http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/maroons-in-a-state-of-denial/story-e6frexnr-1226034271134
THEY form one of Queensland's greatest all-time teams. Stunning backs, tough forwards, a brutal interchange bench.
In all, they played 183 Origin matches for their beloved Maroons.There is just one problem though - none of them is a Queenslander. They are all ring-ins.This composite team categorically shows Queensland's obsession with pinching players from outside the Sunshine State.
And the trend continued this week with Queensland trying to pinch Lismore-born Sydney Roosters prop Martin Kennedy, an emerging Origin star.
Kennedy has spent 14 of 22 years in NSW but says he wants to represent the Maroons.
The Daily Telegraph today lifts the lid on the Maroons' darkest secret - their best players hail from around the rugby league world, places like Auckland, Korolevu, Rabaul, Bowraville, Caringbah, Kempsey, Suva, Tenterfield, Minto, Camperdown, Auburn and Christchurch.
Anywhere but Brisbane, Rockhampton or Townsville.
"They are thieves in the night," stormed NSW legend Benny Elias. "And they blatantly do it in front of our faces. The Queenslanders would cheat, lie and steal to win an Origin series. They just don't care. They sell their scruples to win a series over NSW. Unbelievable.
"Origin means more to them than a state election, it means more to them than anything. They talk about their Queensland passion and they have had some great players over the years. But a lot of them were born outside Queensland."
Former NSW prop Steve Roach was also astounded when shown Queensland's "anti-Origin" team.
"If you go into their air space you are a Queenslander," Roach said.
"You only have to fly over Brisbane and they want you to play for them.
"Some of the players in that team come from New Zealand and Papua New Guinea."
Two of the most controversial selections are star backs Israel Folau and Greg Inglis.
Folau was born in Minto, in southwestern Sydney, while Inglis hails from Bowraville on the NSW North Coast.
Brad Thorn, Tonie Carroll and Karmichael Hunt were all Queensland legends - yet they were all born in New Zealand.
Neville Costigan and Adrian Lam, two highly successful Maroons over the past 15 years, were actually born in Rabaul in Papua New Guinea.
"They keep taking our players," said one-well placed NSW source.
"I can't believe the Martin Kennedy situation. Good luck to Martin if he wants to play for Queensland, but he was still born and raised in NSW."
Folau, Mat Rogers, Julian O'Neill, Sam Thaiday, Scott Sattler and Michael Crocker were all born in Sydney.
However, one high-profile NSW player had this to say when about the Queensland "anti-Origin" squad.
"Please don't give Queensland too much ammunition by bagging them."
1.
Karmichael Hunt - AUCKLAND, NZ. 2.
Lote Tuqiri - KOROLEVU, FIJI. 3.
Greg Inglis - BOWRAVILLE, NSW. 4
Mat Rogers - CARINGBAH, NSW. 5.
Israel Folau - SYDNEY, NSW. 6.
Julian O'Neill - SYDNEY, NSW. 7.
Adrian Lam - RABAUL, PNG. 8.
Petero Civoniceva - SUVA, FIJI. 9.
Wayne Bartrim - KEMPSEY, NSW. 10.
Craig Smith - KAITAIA, NZ. 11.
Neville Costigan - RABAUL, PNG. 12.
Sam Thaiday - SYDNEY, NSW. 13.
Billy Moore - TENTERFIELD, NSW. INTERCHANGE: 14.
Scott Sattler - CAMPERDOWN, NSW. 15.
Michael Crocker - AUBURN, NSW. 16.
Brad Thorn - MOSGIEL, NZ. 17.
Tonie Carroll - CHRISTCHURCH, NZ.
Nothing new from QLD...slight error in reporting though, obviously it doesnt go off where you were born but a fair few of the guys mentioned above, played their first senior footy game in either NSW or elsewhere other than QLD
