They have been dubbed everything from a 'supergroup' to GOATS; and while the staff themselves have not bought into that commentary, there is no denying that this year's Queensland Maroons coaching staff know a thing or two about State of Origin.
Head coach Billy Slater, assistant coaches Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Josh Hannay, trainer Allan Langer and mentor Nate Myles have been joined in camp this past week by former players, including Greg Inglis and Dallas Johnson, as well as Mal Meninga in his role of Australian Kangaroos coach.
Surrounded by so many who have been there before and achieved at the highest level, some of the current squad of players have shared who has inspired them the most and what they hope to learn from their time with them in camp.
Which FOGS on staff have inspired you?
Kurt Capewell
"They are all GOATs if you ask me. It’s a bit surreal to be in the same room as those players we all watched growing up and they totally dominated the Origin arena. I will be picking (all of) their brains for any tips they can give."
Daly Cherry-Evans
"I think JT inspired me the most out of all of them. They’re all inspiring, but the reality is, when I was a young half coming through, what JT did for so long at State of Origin level was very inspiring. All those things people put against him, he kept proving them wrong. He was 'too small' or 'too old', but he kept proving them wrong. I got so much inspiration from JT’s career."
Xavier Coates
"Billy, first and foremost. Down in Melbourne, he has a fair bit to do with us. A session a week he’ll come in and help us out. He’s always got something you can improve on each week, which as an NRL player you want to do. You always to improve and he brings that. He’ll bring his laptop in and show you footage on what you can improve on, so I’d definitely say Billy."
Lindsay Collins
"Good to be in their presence, and I will probably pick their brain here and there. I don’t think there’s anything I need to 'find out' for my game specifically, probably just to hear those stories (of Origin) and the emotion behind that. All these guys and the era that they went through, and for them to now be coaching is pretty surreal."
Tom Dearden
“I think all of them as a mixture. I think you can probably take as much as you can from each of the staff and all the people around the group as well, most of them are very much legends of Origin. I think I will be just taking as much as I can from everything we do.”
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
"Cameron Smith. He’s had a massive role in my career so far. All of them have – Billy and obviously JT – but Smithy has been massive for me in my career. I wouldn’t have scored half the tries that I did when I was with the Storm if it wasn’t for him. He’s someone that I was excited to get into camp and start the week with."
Thomas Flegler
"I’ll go with Nate Myles because he’s a front row and second row like myself. He’s played a lot of games for Queensland and will go down as one of Queensland’s best forwards to ever play, so definitely Nate Myles."
Valentine Holmes
"All of the staff, I loved watching all of them. I was lucky enough to play alongside all of them, besides Josh Hannay, and I think Bill. The way he played the game, the way he approached the game, from what I have heard and what I have seen he was the ultimate professional and that’s something I want to try and really add to my game."
Felise Kaufusi
"It’s a tough one because there’s so many greats. I’ve been lucky enough to play with a few of them, but the biggest influence would have to be Cameron Smith. His calm, cool head, the way he went about his business, that was really important for me in the early days of my career when I was a bull at the gates."
Josh Papalii
"I’d have to say Cam, being a Logan boy. I played with Cam’s little brother and every time Cam used to come back and run water for us, he was an inspiration. He’s an icon in Logan. I still find it pretty surreal that I know him pretty well and get to be coached by Cam. I’ve played alongside him and against him and he’s a true legend from Logan."
Mic'd up: Slater and Norris united in maroon
Kalyn Ponga
"It’s between Billy and Johnathan Thurston. Billy’s been more hands on with me the last couple years, especially the last few months. But when I was young at the Cowboys, Johnathan Thurston was the leader. It’s a 50/50 split."
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
"Obviously being a fullback I looked up to Billy Slater. I looked up to him and Matty Bowen growing up, so it will be pretty cool to be coached by him and hopefully pick some of his brain about the game and just being around him is pretty cool."
This is the sixth and final instalment of "Set of six" where we got to know more about what Origin means to the current Maroons squad. Stay tuned to QRL.com.au for more stories from the players in Game II and Game III.
More 'Set of six'...
Favourite Indigenous Maroons player?
Earliest Origin memory?
Favourite Maroons moment?
Origin superstitions and rituals?
Best Origin night footy meal?
