How the tragic death of Origin great Carl Webb aged just 42 is driving Queensland to beat NSW: See the motivational video that’s lighting a fire under the Maroons
Queensland star Reuben Cotter has lifted the lid on how the Maroons are using the memory of Carl Webb to drive them to victory over NSW – with one moment of madness from the late Origin enforcer resonating with the team.
Webb was just 42 when he died of motor neurone disease in December last year, leaving the footy world in mourning after a typically brave four-year fight against the incurable condition.
The hard-as-nails forward played 15 games for Queensland and helped his state kickstart a long run of dominance over NSW, with his aggression still featuring on highlight reels almost 20 years later.
Now, with the Maroons forward pack facing a stiff tests against far bigger group of Blues opponents in game one, Webb is still helping drive the team on.
Prop Reuben Cotter – who at 95kg is up against it when he comes up against his Blues opposite, 117kg Payne Haas – has revealed the famous piece of play from Webb that’s been on high rotation in the Maroons camp.
‘We’ll all look to bring his aggression and his style of footy on Wednesday night,’ Cotter told News Corp.
‘It’s a very special, important series this year, representing what Carl did for the jersey and for so many Queenslanders.
‘They made a little highlight reel of what he brings and it gave us all goosebumps and made us feel like we were ready to run through a brick wall, so no doubt we’ll be thinking of him on Wednesday night.’
Cotter then brought up the pivotal play from Webb, who smashed Luke Bailey off one of his teammates after the NSW prop made a tackle in 2005.
‘He just threw himself at Luke Bailey,’ the Maroons enforcer said.
‘That sort of aggression sums up a Queenslander with the backs-against-the-wall mentality and just going after it.
‘You relate it to the millions of Queenslanders that go through tough times as well, and that’s the only way you get through something, is together.’
Late last year, Maroons legend Wally Lewis revealed that Webb had one last sledge for the Blues before he passed away.
‘I had the opportunity to go in and visit Carl a couple of times [before he died],’ Lewis said.
‘The thing was, exactly what we expected from him, he said, “I’m not going to give in, I’m just going to fight it all the way”.
‘And he said, “If I pass away too soon, I’m going to see even less matches where Queensland beat New South Wales”.’
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