The feelgood factor from the Kangaroos’ World Cup triumph will do nothing to end the bad blood that will forever exist between the NSW and Queensland players when State of Origin rolls around.
So says Maroons and Brisbane forward Patrick Carrigan, who was grateful to make some NSW-based “mates for life” at the World Cup, but admitted “all bets were off” come the Origin opener on May 31.
Proud Queenslander Pat Carrigan.Credit:Getty
“I was actually thinking about that and how weird it will be to play the boys next year, provided I’m there,” Carrigan said. “But I give it about 10 seconds into the first Origin and I’m sure someone like ‘Marto’ [Liam Martin] will try to take my head off and it will be on.
“The best thing about the whole tour was how there were no bad blokes – everyone was unreal, we all hit if off straight away. Mal [Meninga] brought us all together, and ‘Teddy’ [James Tedesco] did a great job of doing that, too.
“Matty Burton and ‘Gags’ [Dane Gagai] had a stink in that last Origin game, but Matty Burton would be one of the best fellas I’ve met in my life.
Patrick Carrigan went holidaying with Nathan Cleary after the Cup, including Prague where they lost their luggage.Credit:Instagram
“Even the older guys in the team, guys like Benny Hunt, they had really good relationship with guys like Jack Wighton and Reagan Campbell-Gillard from the Blues.
“But having experienced Origin last year, I know it’s all bets are off in that arena. I’ve now got some mates for life there, but I know when Origin rolls around next year, especially after we got lucky and got the chocolates this year, the Blues boys will be teeing off, for sure.”
Carrigan went travelling with Blues and Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary, as well as Samoan Chanel Harris-Tavita, after the Cup, and took in the sights of Amsterdam, Rome, London, Barcelona and Prague, where they lost their luggage for two days and had to raid the local Zara clothing store.
The sight of Burton being held back by Tino Fa’asuamaleaui as Gagai tried punching him in the face at Suncorp Stadium during Origin III will be heavily promoted to stir up the spite leading up to next year’s Origin opener in Adelaide.
The Roos had not played in three years before their World Cup defence, which restricted the time the Maroons and Blues had spent together. Plenty of players from the 2017 Cup side had retired during that time.
Blues coach Brad Fittler knew from experience there was a fantastic camaraderie that existed on the international stage, but mateship counted for nothing when it was state versus state.
“I came home from a World Cup tour in 1992 and then spent a week in Port Douglas with [Queensland rake] Steve Walters,” Fittler said.
“It’s natural, you play for Australia and spend time together and [gel], but Origin has something about it, and it’s never got to the stage where it’s looked like a club game – nothing is under threat there.”
