Legends reunite at long last
Stars align but they still need pack to pave way
QUEENSLAND’S fantastic four of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater have been reunited for the first time in two years to avenge the Origin I disaster and save the series.
But the Maroon marvels insist they can only produce their match-winning heroics if the hulks in the Queensland pack step up to the challenge laid down by the Blues forwards in Origin I.
Thurston (shoulder injury) and Slater (not selected) both missed the Suncorp Stadium shocker three weeks ago, but are back to join forces with Smith and Cronk to reunite the most successful spine in Origin history.
The foursome have not played together since Game One of 2015 but the reunion could be exactly what Queensland need to save the series.
At Test level, Australian stars Smith, Thurston, Cronk and Slater have never lost together as a spine, while in the Origin arena they have won every series in which they have played at least one game together, aside from 2014.
That was the year when Cronk played just 10 minutes in the first game before breaking his arm and NSW went on to win the first two matches before the halfback’s successful return in Game Three, in which Queensland claimed victory to avoid a whitewash.
While Queensland were successful without Slater in the No.1 jersey last year, the fact the four are back together again does provide the team with a lot of hope.
Thurston says the reunion will be “huge” for the Maroons as they look to square up the series with the Blues.
“We’ve obviously played a lot of football alongside each other so we know each other’s games really well,” Thurston said. “We certainly know how to get the best out of each other. It’s huge.
“Having those three boys with me, it’s about bringing those debutants up to speed with what we’re trying to achieve and making sure they know the game plan and what we’re trying to execute.”
However, for Queensland No.9 Smith, the spine can only work their magic if the team’s forwards open up opportunities for them.
After Queensland’s pack was greatly outplayed in Game One by NSW, Smith said things had to change this time around.
“I’d like to think the experience we (the spine) have playing together will help the side but we need help from the other players to be able to do our thing,” Smith said.
“We’re not out there doing it all on our own. We need the other guys to play their part to give ourselves the opportunity to do what we do.
“It’s nice to have those experienced players back in those positions. Hopefully we can make those combinations work as best we can and try and trouble the Blues.”
Queensland coach Kevin Walters agrees. “Cooper Cronk, Thurston, Smith and Slater … they won’t be able to influence the game in any way unless our forwards stand up to the NSW pack,” he said.