Dowling relives his best biffs with Blues

HIS name is synonymous with the game’s most fierce rivalry, and this legendary Maroon has given an insight on where Queensland’s true hatred for the Blues was born.

Despite now finding himself in the realm of politics, rugby league fans will always know Greg Dowling as an uncompromising front-rower in the greatest game of all.

The player who honed his craft around the fields in Ingham said the match was a “miracle for the North”.

“This is the number one league area in Australia, I’ve said that for years. We’re all brought up on rugby league and have been for the last 60 years,” Dowling said. “If we had an 80,000 seat stadium they would have sold it out.”

Dowling explained why every North Queenslander feels a deep attachment to the jersey. “I played for Queensland before Origin was around and we’d play a NSW team stacked full of Queenslanders because they were playing in the NSWRL,” he said.

“We’d get flogged by them but then Origin came in and the tables were turned. We got our best players back and wanted to go out and crush them. “Over the years you’ve seen players with broken legs, arms and jaws. You don’t want to let your state down.”

Dowling made his Origin debut in 1984 during the same time period Australia were battling England for the Ashes.

He said it was while representing his country his true hatred of the southern state was born. “Wally (Lewis) was our captain and the SCG crowd just relentlessly booed him. I never forgot that.

“From that day forward we were never going to get beat (in the 84 Origin series).”

Ten days after Lewis was booed in the first test match at the SCG, Dowling scored his famous Origin try under the posts at the same ground after collecting a kick that came back off the crossbar.

The try turned the match in Queensland’s favour and they went on to win the game and seal the series.

Dowling said it was his favourite Origin moment.