Despite the trio of Justin Hodges, Ben Hannant and Paul Gallen all long retired from rugby league, the bitterness of their Origin divides runs deep as Hodges branded Gallen the “worst Origin captain in history.”
Gallen, a proud New South Welshman who captained the Blues for 16 games, takes on both former Maroons representatives Hannant and Hodges on Thursday in an event dubbed the Origin Rumble.
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The fights will take place deep in Queensland territory at the Nissan Arena and it is a state Gallen has had little success in throughout his time as Blues skipper.
The former Cronulla great fanned the flames last week by declaring Hodges, who was a key member of the Queensland sides that won a whopping eight Origin series’ in a row, was riding on the coat-tails of more successful players like Billy Slater and Cameron Smith.
However, Hodges clapped back at Gallen in emphatic fashion.
“You’d rather ride on the back of greatness,” Hodges told reporters in Brisbane.
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“He’s the worst Origin captain in history. He’s lost eight or nine series. I’d rather be on the winning side riding on the back of some great players than lose as an Origin captain for eight or nine years.
“He’s probably the main reason why they lost.”
Gallen will no doubt enter the lion’s den in Brisbane on Thursday night and could even bring some of his former teammates up to support him ringside.
Hodges knows he’ll be flying solo in the ring without any of his Maroons pals by his side outside of Hannant, but he had a prophetic warning for any ex-Blues players who dared to make the trip up north.
“I don’t need anyone,” Hodges said.
“At the end of the day, it’s going to be me and him in the ring. He can bring whoever he wants from NSW.
“They’ve all lost before up here, there’s no reason why they’ll came up here and win. We’ll knock them all out if we have to.”
Hannant was less forthright in his prediction for how the events on Thursday evening will play out.
However, he might already have a psychological victory over Gallen.
The North Queensland Cowboys, Hannant’s former team, won a thrilling finals contest over Gallen’s beloved Cronulla Sharks via a Valentine Holmes field goal in overtime.
It was a decisive knockout blow that secured victory for the Cowboys and Hannant plans on channelling that energy against Gallen.
“We’re in the exact same situation as the Cowboys and the Sharks,” Hannant said.
“Both teams prepared really well, they went out there and gave their all and it came down to one moment.
“That’s the great thing about boxing, you just need one moment and that’s what I’ll be looking for.”
As for Gallen, he couldn’t resist a cheeky shot at the Queensland duo and had an important message for Brisbane-based supporters of Hodges and Hannant.
“I think everyone should get there and support them,” Gallen said.
“It’s Brisbane’s only opportunity to have anything good go on at the back end of the season. They fell over at the back end of the season rugby-league wise.
“Everything rugby league is happening up in Townsville now, so if you want to come and watch some people actually compete rather than just fall over, come out and watch.”
