very aggravated by people that write absolute crap.”
ALL EYES ON THE FULLBACKS
Although the voice of rugby league won’t be making a one-off return to call his 100th Origin match, if he was calling, there is a certain Queensland No. 1 who would certainly grab his attention.
“If you don’t enjoy watching him then you’re probably watching the wrong game. He’s a standout,” Warren said of Reece Walsh.
And as he now watches on as an astute observer of the game he called for more than five decades, there is one storyline Warren was perhaps expecting a little more coverage of leading up to Origin I.
“The New South Wales side, I think it’s a very good one. I am interested though that James is coming back to replace Dylan, I wonder did it go across their minds that maybe James should be reinstated as captain.”
“That’s just an angle that I don’t think has been explored. That’s all.”
PROUD WESTIES HAVE REAL SKIN IN THE GAME FOR BLUES
Queensland players will wear their postcodes on the sleeve of the Maroons jersey tonight but NSW debutant Haumole Olakau’atu will go one better.
A proud product of western Sydney, Olakau’atu has a more permanent ode to the suburb he was raised in with Guildford’s postcode, 2161, emblazoned across both his thighs.
He also has the ‘Olakau’atu’ name running all the way down his right leg and on the left he has a full sleeve anime leg design.
Beneath Olakau’atu’s Blues jersey, and across his abdomen, are the number ‘676’ – which is Tonga’s country code. On his back are the words ‘fear none’.
While all the tattoos imprinted on his 196 centimetre and 113 kilogram frame carry a special meaning, the postcode ‘2161’ hold extra significance.
For Olakau’atu, who lived illegally in western Sydney with his family during the formative years of his life, it is fitting tribute to the area that helped shape him into the man he is today.
“I have 2161 on both of my legs, that’s obviously for Guildford,” Olakau’atu told this masthead.
“Even though life in western Sydney can be tough growing up, it’s a place that I will always have in my heart.
“Looking back at growing up in Guildford I wouldn’t change it for anything. I have a lot of good memories, and a lot of family there as well.”
Olakau’atu is one of seven players in the NSW side who will proudly represent western Sydney at Accor Stadium tonight.
Jarome Luai (St Marys Saints), Brian To’o (St Marys Saints), Stephen Crichton (St Clair Comets), Spencer Leniu (Minchinbury Jets), Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (Glenmore Park Brumbies) and recalled fullback James Tedesco (Camden Rams) all came through the junior ranks in western Sydney.
Two years ago, Olakau’atu raised eyebrows when he boldly declared himself a Maroons supporter in a social media post.
But with Guildford’s postcode proudly scrawled on his body, there is no questioning where Olakau’atu’s allegiance, and heart, lies.
“It all sunk in when I was putting the full (NSW Blues) kit on. It had me reminiscing about watching Origin when I was young. So playing in this big arena, I’m just so happy and stoked. I’m so proud and honoured to be here,” Olakau’atu said.
Olakau’atu isn’t the only western Sydney star to be at the centre of a State of Origin controversy.
Last year, Luai infamously told trolls to “chill, all you idiots have work tomorrow morning” after he was the target of social media abuse when NSW lost game two, and the series, to Queensland.
This year, Luai has no intention of being in the headlines.
Instead, the three-time premiership winner wants to step up as a role model to kids in western Sydney and Pacific Islander communities.
“I want to be a role model for my community,” Luai said.
“Even when I was getting portrayed in a certain way it was never my intention too.”
“I have three kids and they keep me busy. Not having too much time on my hands helps. But that’s a part of it, just being mature about how you portray yourself and how you are looked at.”
Luai was ultimately left out of the Blues side for game three of last year’s series by former coach Brad Fittler.
The 27-year old will do everything in his power to ensure he is part of the NSW western Sydney contingent for the entire 2024 series.
“It hurt man, I think that was one of the biggest adversities I’ve had to face in my rugby league career,” Luai said about his axing.
“It was a big learning curve for myself and I think that’s what life is about in general, not always being perfect but making mistakes and then learning from them.
“You reflect on it, and look at yourself in the mirror (and ask) what could you have done better, what can you get better at.
“For me there were a few things and hopefully I have turned the page there and I’m able to make amends for it.”
PUNTERS MAKE ‘STAGGERING’ ORIGIN PLUNGE ON JAMES TEDESCO
The scene is perfectly set for James Tedesco to create some famous Origin theatre.
Punters have flocked to back the originally discarded fullback to be man-of-the-match in tonight’s State of Origin game in Sydney.
TAB bookies can reveal a “staggering and unbelievable” 35 per cent of money taken on man-of-the-match betting has been placed on Tedesco, a late recall to the team after Dylan Edwards was ruled out with a calf injury.
Tedesco has tightened into $9 for man-of-the-match honours, alongside NSW’s Nicho Hynes, and only behind Queensland’s Reece Walsh ($6.50).
“It’s unbelievable and staggering,” said TAB’s Gerard Daffy.
“Normally come Origin time, punters will latch onto one or two players to be player of the match. It might not necessarily be because of the form that the player is in but more the storyline.
“But this has come from left field.
“A week ago, Tedesco was going to be watching on the sidelines with the rest of us and now, all of a sudden, he’s in the field and has more than one-third of the money on him to be player-of-the-match.
“I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Queensland will start $1.80 favourites with NSW the $2 outsiders. Despite the odds, NSW has attracted 66 per cent of the money.
“There are two things here,” Daffy said. “NSW supporters don’t get a chance very often to back themselves as outsiders at home.
“On the flip side, even though they’re only slight favourites, the mentality of Queensland supporters/punters is: ‘We don’t want to be favourites’. So they won’t back them.”
It will be interesting to see whether NSW coach Michael Maguire retains Tedesco for game II in Melbourne should the star fullback perform well in a Blues win.
Tedesco has played 22 Origin games for NSW.
MAGUIRE’S TOUGH LOVE WAS THE MAKING OF NSW DEBUTANT
NSW lock Cam McInnes can recall the day Michael Maguire handed him his NRL debut at Souths and the moment the same coach made him a State of Origin player.
McInnes also remembered when Maguire allowed him to walk out at Redfern a year early to join St George Illawarra.
But McInnes said he doesn’t carry “grudges” and won’t be out to “prove someone wrong.”
Then Souths coach Maguire gave McInnes his NRL debut in round five, 2014, against St George Illawarra.
Yet in September 2016, McInnes signed a two-year contract with Saints and was released from the final year of his contract by Maguire after the Rabbitohs signed veteran Robbie Farah.
Now the pair have reunited again.
“I’ve never been a person where I need to prove people wrong, or right or hold grudges,” McInnes said. “It didn’t work out there.
“I was lucky at the time that ‘Madge’ let that (a release) happen. I had another year so he could have went: ‘Bugger you, you’re staying’.
“At Souths, I didn’t have the polish of Issac (Luke), Damien Cook, Api (Koroisau). I was maybe a bit old school.
“There was never a problem with our relationship. That’s the type of bloke he is. I also needed a change around my mindset.
“I was a young kid trying to work it out and I was finding my own way. Some guys take to first grade straight away and they understand and know what they need to do.
“For me, I was trying too hard and it was too much about me rather than what the team needed. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself.
“I learned the hard way. At the time I thought I needed a change and he (Maguire) understood that.
“All those lessons Madge taught me definitely helped over the next phase. He did nothing but back me the whole time I was there.
“I had always been a team player but for whatever reason I thought I needed to change things. You’re young and you don’t understand. You’re trying to learn and grow.”
McInnes, a leader at Cronulla, can recall the moment he was told about playing first grade by Maguire.
“It was ten years ago that I got my debut. I vaguely remember him saying: ‘Are you ready to play first grade?’ I passed him in the hallway, it was almost a throwaway line,” he said. “Being young I didn’t grasp the concept of it all.
“To have him give me the call for NSW was a surreal moment. He said I was in and how special it was for him.
“I wouldn’t be here and have that hardness and values, what he taught us, and how to be professional without Madge, I owe him so much.
“To be in this environment with him, it’s cool. I am very indebted to him.”
McInnes rejected suggestions he was an ‘Origin player’.
“I will find out on Wednesday night,” he said. “It’s a different game and all these guys talk about it with such reverence, what it means and how it feels out there.
“Since I was a kid I have loved footy and always taken my training and preparation pretty seriously. I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
NSW MUST TERRORISE QUEENSLAND ‘PRETTY BOY’ REECE WALSH
NSW rugby league legend Ben Elias has labelled Queensland pretty boy Reece Walsh a “lair” and demanded he be “obliterated” by the Blues in State of Origin I on Wednesday night.
And ex-NSW hard man Mark Carroll added: “As an old dinosaur, seeing someone so beautiful as Walsh, with his flowing hair and painted fingernails, I’d love to get my hands on him.
“His beautiful blue eyes would be spinning.”
Ex-Blues hooker Elias stressed it was time to make the cocky Walsh public enemy number one in Sydney.
Deemed arrogant by many Sydney-based NRL players, Walsh has a Queensland swagger through his ability, speed, looks and marketability.
But Elias said those features should only drive NSW to bury the 88kg fullback from the moment he touches the ball at Accor Stadium.
Walsh’s adoring Queensland fans won’t be there to protect him in front of 80,000 Blues fans baying for blood and victory.
On Tuesday, The Daily Telegraph rated Walsh the best player on the field when ranking all players in order from 1-34.
He is $6.50 favourite to claim man-of-the-match honours, according to TAB.
Walsh, 21, is a superstar of rugby league and NSW is acutely aware he is a genuine game-breaker.
But State of Origin is a great leveller.
“It’s been a long time since we have hated a Queenslander, so why not this bloke, who is a lair?” asked Elias, who played 19 games for NSW between 1985 and 1994.
“There’s no better target than a bloke named Reece Walsh.
“We will physically obliterate this bloke from the first minute. Walsh is a superstar, no doubt, and he is loved by all those people north of the border.
“But the bombs will be high and when your eyes and hands are waiting for the ball, you’re exposed. He will know about it.
“Walsh will be absolutely terrorised and it will be more physical than a couple of punches. He is a pretty boy and he’s good for our game but we need to hate someone.”
Walsh can crumble under pressure.
And the Blues are aware he can ‘spit-the-dummy’ if his flashy style starts to unravel.
Walsh has committed 22 errors in the NRL this year, second only to Dragons captain and Queensland teammate, Ben Hunt.
Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans said he harboured no concerns about Walsh’s temperament in Origin.
“I reckon I am going to let him be Reece. I am certainly not going to talk to him about it,” Cherry-Evans said.
“There are plenty of other things we talk about in camp, and so long as our talk and connection is around how we play our best footy, I reckon Reece has always got the team first.
“I think he is going to be fine. He has a great mentor in Billy (Slater, coach). He won’t be short of people giving him advice, but ultimately the best advice we can give Reece is to go out there and be himself.”
Despite a benign build-up compared to previous Origin games, the current generation seemingly devoid of any pre-game insults, around 80,000 tickets have been sold with a late surge expected to ensure a sellout.
And the big crowd will see some firepower and fireworks.
NSW enforcer Spencer Leniu infamously clashed with Queensland’s Pat Carrigan in a Las Vegas hotel corridor in March after Rooster Leniu labelled Brisbane’s Ezra Mam a “monkey.”
Leniu and Carrigan come face-to-face for the first time since that flashpoint moment.
“To be honest, I don’t think any Origin game isn’t fiery,” Leniu said. “If I see maroon, it’s on. If they see blue, it’s on. In that prop role, you have to play aggressive. That’s who I am and I can’t wait to rip in.
“How I play, suits Origin and I have to do what I usually do coming off the bench – come on and wreak havoc. If anyone thinks I’m a racist, it is what it is.”
NSW’s Jarome Luai is hated by Queensland after two separate incidents in recent years involving Maroons players Selwyn Cobbo and Felise Kaufusi.
Blues fans desperately hope Origin will continue to deliver its aggressive brutality tinged with some old-school blood and thunder.
NSW and Queensland completed their preparations with light captain’s runs at Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday.
TAB bookmakers have Queensland the $1.80 favourites with NSW $2 outsiders. There is a strong chance of rain in Sydney.
The Blues’ build-up was hindered by the withdrawal of Dylan Edwards (quad) with former NSW skipper James Tedesco back as fullback.
NSW bonded in camp at Leura inside the Fairmont Resort. Queensland arrived in Sydney on Monday night.
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