Gary Larson

Gary Larson burst onto the rugby league scene as a teenage centre for Central Queensland, in the 1986 State League.

The Gladstone Wallaby Junior Rugby League Club product had also played rugby union at high school, and was set to link with Valleys in Brisbane, in 1986, before electing to remain in Gladstone.

In 1987, he joined North Sydney, and went on to play 233 first grade matches for the Bears, before finishing his career at Parramatta in 2000, after Norths and Manly merged, to form the ill-fated Northern Eagles. Only Greg Florimo played more matches (285) for Norths.

Larson's Queensland team mate in 17 Origin matches, Billy Moore, finished third on the appearance list at the Bears, with 211.

Larson made his Origin debut in 1991, and was a fixture in the pack for eight campaigns, playing 33 matches, including a then record 24 in a row.

He had the respect of all the young guys coming through in Queensland, and he showed us what being an Origin player was all about.

Gorden Tallis FOG #82

He started as a lock, and finished in the front row, often making more than 50 tackles, and invariably playing the full 80 minutes.

Larson played nine Tests for Australia, the highlight the 16-8 win over England in the 1995 World Cup final at London's Wembley Stadium.

At the end of his playing career, he returned to Central Queensland to work in the mines. Larson also coached locally, and the rugby league field at Miriam Vale, is named after him.