Memories of Arthur Beetson will be with the Queensland players in the first State of Origin game since his sudden passing last year.
Origin might not be the sporting phenomenon it is today had Beetson not shown the pride and passion in his Maroon jumper he did at Lang Park in 1980 when the concept was born.
His passing following a massive heart attack on the Gold Coast in 2011 cut deep within Queensland’s and Australia’s rugby league community.
“If you look back at the footage of when Origin started, Artie was the first indigenous captain to lead Queensland out,” said centre Greg Inglis reflecting on the impact Beetson’s career had on Aboriginal and Islander communities.
“That’s the legacy he’s left behind but, at the end of the day, he’s not going to be there to help us, so we’ve got to go out and do it ourselves this time.
“What we’ve always got to remember is what Artie did for this game was phenomenal and what he did around the community is the legacy that will always live on.”
Champion fullback Billy Slater said every Queensland player would have Beetson’s spirit with them when they took the field against NSW on Wednesday night in Melbourne.
“Artie was a proud Queenslander. He basically started Origin football off,” he said.
“Nobody really gave Queensland a hope, but he went out, rallied his troops and showed everyone what it meant to be a Queenslander and what the Queensland spirit was all about.
“We all cherish the rich history players like Artie left us.
“His passing last year was very sad and I’m sure he’ll be out there with us all on Wednesday night.”
Queensland held its first training session on Wednesday at Melbourne’s Xavier College and the sight of strike centre Justin Hodges running freely so early in the week was a bonus, after he missed Brisbane’s narrow loss to Manly last weekend with a foot injury.
Hodges completed the high quality 90-minute ball session without a hint of concern.
Canberra giant Dave Shillington, however, watched training from the sidelines battling a virus, but was confident he’d recover to train with the team on Thursday.
Queensland’s biggest fear to extending their six-series dominance of the Blues is complacency.
But the quality of their first training session was evidence record-breaking coach Mal Meninga already has their minds focused and their attitude right a week out from the opening Origin clash.