Beau Fermor’s State of Origin debut inspired by fellow Dalby Maroons star, the late Carl Webb

Queensland debutant Beau Fermor has revealed the four words that stopped him in his tracks as his dream of emulating fellow Dalby product, the late Carl Webb, in the Origin arena becomes a reality.

Titans comeback kid Beau Fermor says he will be driven by the tragic death of Carl Webb when he makes his Queensland Origin debut next Wednesday night.

Few NRL stars have earned an Origin baptism quite like Fermor, who has bravely overcome two knee reconstructions to win a maiden Maroon jumper for the 2025 series opener at Suncorp Stadium.

And when he runs onto Suncorp, Fermor will spare a thought for ‘Charlie’ Webb, a fellow Dalby product he once idolised in his own dream of playing for Queensland.

Webb became a hero for a generation of Dalby kids like Fermor when he famously bulldozed a host of Blues defenders to score one of the great Origin tries in his Maroons debut at Suncorp in 2001.

Beau Fermor talks to media at Queenslands Origin camp at Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday. Picture: Lachie Millard

Like many in his hometown, Fermor was left devastated when Webb passed away in 2023, four days before Christmas, after a four-year battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Webb was 42.

But the spirit of Webb will endure in fellow forward Fermor, who will don the Queensland No.16 jumper — the very number his Dalby idol wore in his Maroons debut.

Asked if Webb will be an inspiration for him, Fermor said: “He definitely is.

“Coming from a small town like Dalby in Queensland, you see players like Carl Webb and Andrew McCullough who come from your town, played for your club, gone to your school and gone on to play NRL and play for Queensland.”

Fermor revealed the four words that stopped him in his tracks, where his Origin dream became a reality.

“I used to love the pre-game intro (on Channel 9) where they (Webb and McCullough) said their name and say, ‘Dalby Devils’,” Fermor said.

“I was lucky enough to film that myself (on Tuesday night) and I know how special that made me feel watching TV on Origin night and they said my junior club.

Beau Fermor at 15 in Dalby. Picture: Will Hunter

Carl Webb as a 15-year-old in Dalby in 1996.

“It’s special to be another one of those boys to come from Dalby and play on this stage.

“Dalby is a small town so everyone is stoked. A lot of people I haven’t spoken to for a long time have reached out and wished me all the best.

“That’s really nice.”

On Wednesday night, as he is about to run out onto Suncorp Stadium, the 13,000-strong population from his home town will watch on as he utters the words “Beau Fermor, Dalby Devils”.

Fermor has been a revelation for the Titans this season. The 26-year-old has played all 800 minutes from 10 matches this season, averaging 118 metres and 29 tackles per game to go with four linebreaks and five tries.

Webb scores a barnstorming try in the 2001 series. Picture: Anthony Weate

Underscoring his outstanding form, the unheralded Fermor has unseated Titans $1 million superstar David Fifita for the starting back-row slot on Gold Coast’s left edge.

But this has been no armchair ride to Camp Maroon. Fermor snapped his ACL twice in 2019 and 2023. During his lonely months in rehab, the ultra-reliable forward who runs superb lines had to battle the demons within.

“It hasn’t been the easiest road, but I don’t think I would have had it any other way,” he said.

“It’s made me into the man I am today.

Webb, with the iconic Q shaves into his head, clashes with NSW’s Luke Bailey. Picture: Darren England

“It’s a tough injury to come back from when you are sitting in a rehab room by yourself or riding a bike in the corner, you start to question if you will get back to the footy you played before or do the things that you would be able to do.

“The main thing is getting the confidence back in your body knowing you can do the job.

“It doesn’t happen overnight, but lucky now I got through a full season last year and haven’t missed a game this year, touch wood.

“It taught me a lot of lessons going through two ACLs, so to be here now, it makes it feel a bit sweeter.

“I am stoked. It’s a dream come true.

“The phone call from Billy Slater (coach) to say that you will be playing for Queensland is something I will never forget.”