State of Origin 2022: Maroons winger Corey Oates reveals three conversations behind his recall
Maroons winger Corey Oates has touched on three conversations which have played a role in his stunning form reversal at the Broncos and ultimate inclusion in the Origin decider.
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Recalled from the rugby league wilderness and reborn as a State of Origin starter, Maroons winger Corey Oates says three key conversations have primed him for Wednesday night’s decider at Suncorp Stadium.
Oates admitted he thought his Origin curtain call had come — and perhaps even his time in the NRL — when he was dropped to Queensland Cup last year.
Struggling to find form in a Broncos team that finished 14th in 2021, Oates said it took “hitting rock bottom” before realising he had a problem.
“You look back now and the way I was … my head wasn’t in the right place and I wasn’t listening to people,” the 27 year old said on Sunday.
“I’ve got a lot of people to thank for getting me back. I really never thought this was a possibility for me, especially being where I am in my career.
“It was a wake-up call, one that I needed, definitely.”
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Broncos coach Kevin Walters was one of the first to pick up the phone and congratulate Oates on his Maroons recall, which comes three years since his last Origin start.
It prompted a retrospective Oates to recall the candid conversation he had with Walters last year that forced him into accepting he needed to change.
“I have to thank Kevvie. He was trying to say to me when he came in (to the Broncos) he just wanted me to be the player I was and the player everyone knew I could be, and when he said that at the time I said, ‘What are you talking about? I’m still that person.’ I look back now and I definitely wasn’t. I wasn’t even a shadow of that bloke,” Oates said.
“Everyone tried (to talk to me), I just didn’t listen. It took me a long time to listen. Until I got close to hitting rock bottom in my career, (then) I had no choice, I had to listen.
“I look back at all the bad years and I just dropped off. I stopped doing the extras, all the small things … thinking it would just come. Now I’m enjoying football again.
“People are saying it’s career-best form … but I’m just happy to be playing good footy and enjoying it again.”
Another man who is thrilled with Oates’ form is Maroons coach Billy Slater, who has put his trust in the Broncos’ high flyer to replicate his club success and deliver Queensland a series victory against incredible odds.
“I was deadset just having a yarn to my neighbor while they were helping me with the kids and I saw Billy’s name pop up on my phone and I had no idea — no idea what he was calling for,” said Oates of the call to tell him he was playing.
“For him to say that (I was playing) put a massive smile on my face.”
With Walters and Slater backing him in, Oates had all the confidence he needed. But it was a call from Murray Taulagi, the man whose vacated jersey he will take on Wednesday, which steeled him for his long-awaited Origin return.
“He called me, Murray, and congratulated me and I thought that was massive from him. The young kid saying congratulations to me for getting my spot back,” Oates said.
“It was really unfortunate for him, he’s playing great footy and I really felt for him and thought that call was humongous.
“I never expected it at all and it just shows the sort of player and person he is and shows where the (Maroons) squad is at.”
Special bond drives rookie Maroon’s surprise NRL move
Maroons debutant Tom Gilbert has revealed an innate connection with his twin brother was the catalyst for his decision to quit the NRL premiership-contending Cowboys for the Dolphins.
Gilbert will run out for Queensland at Suncorp Stadium in Wednesday night’s Origin series decider with brother Will firmly in his mind.
Having rebuilt his career after being dropped to reserve grade last year, Gilbert is reaping the rewards of his dedication and North Queensland’s stunning resurgence in 2022.
But he will leave the Cowboys in the midst of a premiership window to join the NRL’s newcomers at Redcliffe next year.
And his decision has nothing to do with money or on-field success.
“Will is the main reason I’m coming back,” Gilbert told The Sunday Mail.
“We are twins but we are so different. We are so far apart in terms of what his wants, needs and interests are. He makes me realise there’s another side to life and we complement each other.
“We grew up in the same bedroom together. When I needed a friend, I always had a friend. When I wanted to do something in the afternoon after school or on the weekend I always had a friend.
“Up until a certain age we did everything together. It’s a special bond I have with him.
“He’s had a bit of a tough time lately and there’s other elements as well. I’ve got a nephew (older brother’s son) who is my godson and I’ve hardly been able to see him through Covid which was tough. He’s also having another kid soon.
“Will has got his life on track. He’s moved out of home and got a job. I’m really proud to represent him this week.”
Gilbert, 21, and his brother share such a tight bond that Will was asked to present the Origin debutant with his first Maroons jersey at a team dinner on Monday night.
In an era where NRL players regularly use family reasons as an excuse to quit contracts, Gilbert’s motives are genuine.
After fighting back from a broken leg suffered at training last year, the Cowboys recognised Gilbert was on the rise and were prepared to offer him an upgraded contract to remain in Townsville beyond this year.
But the parties never got to the negotiating table as Gilbert himself broke the news to the club that he would be departing at season’s end to return to Brisbane.
“It was a tough decision but there’s two sides to everything,” Gilbert said.
“There is your family and off-field stuff and then there’s the footy on the field, success of the team and my form. I had to put the footy stuff aside and make a decision based on other people’s interests – that was my family.
“My decision was made on the fact I will be a family man for the rest of my life. I only have a short time to be a football player. It was a decision on my behalf to put my family first.
“We’ve had a tough couple of years at the Cowboys but I got to experience what it’s like being in a small town that loves its footy and now we’re getting success.
“I went up there because they were winning competitions. Now I get to experience all of that and all my energy and focus will be on how far the Cowboys can go this year.
“It’s a bit of a mystery for us and uncharted territory but it’s exciting. If I can leave on good terms it will be a blessing in itself.
“Then I get an opportunity to keep playing footy under Wayne Bennett (Dolphins coach) for three years.”
A hard-running forward, Gilbert has been transformed into an edge backrower this season due to the Cowboys’ injury struggles.
He will come off the bench in his debut and former Cowboys scout Clint Zammit believes Gilbert was destined to play Origin.
“I first spotted Tom in the under-15s Met North trials and I loved his attitude. I knew he had the toughness to play NRL,” he said.
“I remember him first coming to the Cowboys and we put these 15 and 16 year olds through some training drills. We had some chin-up tests and one other kid came up, did one chin-up, then said he couldn’t do anymore and gave up.
“Tom stepped up, got to nine chin-ups and he looked like he’d had enough. Then he kept going and going. He finished doing 21 chin-ups and I thought ‘this kid has the mentality of an NRL player’.
“There is no quit in Tom. I have never seen a player so perfectly suited for State of Origin. He is as mentally tough as anyone I’ve seen.”
Having made his NRL debut in 2020, Gilbert is still in the infancy of his career but has already overcome numerous hurdles to achieve a childhood dream.
He rebounded from a shattered leg and being dropped before suffering a scare this year with a potentially serious eye injury.
“My eye injury was a real scare at the time, I poked myself in the eye but it wasn’t as bad as they first thought,” said Gilbert, who has brown and blue eyes.
“I am lucky it wasn’t worse and my eyesight is getting back to normal. There are no long-term issues I have to worry about.
“I caused a bit of damage to my retina and my pupil. It was scary at first, I lost my sight for a couple of hours but over the last few weeks my eyesight has come back.
“Thankfully the Cowboys had a few byes and that helped give me time to recover. At first I was meant to be out for up to five weeks and I only missed one game, so that helped me get my (Queensland) jersey.”
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