Look out for the ratbags to decide decider

WHEN you look back at some of the best State of Origin players, the likes of Alfie Langer, Johnathan Thurston, Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler, they all had one thing in common, they were ratbags.

I use the term ratbag with the utmost respect for the above-mentioned men as without them the fortunes of the Maroons and Blues would have been much different.

Ratbags aren’t dirty players, they’re not thugs and they don’t engage in cheap shots.

They are special players because they have the ability to play in the moment, they play with swagger and they don’t take their divots with them.

When a ratbag makes a mistake they don’t stand around and kick stones, they pick themselves up, brush themselves off and get on with the next play.

Tonight some of the best ratbags of the past decade will go head-to-head in a battle royale for the ages.

The Maroons take to ANZ Stadium with Cam Munster (pictured) and debutant and A-grade ratbag Corey Norman, while the Blues welcome back Mitchell Pearce and the biggest ratbag of them all James Maloney.

I love the addition of Norman to the Queensland side. Norman always appears to have time on the field, he’s rarely flustered and has a strong left-foot kicking game.

Munster at fullback should have the Blues on their toes. There’re few players in the game who can break a game open like Munster can.

The Blues will no doubt launch an aerial assault on Munster but I have no doubt he’ll be up to the task.

All eyes will be on Pearce as he makes his return to the Origin arena tonight.

For years Pearce has been the fall guy for the Blues, he was the man blamed for New South Wales’ title drought during Queensland’s decade of dominance, but like ratbags do, he didn’t stand around kicking stones, he continually picked himself up and went again.

Pearce is older, more experience and in better form than he’s ever been before and if Queensland underestimate him for a second he’ll make them pay.

And that takes us to Maloney.

Maloney was the Blues’ third choice five-eighth in game two, but was the Blue’s best player. Maloney is the emotional heartbeat of the Blues, his enthusiasm on the field is infectious, yes, he’s got an error or two in his game, but you know when the game is on the line it will be Maloney who wants his hands on the ball.

We all know that the big games are won in the middle and there’s no question that the pack that comes out on top tonight will give their side the best chance of victory.

But for mine, it will be whoever wins the battle of the ratbags: Munster and Norman for the Maroons and Pearce and Maloney for the Blues, that will decide the decider in Sydney.

Don’t miss NRL 360’s Origin review with Kevin Walters and Greg Alexander on Thursday night at 6.30pm on FOX LEAGUE and streamed on Foxtel Now.