Simply the best: Origin’s greatest over four decades

A panel of experts had to decide whether it was Wally Lewis or Cameron Smith who was the king of Origin.

Cameron Smith and Wally Lewis presided over two of Queensland’s most dominant periods in State of Origin

Even now, 40 years after he played his first game for Queensland at lock – Alan Smith remains the answer to one of the great trivia questions after wearing the No 6 jersey in the opening State of Origin game – Wally Lewis is still the King.

The greatest player in Origin history according to six experts enlisted by Weekend Read to help devise the top 40 players in series history as the sports’s most enduring and heated rivalry prepares to celebrate 40 years of existence.

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Lewis won eight man of the match awards over the course of his career, helping Queensland forge an identity against the might of NSW. His dominant personality inspired fear and loathing on the NSW side of the border – and adulation in his home state.

At times, he appeared to carry the Maroons on his back. He towered over the Origin landscape and remains to this day the most revered played in series history. Four of the six judges – Greg Alexander, Gorden Tallis, Ryan Girdler, Wendell Sailor, Ben Ikin and Mark Geyer were asked to provide their top 10 – had Lewis at the top of their list.

Two others plumped for Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston respectively. Lewis and Smith were the clear top two overall, the pair having presided as captains over periods when Queensland dominated their Blues brothers.

Andrew Johns pipped Thurston for third overall, the pair followed by Darren Lockyer, Brad Fittler, Mal Meninga, Laurie Daley, Allan Langer and Greg Inglis.

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Lewis and Smith, however, were a different class. The Maroons won 21 of the 34 games in which Lewis played – a remarkable 61.76 win percentage. They won seven series over that time. Lewis was the fulcrum.

His highlights reel is a sight to behold, no moment greater than when he scored an individual try in the second game of the 1989 series.

The Maroons were down on troops when Trevor Gillmeister jolted the ball from a NSW player, Dale Shearer picked up the scraps and quickly found Lewis. He found a hole between Chris Mortimer and Daley, held off Garry Jack and scored to inspire one of the great Origin wins.

Smith was the centrepiece of the Maroons’ dynasty that won 11 series in 12 years. Even now, at the age of 37, there have been calls for him to stall retirement and make a return for Queensland for the upcoming series.

If Lewis was big hits and brilliant plays, Smith was the more subtle champion. He did his best work in the shadows, making all those around him better. Lewis put the Maroons on his shoulders. Smith cradled them in his arms.

They did share one thing in common – they were despised by Blues supporters. Both became villains in NSW, their talent and tendency to debate decisions with referees no doubt earning the ire of opposition supporters.

Only three NSW players made the top 10 and only one active player was included in the top 40. That man was current Blues captain Boyd Cordner, who has led NSW to successive series wins and is expected to play a key role in this year’s series, which begins in Adelaide next week.

There were some big-name omissions. Nate Myles played 32 games for Queensland. Sam Thaiday played 29 games for the Maroons. Corey Parker made 19 appearances and worked himself to a standstill.

Peter Jackson was a loveable rogue for Queensland, but a super player as well. Martin Bella and Mark Coyne never let Queensland down.

Nor did Kevin Walters. As for NSW, there was no place in the top 40 for Jack or Paul Sironen, two blokes who wore the sky blue jersey with immense pride. Ray Price was overlooked.

Noel Cleal went close as well. Of the current players, James Tedesco is one good series away from cracking the top 40 given the way he has played over the past two years in a Blues side that has stemmed the maroon tide.

Significantly, five of the top 20 players were part of the Maroons dynasty that won 10 series in 11 years.

ORIGIN’S GREATEST - THE TOP 40

1 Wally Lewis

2 Cameron Smith

3 Andrew Johns

4 Johnathan Thurston

5 Darren Lockyer

6 Brad Fittler

7 Mal Meninga

8 Laurie Daley

9 Allan Langer

10 Greg Inglis

11 Arthur Beetson

12 Glenn Lazarus

13 Billy Slater

14 Steve Mortimer

15 Bradley Clyde

16 Cooper Cronk

17 Brett Kenny

18 Danny Buderus

19 Gorden Tallis

20 Paul Gallen

21 Jarryd Hayne

22 Shane Webcke

23 Paul Harragon

24 Petero Civoniceva

25 Wayne Pearce

26 Peter Sterling

27 Ricky Stuart

28 Steve Walters

29 Justin Hodges

30 Darius Boyd

31 Steve Roach

32 Gene Miles

33 Andrew Ettingshausen

34 Ben Elias

35 Gary Larson

36 Trevor Gillmeister

37 Michael O’Connor

38 Boyd Cordner

39 Paul Vautin

40 Dale Shearer

Ryles in box seat

Jason Ryles is shortening by the day as the man to replace Craig Bellamy when he stands as head coach of the Melbourne Storm at the end of next season.

Bellamy is set to hold talks with Storm officials in coming weeks to determine what role he will have – if any – with Melbourne after the 2021 season.

The club wants him to stay as a coaching director of sorts but the Brisbane Broncos have weighed in with a big offer.

Bellamy has a decision to make and once he does, Melbourne will have a clearer picture of the way forward. Regardless of where things land, Ryles is the firm favourite to take over from Bellamy.

Craig Bellamy and Jason Ryles at Melbourne Storm training at Sunshine Coast Stadium in preparation for the NRL grand final Picture: Getty Images

He will depart this week to take up a role with Eddie Jones on the England rugby union coaching staff. The deal is for two years but it is hard to believe Jones will stand in his way should Ryles be offered the chance to take over from Bellamy at the Storm.

At the same time, don’t rule out Jones becoming part of the Storm’s coaching structure down the track, particularly if Bellamy decides his future lies in Brisbane.

Jones will be a free agent after the 2023 World Cup and he is keen to dip his toe in the rugby league waters. He could do that alongside Ryles at the Storm.

Gyngell in the mix for commission

Rugby league’s constitutional review is back on the table and believed to finally have the numbers to make it happen.

It means the states and clubs will have more power than ever before to appoint and remove commissioners. It also means the two vacant positions on the ARL Commission will be filled in coming months.

A six-person nominations committee will be formed involving two commissioners and one representative apiece from the eight Sydney clubs, the remaining eight clubs, the NSW Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League.

Former Nine boss David Gyngell would add broadcasting nous to the ARL Commission Picture: James Croucher

Former ARL chief executive John Quayle has featured prominently in discussions over potential appointments but Weekend Read has heard in recent weeks that former Nine Network boss David Gyngell is now a leading contender to join the commission.

Gyngell has kept a low profile since leaving Nine but his broadcasting smarts would be huge for the game given the ARL Commission is keen in coming months to sit down with the Nine Network to discuss an extension to their current deal.

Comp committee gone

The competition committee is dead and buried. ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has dispensed with the group, that was put together by former chief executive Todd Greenberg and given a charter to recommend rule changes to make the game more entertaining.

Instead, V’landys will widen the consultation process to speak to all coaches, rather than the two who sat on the competition committee. He will listen to the fans, who have taken part in a series of polls throughout the year.

NRL football operations boss Graham Annesley is part of a new panel to adjudicate on rule changes Picture: Toby Zerna

He will consult the players. Then he will turn to the innovation committee, which he sits on along with NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, head of football Graham Annesley and commissioner Wayne Pearce.

Between them, they will determine any rule changes to make the game more entertaining.

Reed Mahoney on nose

The inquests are still going on at Parramatta after their inglorious straight sets exit from the finals. Plenty of attention has fallen on coach Brad Arthur and there is no question he will start next season under plenty of pressure.

The playing group are also under the pump, in particular hooker Reed Mahoney. Mahoney has had precious little competition for the No 9 jersey at Parramatta but that is about to change after the Eels moved quickly to snap up Salford hooker Joey Lussick.

Eels hooker Reed Mahoney is under pressure to lift his game Picture: Getty Images

Lussick played for Parramatta in the under 20s before moving to the Sydney Roosters and Manly. He played one game in first grade for the Sea Eagles in 2017 before moving to Super League.

He is now back at the Eels at a time when both coach and players are under the microscope. There is a school of thought that Mahoney needs some competition to get the best out of him and establish whether he can take his game to the next level and help the Eels break their premiership drought.

The blowtorch is on.

Elliott eyeing off rugby union

Manly back Brendan Elliott may be the next NRL player to make the big switch. Elliott is currently recovering from a torn ACL but should be ready to return to action in March.

When he does, it might be in rugby union. Elliott is keen to explore his options in the 15-man game and has a background in the code, having played rugby union at The Southport School.

He was a handy player. He played Queensland schoolboys but was prevented from playing for the Australian team because he had already signed a deal with the Sydney Roosters.