Collar & tries for Turner
Maroons’ tribute to ‘Tosser’
This is the seven-word mantra inspiring Queensland to State of Origin supremacy.
When Billy Slater’s Maroons run out at the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday night to tackle NSW in the first game of the 2023 Origin series, they will be inspired by one of the state’s great rugby league servants.
Inscribed on the inside of the collar of every Queensland jersey is a quote from late former Maroons team manager Dick ‘Tosser’ Turner.
“Queensland expects you to do your duty,” it reads.
It is a simple but powerful message that has stood the test of time over 40 years.
Turner was Queensland’s much-loved manager from 1982 to 1996 and remains a revered figure within the inner sanctum of Camp Maroon following his death in 2008.
From captain Daly CherryEvans to debutant Reece Walsh – the Maroons have been reminded they are playing for more than themselves.
They are representing the 5.3 million people of Queensland – from the Torres Strait Islands to Coolangatta and Birdsville to Burketown – and have been urged to not let the Sunshine State down.
“He is important to this team,” Slater said of Turner.
“Out of respect, it’s a quote from a guy that’s given so much to this team. I was fortunate enough when I first started playing State of Origin to meet ‘Tosser’ and get to know him.
“That’s one thing that’s really important to us – to understand why the Queensland State of Origin team means so much to the people of Queensland and why we get the opportunity to play in the environment we get to play in.
“The atmosphere of Origin is incredible, anyone who was at Suncorp Stadium last year for Game Three would have been blown away by the atmosphere they felt. We need to respect that by diving into understanding why.
“(Chris) ‘Choppy’ Close, Paul Vautin, those sorts of guys started this. It’s been 40 years since 1983 when Queensland won that series and they were involved in that series.
“It’s important for us to understand that and we started that education last year around 1980 and what Arthur Beetson did. Having ‘Tosser’ Turner and his quote on our jersey is really important.”
Maroons forward Tom Gilbert said he was inspired by the quote and didn’t want to let the people of Queensland down.
“I like it because it mentions Queensland, not the team,” he said. “That’s who we’re playing for. We’re not playing just for the 17 of us. We’re playing for the miners, Indigenous, lower socio-economic people, the people in Brisbane and far north Queensland. That’s Queensland.
“All they want is for us to go out there and play well and give 110 per cent. Obviously they’d love a result but their expectation is you go and do your job, do your duty and play hard for Queensland.”
Cherry-Evans will be awarded the coveted ‘Tosser’ Turner Medal after he makes his 20th Origin appearance for Queensland in Adelaide.