State of Origin: NSW Vs Queensland, Ben Hannant exposes dirty little Origin truth, Nathan Cleary toothache


Former Maroons prop Ben Hannant has blown the lid off one of the great unspoken truths of State of Origin — the last-minute health scare.

Undoubtedly three of the biggest games on the rugby league calendar, the lead up to each Origin match dominates the code’s media as the NRL takes a back seat for the best part of two months each season.

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And every year there is undoubtedly some kind of drama to keep tongues wagging.

This season it’s the Blues’ navy jersey, or questions about playing the opening game in Adelaide, or speculation about last minute chances to the line ups.

While the Maroons have been largely keeping quiet, the Blues have had some personnel issues, with Campbell Graham bowing out through injury, Payne Haas’ scare, Latrell Mitchell being ruled out through injury and speculation Nathan Cleary would follow suit.

Hannant said it was good news for Queensland — no so much for NSW — to see Mitchell ruled out through injury.

But he had some questions over the “injury” to Nathan Cleary, who was reportedly battling a toothache.

The initial reports had Nicho Hynes being told to prepare to start at halfback in case Cleary couldn’t line up for the Blues over his wisdom tooth issue, but it was quickly denied by NSW officials.

This is despite Bulldogs half Matt Burton being parachuted into camp.

Hannant, who played 12 Origin matches for Queensland between 2008 and 2012 during the Maroons’ run of dominance that saw them win eight straight series’.

Speaking on Bianca, Ben and Lakey on Gold Coast’s 90.9 SeaFM, Hannant said it was a story heard many times before.

“In Origin at this time of year, both camps usually come out with little controversies, fake stories about people being sick,” Hannant explained.

“Queensland are now calling out NSW now about Nathan Cleary, he supposedly has a toothache and he might not be able to play.”

Asked why they’d do that, Hannant said: “Just to cause a bit of drama, and get you thinking, may he play, may he not.

“I’ll just give a little inside information — when I played for Queensland, many a time, players would not be sick at all and Mal (Meninga) would say ‘who wants to be sick and go to the media?’

“So just saying, now NSW are doing exactly what Queensland do.

“But right now, our Queensland boys are flying under the radar, smooth sailing, camp’s going fantastic is what I’m hearing. Come tomorrow night, it’s going to be an absolute belter.”

The clip made it to Fox Sports’ NRL 360, where former Blues star Braith Anasta said: “I would like to thank Ben Hannant for finally telling the truth.

“All those illnesses before the game were all rubbish,” Anasta added.

Former Maroons hardman Gorden Tallis replied: “But we come up with legitimate sicknesses, not a toothache.

“If your daughter gets up in the morning and says ‘Daddy I’ve got a toothache’ you still send them to school.”



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