STATE of Origin is back.
Three games, guaranteed drama, the best playing the best.
A man who knows a little about State of Origin is Ben Elias, a 19 game veteran for the Blues, including six as captain.
In 2005 he was named one of the 25 greatest NSW players of all time.
We are honoured to talk to him for Port Macquarie Goss!
Benny, you have been a central figure in some great State of Origin moments. As NSW captain, you were in the middle of the infamous Mark Geyer and Wally Lewis incident. What went on?
It was intense. The other players had left the field for halftime and the referee (David Manson) and the touch judges were issuing a caution to MG and Wally and a bit of sledging nearly ended up in a major incident. I first thought of getting in between them, but that would have been silly. I honestly thought that MG was going to belt Wally, because Wally was sledging him and I won’t repeat what was said. However, sanity prevailed. That incident is probably the most I get asked about my State of Origin career.
On another occasion you received a bad head gash which required more than 30 stitches. You were walking off the field after the game and your mother came on the ground very concerned with tears in her eyes and a handkerchief to wipe the blood away. What do you remember from that match?
It was amazing! She jumped the fence, passed security and ran towards me with nothing but concern for her son. That moment has been captured by media all over the world, and it made my mother very famous.
You played your last game of State of Origin in 1992. Now as a spectator, do you have the “itch” to play again?
Not at all. I turned 60 last year and I love my life, with my business interests and lots of travelling in between.
I love to watch the game and have the opportunity to be invited to corporate functions before the games as an ex-player to share the excitement of the State of Origin event. I am also a regular guest on NRL360 where I enjoy giving my opinion about the game I love. I remember once, I was over in Greece, and I saw a sign at a pub advertising the State of Origin game live and the place was full of locals loving and lapping up the game.
I realised then how big State of Origin had become.
Your nephew, Mitchell Moses, has now kept the family tradition active with his inclusion as a State of Origin player. Does he come to Uncle Benny for advice?
No, he doesn’t actually ask me for advice, but we talk in general terms about rugby league. Mitchell has a very determined and strong character, and I love watching him play. He will leave a legacy not only as a player for the Tigers and Parramatta but also for the State of Origin. I am very proud of him!
The women’s State of Origin has gone from strength to strength in recent years, what are your thoughts on that competition?
I am loving it. Their skill level is off the scale. You sit back and watch the ball flow. They do not play the percentages like the men. They don’t care for the statistics like the men do. Their only statistic they care about is the score ticking over.
Besides Origin, you played your whole career for one club, the Balmain Tigers (now West Tigers), any comments on their form this year?
I don’t think I have ever seen a season, like this season, that is so unpredictable. Every team can beat the other team. Look at the competition at present. The Warriors are coming first and the Panthers are coming last, but there are only six points between them. The Tigers got beaten by 60 points two weeks ago, then the following week nearly beat the top-four team in Souths. It is going to continue to be a great season, with many twists and turns to come.
By Dave ‘Scoop’ LAZARUS
