Statue prank lights Origin fuse
Queensland rugby league great Wally Lewis says the vandalism of his famous statue will "light the fuse" ahead of Wednesday's State of Origin clash.
The bronze statue, at Lang Park in Brisbane, was given a new look after vandals painted on dark blue shorts, a light blue jersey and socks to make the former Queensland State of Origin captain look like a NSW player.
The word "NSW" was also scrawled across a shield which the statue of Lewis hoists above his head.
The vandalism, condemned by Maroons supporters and the Queensland government, comes ahead of the State of Origin clash at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, where the Blues are on the verge of sealing an unprecedented fourth straight series.
The Maroons are aiming for just their seventh win from the last 22 interstate matches.
Lewis, who said he was pleased he still had an effect on NSW supporters, said the prank would fuel both teams.
"It's the only time I ever would have been seen in public wearing blue, there's no doubt about that," he told the Nine Network.
"If anything it's just a nice way to light the fuse for tonight's game.
"It's certainly going to be a magic match, one that NSW I'm sure are very determined to secure the series with.
"But if anything it may give the Queensland boys something a little extra to play for."
Stadium staff washed down the statue with bottled water, given tough Level Three water restrictions across most of south-east Queensland.
"You don't like to see this going on all round the place but the NSW supporters up here probably would've seen it as a prime target, and it was," Lewis said.
Acting Premier Anna Bligh described the vandalism as an attempt at a practical joke and said Queenslanders "shouldn't get too upset about it".
"But I think it takes sporting rivalry one step too far into the realms of vandalism," she said.
"People don't like to see this kind of thing."
Stadium chief executive Geoff Donaghy described the act as "mindless vandalism".
He said video footage of the prank would be handed over to police for investigation.
Lewis dominated the early years of State of Origin football, achieving sporting fame in a career that spanned three decades.
Appointed as captain of the Queensland side in 1981, he led Queensland to supremacy over NSW in the 1980s and captained Australia on an undefeated tour of Great Britain.
The veteran of more than 400 first class matches is better known to Queenslanders as "The King" or "the Emperor of Lang Park".
A statue of him was erected at the southern end of Suncorp Stadium in 1992.
© 2006
AAP
