Maroons call in a Raging Bull

QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters has enlisted the help of Gorden Tallis, one of State of Origin’s greatest firebrands, to inject some mongrel into the Maroons’ youthful pack.

Fifteen years after captaining Queensland in his final Origin match, The Raging Bull has returned to Camp Maroon to mentor the emerging forwards who will run on to the MCG in the series opener on Wednesday.

Tallis appeared at Queensland’s first training session at Brisbane’s Red Hill headquarters on Tuesday night.

At one stage, Tallis addressed Queensland’s posse of forwards, who circled around the 17-game Origin legend.

Tallis insists he is not an official member of the Maroons’ coaching staff, but Walters is keen to use him more regularly. “It’s good to see Gordie around the group,” Walters said.

“He was a great player and a great forward for us and I felt he could spend some time with them. I like to try and keep the old mixing with the new.

“It won’t be the last time we see him in the series. I love his passion for Queensland. He cares about the state and our players and he typifies what Origin is all about for the Queensland team.”

Tallis, Queensland’s second indigenous Origin captain after Arthur Beetson, relished his mentoring role.

“It was an honour to be called in,” he said. “Kevvie asked me about a month ago. I was nervous. It was like I was in my first Origin camp.”