Walters: Geyer 'didn’t know whether to punch him in the face or get his autograph book out'

Author: Jorja Brinums QRL content producer
Timestamp: Tue 6 Oct 2020, 03:51 PM

The 1990s dished up plenty – Wally Lewis and Mal Meninga’s retirements, the 'miracle try', the 'Queenslander' chant, Neville Nobodies winning in 1995 and the return of players from the Super League.

One of the moments that stood out during this decade was when Lewis and Mark Geyer went toe-to-toe in 1991.

It is one Kevin Walters, FOG #63, remembers well.

"Conditions weren’t great, tempers were high. It was Game II of the series… Queensland had won Game I. Graham Lowe was the coach," Walters, sitting down with Steve Renouf and Ben Ikin to film Queensland Rugby League's four-part series Masters of the decade, said.

"I also remember Mark Geyer just had a free ticket that night to do whatever he wanted to. And to be fair to Mark Geyer, it has come out since, you know, through media channels and alike, and Mark has admitted it himself, he got a free ticket that night.

"He said he was under instruction from the New South Wales Rugby League that he wouldn’t be penalised, he wouldn’t be suspended on anything he did that night.

"He played the game night and tough, Mark Geyer, MG. But this particular night, he crossed the line."

Walters said prior to Geyer and Lewis going toe-to-toe, you could “feel the tension brewing”.

"Wally Lewis, like a great skipper, was all over it," Walters said.

7 - Lewis takes on Geyer

"MG’s quote at the time was, here he was going toe-to-toe in an argument at State of Origin with Wally Lewis. He says these days that he didn’t know whether to punch him in the face or get his autograph book out and ask for an autograph because he is the King of Origin.

"MG, being the passionate player that he is, he led the charge for NSW.

"It was a very emotional half-time speech from Graham. I remember Wally Lewis speaking to the group as well about some of the tactics from NSW.... and we were just as bad… some of our boys were giving as good as they got.

"Behind at half-time… Wayne Bennett used to always say there’s two types of speeches at half-time. One when you’re in front and one when you’re behind.

"The second half was always going to be fiery, regardless of the situation. The rain was still coming down and there was plenty at stake."

Masters of the decade is a four-part series that sees 12 Queensland legends sit down and reflect on the four decades of Origin.

Mal Meninga, Rohan Hancock and Greg Dowling reflect on the 1980s; Kevin Walters, Ben Ikin and Steve Renouf reflect on the 1990s; Justin Hodges, Darren Lockyer and Petero Civoniceva reflect on the 2000s; and Greg Inglis, Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott reflect on the 2010s.

The series will roll out on QRL.com.au and the Queensland Maroons Facebook page on the four Wednesday nights leading into State of Origin Game I.