Finally, brothers Glenn and Brett Stewart will line up alongside each other in the sky blue of NSW.
It is a coming together, seemingly five years in the making, since Brett made the first of his five State of Origin appearances for the Blues.
Glenn’s three games have been spread out from 2009 to 2011, but never have the two been side by side.
“It hasn’t worked out real well for us in previous years, either one of us was out of form or injured, and these things don’t come around too often – we just take this with both hands,” Glenn said during a short address to the media.
“When we were younger, just playing NRL together was a goal and, as we went further along in our careers, the goals get bigger and this is one of them.”
Judging by the brief opportunity afforded journalists on Tuesday, it is clear the relationship between the brothers and the media remains strained as a remnant of the reporting of Brett’s sexual assault case in 2009.
On top of his off-field dramas, Brett has also battled back from a series of knee operations that threatened his career after he claimed his one and only Test jumper in 2007.
“He’s going real well – the family’s proud with the way he’s come back from his knee injury,” Glenn said.
“It was a long road and he’s playing some of his best football now.”