Courier-Mail back page ignites Origin rivalry ahead of Game I

It was the back page which ignited an Origin powder keg begging to explode. Tonight, it’s Spencer Leniu vs 5.6 million Queenslanders.

This is the image firing up the Maroons to give it to the Blues and controversial firebrand Spencer Leniu at a packed Suncorp Stadium tonight.

Leniu was embroiled in a well-publicised spat with Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston earlier this year, which stemmed from last year’s racism saga with Queenslander Ezra Mam.

The Blues enforcer is now public enemy No.1 north of the border - and The Courier-Mail’s back page on Tuesday calling for the Maroons to “Smash This Blues Grub” has reignited the feud.

Maroons great Darren Lockyer said he believed the very public encounter - in which Leniu called the beloved Thurston a “f**wit” due to comments the Queenslander made - is being used by coach Billy Slater to fire up his troops ahead of tonight’s showdown at Suncorp.

“I reckon that would have been addressed at some point in the camp,” Lockyer said.

Our backpage which reignited the Origin hatred.

“Origin motivates you naturally – but as a coach, if you can prod a few players and get them fired up, you do it.

“I’ve got no doubt there would have been a conversation within the group like ‘hey boys, let’s try and prove a point here and get stuck into him’.”

Leniu was banned for eight games last year for calling Mam a “monkey”.

Maroons legends have lined up to crown Leniu public enemy No.1 in Queensland and urged the Maroons to bash the “new Paul Gallen” in Tuesday’s Courier-Mail.

“If I was playing for Queensland, Leniu was one guy you definitely want to go after because he plays aggressive, he plays with passion and hatred. That’s Origin,” former Maroon Corey Parker said.

Originally published as Courier-Mail back page ignites Origin rivalry ahead of Game I