After pulling off a “Magnificent Seven”, Queensland coach Mal Meninga would have been forgiven for having Steve McQueen on his mind.
But Meninga blamed a simple slip of the tongue for namechecking the movie star when discussing Maroons bolter Chris McQueen on Monday night.
Rookie forward Chris McQueen would have stars in his eyes after being named in an extended 19-strong Queensland squad for next week’s Origin opener in Sydney.
However, Meninga had stars on his mind as he planned an eighth straight Origin series win over NSW.
Asked about McQueen, Meninga was quickly thinking about making his own “Great Escape” after his amusing gaffe.
“Steve, oh whoops Chris. Steve McQueen?,” Meninga laughed.
“Actually he was one of my favourite actors.
“He looks like him a little bit.”
The movie star may roll in his grave over comparisons with the heavily tattooed Chris McQueen.
But the South Sydney workaholic looks set to make a name for himself after capping a remarkable comeback with an Origin nod.
McQueen overcame not one but two knee reconstructions as he made a difficult transition from winger to backrower before finally regaining his NRL spurs under Rabbitohs hard task master Michael Maguire.
The Kingaroy product has “1070” inked on his neck – his Rabbitohs first-grade player number.
He may yet have “eight” somewhere on his body with a little luck after the 2013 Origin series.
“I had the privilege of coaching him for the Prime Minister’s XIII,” Meninga said of McQueen.
“He’s had a couple of years under Michael Maguire and he adds another dimension to our team.
“He’s a good edge player. I think he will do the job for us.”