Granty
16-05-2006, 08:39 PM
http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/1197/Default.aspx
'Axe' sharpens up Qld Origin rookies
Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 6:45 PM
Queensland's seven State of Origin rookies received a history lesson from former greats on Tuesday as part of their initiation for next week's opening clash against NSW in Sydney.
Coach Mal Meninga arranged the bonding night for his players - 12 of whom weren't born when he made his Queensland debut in 1980.
Past champions Allan Langer, Paul Vautin, Chris Close, Bob Lindner, Gorden Tallis, Trevor Gillmeister, Gene Miles, Gary Belcher, Kevin and Steve Walters, John Ribot, Ben Ikin and Meninga related Origin tales to the new faces in the squad, who soaked up every word.
The 13 former greats featured in more than 250 Origins for Queensland between 1980 and 2003.
Langer (34 matches), Vautin (21), Gillmeister (21), Tallis (17) and Meninga (30) captained Queensland and were named in the Maroons' 25th anniversary side picked last year.
"The boys had a few beers, told a few stories and got to know the new crop coming through," said Gillmeister after passing on some tackling tips to the Queensland players at their Sunshine Coast training camp on Tuesday.
Gillmeister said guys like Vautin, Lindner and Greg Dowling made him feel part of Origin when he came onto the scene in the early 1990s.
"It's import to tell them about the history and how good we were," joked Gillmeister, impressed with the new breed of maroon who he feels can take Queensland into the future following the doom and gloom which followed last year's series loss.
"It was great for us old blokes and they got a lot out of it too."
The jokes flowed as quick as the beers but Gillmeister said the bonding session had been a great move by Meninga.
The players responded to Gillmeister's urgings at training with some fairly heavy hits that left teammates on their backsides.
Gillmeister is a big fan of Storm forward Dallas Johnson who, like Gillmeister, is not overly big but hits with plenty of sting.
"I love watching him play, he's a terrific kid to talk to ... they all are," he said.
Gillmeister said despite the youth and inexperience in the pack, he believed Queensland possessed enough aggression to match NSW next Wednesday.
"I've been really impressed with Petero (Civoniceva) and Dallas Johnson and Nate Myles, I'm a fan of his as well.
"We all know what Carl (Webb) can do and they've just got to put it together on the night and I'm sure they can.
"I like all the young guys they've picked. You're probably looking at the future of Queensland Origin with all these blokes."
Myles, who's expecting Bulldogs teammates Willie Mason and Mark O'Meley to try and "rip my head off", said the bonding session made an impact on him.
"It's weird because you know you're putting on the same number as a fellow like Trevor Gillmeister did," said the 20-year-old Cairns forward, who almost quit the Bulldogs in his early years when he got terribly homesick.
"You know you have to step up a notch, more than one, a couple."
Source: AAP
'Axe' sharpens up Qld Origin rookies
Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 6:45 PM
Queensland's seven State of Origin rookies received a history lesson from former greats on Tuesday as part of their initiation for next week's opening clash against NSW in Sydney.
Coach Mal Meninga arranged the bonding night for his players - 12 of whom weren't born when he made his Queensland debut in 1980.
Past champions Allan Langer, Paul Vautin, Chris Close, Bob Lindner, Gorden Tallis, Trevor Gillmeister, Gene Miles, Gary Belcher, Kevin and Steve Walters, John Ribot, Ben Ikin and Meninga related Origin tales to the new faces in the squad, who soaked up every word.
The 13 former greats featured in more than 250 Origins for Queensland between 1980 and 2003.
Langer (34 matches), Vautin (21), Gillmeister (21), Tallis (17) and Meninga (30) captained Queensland and were named in the Maroons' 25th anniversary side picked last year.
"The boys had a few beers, told a few stories and got to know the new crop coming through," said Gillmeister after passing on some tackling tips to the Queensland players at their Sunshine Coast training camp on Tuesday.
Gillmeister said guys like Vautin, Lindner and Greg Dowling made him feel part of Origin when he came onto the scene in the early 1990s.
"It's import to tell them about the history and how good we were," joked Gillmeister, impressed with the new breed of maroon who he feels can take Queensland into the future following the doom and gloom which followed last year's series loss.
"It was great for us old blokes and they got a lot out of it too."
The jokes flowed as quick as the beers but Gillmeister said the bonding session had been a great move by Meninga.
The players responded to Gillmeister's urgings at training with some fairly heavy hits that left teammates on their backsides.
Gillmeister is a big fan of Storm forward Dallas Johnson who, like Gillmeister, is not overly big but hits with plenty of sting.
"I love watching him play, he's a terrific kid to talk to ... they all are," he said.
Gillmeister said despite the youth and inexperience in the pack, he believed Queensland possessed enough aggression to match NSW next Wednesday.
"I've been really impressed with Petero (Civoniceva) and Dallas Johnson and Nate Myles, I'm a fan of his as well.
"We all know what Carl (Webb) can do and they've just got to put it together on the night and I'm sure they can.
"I like all the young guys they've picked. You're probably looking at the future of Queensland Origin with all these blokes."
Myles, who's expecting Bulldogs teammates Willie Mason and Mark O'Meley to try and "rip my head off", said the bonding session made an impact on him.
"It's weird because you know you're putting on the same number as a fellow like Trevor Gillmeister did," said the 20-year-old Cairns forward, who almost quit the Bulldogs in his early years when he got terribly homesick.
"You know you have to step up a notch, more than one, a couple."
Source: AAP