Dalby star set to make his debut for Queensland
Dalby Devil takes over from Smith
RUGBY LEAGUE: Dalby’s Andrew McCullough won the battle to take over Cameron Smith’s vacated State of Origin jersey, after being announced as the Maroons’ number nine yesterday.
The Devils junior beat out Roosters rake Jake Friend for the role to score his Origin debut, marking the first time since 2010 Smith will not wear the jersey.
McCullough’s father Graeme was one of the last to find out with wife Wendy after arriving back in Australia from holidays yesterday, but that didn’t downplay his excitement upon discovering his son would represent Queensland.
“We just got back in from Alaska. When we went on the plane it was about the same time the news was broke to our daughters that Andrew made the team,” he said.
“Andrew was there to pick us up and he told us the news. We were over the moon. He worked so hard for it.”
Graeme routinely makes the 400km round-trip to watch the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, and he said the family was looking forward to travelling south to share in Andrew’s biggest moment at the MCG.
“We go down and meet him in Brisbane for lunch on the day of the game, then go looking around town while he rests,” he said.
“Then we’ll drive home afterwards. We’re usually home by one in the morning. It’s always an easy drive when they win.
“We’ve been talking to Chloe and Lucy and we’ll be there. It will be quite nerve racking.”
The road hasn’t been easy for McCullough and it looked like he would miss eight weeks of action after suffering an elbow injury against Melbourne in April.
He defied the odds, missing just one game to put himself in the picture, ultimately claiming the coveted jersey.
It marks the reaching of a childhood dream, after running around as a junior for the Dalby Devils.
“He was always watching
State of Origin as a child,” Graeme said.
“When he was playing in the U7s with the Dalby Devils he always followed them pretty well.
“He was motivated from an early age in whatever sport he chose. He could’ve went in another direction in cricket. He played together with (Brisbane Heat batsmen) Chris Lynn.”
Maroons coach Kevin Walters said the selection was a reward for the veteran’s strong performances this year.
“He’s another guy that has been knocking on the door for several years,” Walters said.
“He’s a 200-plus gamer for the Broncos and has been in their top three players for the last four or five years.
“This year again coming back from major surgery has been one of the standouts for the Broncos.”