State of Origin: First, current and dreams cars for NSW and Queensland stars
While the road to the State of Origin decider has been one of twists and turns, we take a moment to look into how our Origin stars are navigating the actual roads, with some of NSW and Queensland’s biggest stars divulging their first, current and dream cars.
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For most boys their first car is like their first love, one they will never forget.
NSW enforcer Spencer Leniu hasn’t forgotten his first car, a ‘rundown Hyundai’, and for good reason.
“I got a lot of memories in that car. ‘Critta’ (Stephen Crichton) will know too, I helped him out with his license,” Leniu told this masthead.
The reason Crichton knows all about the Hyundai? The star Blues centre crashed it.
As teenagers, Leniu had helped Crichton get his learners licence when they were both rising stars of Penrith’s pathways system.
The only problem? Back then, Canterbury skipper Crichton wasn’t all the good behind the wheel.
Crichton’s driving skills, or lack there of, as a teenager led to the demise of Leniu’s first love.
“Yeah he used to roll around and pick us up in that Hyundai. Did he tell you what happened?” Crichton said.
“I crashed it once too, back when we were in school.
“It’s actually a funny story, I was the one who crashed the car but we went halves on the bill to pay for the repairs of the other car.”
Leniu certainly hasn’t forgotten.
“Even now, he still asks me, ‘You know, why did we go halves on that car when you were the one who crashed it?’” Crichton laughed.
“I just always tell him, ‘You’re my uso bro, it’s all sweet.’”
While Origin preparations can be tense leading to players clamming up and delivering cliche answers, some of NSW and Queensland’s biggest stars happily divulged their first cars, what they are driving now and what they can only dream to be cruising around in one day.
Like Blues hooker Reece Robson, who owns a HiLux, which was a popular choice among the players.
“I have a HiLux. Yeah, I agree with Cam (Murray). It’s a bit working class,” Robson said.
Haas was quick to point out how luxurious the HiLux can be.
“Working class? Please bro, some of them are $85,000 … working class, what the hell?” Haas said.
“It must be different up there (Townsville), we are driving Corollas around here.”
The 34 players who will go to battle next Wednesday are some of the highest paid in the NRL but many have opted against luxurious cars.
Leniu still gets around in a Holden Commodore, while Crichton is in a Kluger.
As for the players’ dream cars?
It’s a wish list of expensive flashy European sports cars like Ferrari, Lamborghini and the Mercedes G-Wagon, which can retail north of $400,000.
CAMERON MCINNES
First car: “1991 Toyota Corolla. In the mornings I’d have to warm it up. We used to live on an intersection, sometimes I would roll out onto the road and it would stall. Then I’d have to quickly whack back into neutral and start it again with a bus heading towards me.
Dream car: “I’m not a car man, but the Mrs would love a Range Rover.
Current car: “We’ve got an Audi, so she can’t be too upset with that.’’
ANGUS CRICHTON
First car: “It was a Holden Astra. Actually, I grew up on a farm so the paddock basher was a Holden Kingswood, they’ve still got it. With the bench seats in front.”
Current car: “I’ve got a Mercedes at the minute, I don’t want to brag though.”
Dream car: “Don’t have one.”
HAUMOLE OLAKA’UATU
First car: “First car … I can’t remember what year but it was a Dodge Calibre. I thought I was pretty cool driving in that.”
Current car: “I drive a 2023 Volvo, was it XC90, something like that.”
Dream car: “I have a dream car actually. It’ a BMW SUV X6M, I would love to get that later on in my career.”
CAMERON MURRAY
First car: “It was just a Mazda 3, it was a 2008 model. I was pretty keen to get my licence so I got that as soon as I could then got the car when I was 17. I remember driving to school and to early morning training. It felt good to be able to do that. There’s a lot of good memories with that car, maybe there were a few trips through the Maccas drive thru.”
Current car: “I drive a HiLux at the moment. I try to keep things a little bit humble too. My partner likes things a little bit more on the luxurious side, so we kind of have to meet in the middle. I like that I can jump into the ute and drive off to work and keep it working class.”
Dream car: “I’m not really a car person to be honest. I’ll drive a HiLux for the rest of my life.”
JAROME LUAI
First car: “A Ford XR6. That’s all right, hey. It was a hand me down, but I’m grateful.”
Current car: “Shout out to Kia, it’s a Kia ev6. It’s electric.”
Dream car: “I would have said G Wagon, but it’s a bit too out there, it turns heads. So probably a Range Rover to fly under the radar.”
PAYNE HAAS
First car: “I can’t remember the first car I drove but the first one I owned was a Land Rover. I was 18 at the time.”
Current car: “Right now I have a Jeep Gladiator. It’s very luxurious, it’s very spacious, it can go off-road, it’s a 4-wheel drive. It has everything you need. I can’t say I have taken it off road, but it can be driven on the beach too.”
Dream car: “Have you seen the Ferrari four-wheel drive, the SUV? I’d have to go with the classic red since it’s a Ferrari.”
SPENCER LENIU
First car: “My first car was a rundown Hyundai I think it was. I got a lot of memories in that car. Critta (Stephen Crichton) will know too, I helped him out with his license. I don’t remember the model, I don’t know cars like that.”
Current car: “I’m driving a Holden Commodore. I wanna upgrade to a Jeep SRT.”
Dream car: “My dream car would be Jeep Cherokee, or a Lamborghini Urus. A realistic one would be a Jeep SRT. The Lamborghini is best-suited for the big boys.”
STEPHEN CRICHTON
First car: “I remember it was a Toyota, it wasn’t a Camry or a Corolla. It was a small Toyota, I think it was a Yaris.”
Current car: “I’m just in a club car right now, it’s a Kluger. It’s a good family car, and it’s nice and big as well.”
Dream car: “I’m not really into cars, aye. But if I had to pick one, I’d probably go with a RAM truck. It’s like a big tractor. Trell (Mitchell) has one, I might have to test drive his, take it for a drive.”
BRIAN TO’O
First car: “First car, I think it was a Toyota Yaris 2022 model. It wasn’t too big, it gets me from A to B, so that was probably the first car I ever bought.”
Current car: “Currently driving ah yes, the Kia Sorento, proudly sponsored by Heartlands so big shoutout to Heartlands. It’s a sponsor car so I’m grateful for it.”
Dream car: “Ooo dream car, I don’t know, maybe a Mercedes. Big shout out to Mercades if you want to sponsor me.”
DYLAN EDWARDS
First car: “Ford Falcon.”
Current car: “Currently driving a Volvo.”
Dream car: “Probably a G Wagon”
REECE ROBSON
First car: “It was an old Subaru Forester, I bought it as soon as I got my P-plates when I was 17. I bought it, I remember it set me back around two or three thousand dollars.”
Current car: “At the moment, I have a HiLux. Yeah, I agree with Cam (Murray). It’s a bit working class.”
Dream car: “It has to be the Chopped 300 LandCruiser. It’s got a canopy on the back of it. It’s designed to go off-roading, which I love to do.”
ZAC LOMAX
First car: “It was a Jeep Patriot. I don’t remember how much it cost. Thank god it didn’t cost a whole lot because I didn’t have much money. I think I was 17. It was grey. That’s when I first got my P’s. My little brother (Declan) drives it now. He took it off me, he got it for free. He loves it.”
LIAM MARTIN
First car: “It was a hand-me-down from my sister, Erinna. She looked after me. It was an old Nissan Teana. I guess you’d call it a little shit box. It was pretty banged up. I think it was a blue-green, it was pretty shocking. I think I bought it off her for about $2000.”
JAYDN SU’A
First car: “My first shitbox car was an old BMW that my nanna actually helped me buy. There were a lot of memories with that car.
Dream car: “My dream car would be the Mitsubishi Outlander that I am trying to get off the club but they won’t give it to me at the moment. My dream, dream car would be a Lamborghini. I am not going to lie.”
PAT CARRIGAN
First car: “I had a Mitsubishi Mirage, it had no power steering, but it had airconditioning and a mad speaker. Troy Dargan used to tell me I should go on Pimp My Ride. I had just finished high school and I went looking for a car with mum and dad. Dad found this Mirage and it cost me around $1900. I could barely fit it in.
Current car: “I have a 60 series LandCruiser at the moment.”
Dream car: “A real mint old school (LandCruiser) would be nice, like a Chevy.”
DALY CHERRY-EVANS
First car: “The first car I had to buy, we had family cars which I would use, but the first actual car was one I bought from my cousin. It was an old 1989 red Mitsubishi Lancer. I got it for cousin’s rates, around $2000.”
Current car: “Kia Carnival.”
Dream car: “I don’t know about a dream car. I once got advice that if you can’t buy five of them, don’t buy one of them. They are a necessary evil, so I just stick to my trusty Kia Carnival. I can’t afford expensive cars.”
VALENTINE HOLMES
First car: “I had a Toyota Corolla, a very old one. It was my brother’s and it came all the way through my family.”
Current car: “My dream car? I feel as though I just got mine. I’m in a Toyota HiLux SR5. That’s a pretty nice car. It is one of my favourites. I’m practical. You can chuck anything in the back. I’ve got a dog … and my dirty training kit.
Dream car: “If I had the money I wouldn’t mind a Mercedes G-Wagon. They are pretty nice.”
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