Our sporting list the Magnificent Seven returns and nicely dovetails into a look into the great State of Origin Returns due to Daly Cherry-Evans’ return to Queensland Origin side.
Cherry Evans last played for Queensland in 2015, and has been a bit of a pariah since, being blamed for a bad result or two, and for allegedly not fitting in with the culture. For whatever reason may be true, we don’t really care, but Origin III does show how thin the Queensland ranks are.
But the Manly star isn’t the first person to make a comeback to be involved in State of Origin Returns, we have a nice list of those who have tread the path again, before.
The list may be very Queensland-centric, and we apologise, as it may be the only Origin contest the Maroons win this year. Plus NSW players rarely get to come back, they usually get the blame for a loss and descend into obscurity.
Enjoy then, our Magnificent Seven of State of Origin returns.
All stats from the rugby league website that is magnificent itself – the Rugby League Project.
DALY CHERRY-EVANS
Is Daly Cherry-Evans the Phil Mickleson of rugby league? Great player, who wins stuff, but for some reason rubs people up the wrong way. OK, so he doesn’t win as much stuff as Phil Mickleson, but hopefully you get the point.
DCE, as he is sometimes also known, carried the can for a few underwhelming results while he was in the side, and there has been talk since of him not fitting into the Maroons culture. Or other places if you ask Anthony Watmough. But few can deny he hasn’t been playing well, and does deserve another chance, and in the proper position on his form alone. Whether he is the man to lead Queensland in another golden era remains to be seen next Wednesday, but will do as a stopgap.
Years between Origin gigs – 3 years
Games in first stint – 6 (2013-2015) – W3 L3
Games in next stint – TBD
ALLAN LANGER
The greatest Origin return of all. Alfie was flown to Australia from England, where he had been playing in the Super League, to orchestrate a win in the 2001 decider at QEII Stadium. It was an important series win too, as Queensland retained the trophy with helped from Langer despite a drawn series in 2002 due to the previous year’s success.
Years between Origin gigs – 3 years
Games in first stint – 30 (1987-1998) – W15 L15
Games in next stint – 4 (2001-2002) W2 D1 L1
JUSTIN HODGES
After one of the most memorable Origin debuts, and not necessarily in a good way and throwing some wild passes in his own in goal to cough up a few tries, Hodges probably would have been lucky to play another State of Origin clash if he wore a different colour jersey. To his credit he came back, probably helped by a move back to the Broncos, an went on to play in 21 more games. Being part of a lot of series wins along the way.
Years between Origin gigs – 2 years
Games in first stint – 3 (Played one game a year for 2002, 03, 04)
Games in next stint – 21 (2006-2015) W12 L9
COREY PARKER
Corey Parker probably can thank fantasy game Supercoach a little for his return to Origin, as his stats in that game every year finally showed all of his work ethic and what the man formerly known as Shrek could do. Avid Supercoach players could not work out why real selectors didn’t see what the amateur ones did. Eventually a full 6 seasons after his previous State of Origin Parker got a return, and he well and truly entrenched himself in that Queensland side in his second stint, and got to retire on top in 2016.
Years between Origin gigs – 6 years
Games in first stint – 3 (2004-2005) – W1 L2
Games in next stint – 16 (2011-2016) W10 L6
BRENT TATE
Mainly through a parade of injuries, and possibly a stint at the Warriors didn’t help, but Brent Tate didn’t play for Queensland for four seasons. But during his first stint, there were injuries as well. Tate was always a welcome name to have back in the Queensland side, he always maintained a high standard of quality involvement and could be relied upon.
Years between Origin gigs – 4 years
Games in first stint – 15 (2002-2008) – W7 D1 L7
Games in next stint – 8 (2012-2014) W4 L4
MITCHELL PEARCE
Very few players have returned as many times as Mitchell Pearce, and sadly for him and NSW, none of them ended up in series victory. Fairly or unfairly he has carried the can for all of those defeats, and the question is if he wasn’t injured this season for Newcastle, would the selectors have dared to play him again. The end result for them in 2018 worked out, so we’ll never know.
Years between Origin gigs – sporadic returns to NSW (2008, 2010-13, 2015, 2017)
State of Origin record – 18 (2008 – 2017) – W5 L13
DALE SHEARER / RICKY STUART
OK, not quite a person returning to State of Origin, but a lot of returned kicks…. Hey if we can’t reminisce about the great State of Origin Kicking Duel now, when can we.
Enjoy.
