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ANDREW Johns has a favourite story about Adam MacDougall and his rivalry with Wendell Sailor.
The tackle-busters were due to lock horns in a game early in their careers.
The Blues were at a team meeting and MacDougall was on the end of some light-hearted jibes about his ensuing battle with Dell.
Keen to shut them up, MacDougall, without missing a beat, fired back that he was going to hit Sailor that hard he would turn white.
The tale says as much about the personality of the pair as it does their contests.
Whether it was Origin or club footy for the Knights and Broncos, the words flew as fast and as hard as their legs pumped.
In total, MacDougall and Sailor met 10 times on the Origin battlefield from 1998 to 2001.
In that time, they each picked up a man-of-the-match award. MacDougall's came in game one of the 2000 series when he famously wrote the words "MOM" and "3 tries" on his wrist strapping before the game, pre-empting his performance.
Their last meeting was in the series decider in 2001, which the Maroons won in a canter 40-14.
Sailor switched codes later that year.
Seven years on and Dell is back. This time as a Dragon.
The powerhouse dual international makes his return from a fractured cheekbone on the right wing against the Knights at EnergyAustralia Stadium tomorrow night.
Though MacDougall will line up on the opposite side of the field at right centre, he is keen to revive hostilities.
"It has been a while since we have locked horns," MacDougall said yesterday.
"It would have been fun to be matched up opposite Dell.
"Obviously we will cross paths at some stage during the night.
"If he comes my way, I won't mind tackling him.
"It will be good to have someone out there a little older than me. There are not too many blokes older than me at the moment.
"We have a similar hairstyle, but hopefully I am a bit leaner than Wendell. He is carrying a bit more around the stomach."
The power-packed Cooper Vuna has been handed the job of taming Sailor tomorrow night.
"It will be a great experience for Coop," MacDougall said.
"Wendell is one of the greatest wingers to have ever played the game. I'm sure it is something Coop can tell his grandkids; hopefully that he scored a couple of tries against the great Wendell Sailor."
When asked if he had any advice for Vuna, MacDougall said: "Obviously, if you can get up in his face early and try not to allow him to get any momentum, that is a big thing."
And if Vuna doesn't?
"If Dell is going all right, there is no doubts Coop will cop a verbal; let's hope he is not going that well," MacDougall said.
"Hopefully he is sucking in the big ones and doesn't have enough energy to sledge."
Sailor played 55 Super rugby games and 47 Tests for the Wallabies before his career was cut short after he tested positive to cocaine in 2006 and was banned for two years.
His suspension ended in May, and although Sailor had lucrative offers to play rugby union in Europe, he returned to his first love and joined the Dragons.
"I'm not surprised he came back," MacDougall said.
"He is much better suited to rugby league. I don't think going to rugby did him justice as a rugby league player.
"People probably forgot how great a rugby league player he was.
"Wendell was a fish out of water. He was arguably the greatest winger in rugby league and went to a sport he had never played before."
Surprisingly then, MacDougall, who is off contract this season, seems destined to follow Sailor's path to the 15-man game.
"I have a few irons in the fire," MacDougall said.
"At this stage it looks more likely that I will go to union.
"Europe and Japan are the two places I am looking at. I am looking for something which is culturally stimulating as well as football."
But for now his focus is on league and signing off from the Knights on the right note.
"We are in the middle of an NRL season and in the grasp of a position we don't want to be in; that is losing touch with the [top] eight," he said.
"I have been so immersed in that, I have not thought too much ahead. First and foremost, I want to finish on a good note."
Would he consider approaching Dell for some advice if he ends up playing rugby?
"Maybe," he said. "Dell reckons he did not have to ice after playing. That sounds all right to me."
Newcastle Herald
