Warrington Wolves State of Origin representatives dream team

Queensland and New South Wales will resume their bitter rivalry for the first of the latest three-game series, with the Blues looking to retain the crown they won last year.

It got us thinking about whether we could make up a dream team of ex-Wire players who have also played in this iconic series.

Here is what we came up with:

FULL-BACK: BRETT HODGSON

Wire fans know him as the reliable goal-kicking full-back that helped them to a third Challenge Cup in four years in 2012, winning the Lance Todd Trophy for a superb display in the Wembley win over Leeds.

Before arriving in England, Hodgson scored a try and kicked five goals in six Origin appearances for New South Wales between 2002 and 2006.

WING: JOEL MONAGHAN

Monaghan featured at centre for New South Wales twice – once in 2008 and again the following year.

However, he gets into our team on the wing thanks to his record-breaking spell with The Wire. Where else could we put him?

CENTRE: PHIL BLAKE

Blake starred for Warrington in the mid-1980s before returning to Australia, where he made his one and only Origin appearance for New South Wales in 1989.

CENTRE: KURT GIDLEY

He appeared more in the halves – and occasionally at full-back and hooker – for The Wire, but Gids’ versatility saw him pop up in the centres from time to time during his illustrious NRL career with Newcastle Knights.

He represented the Blues 12 times between 2007 and 2011, scoring one try and kicking seven goals

WING: MATT KING

Before arriving in England, King was a prolific Origin tryscorer having scored six times in nine appearances for New South Wales while playing his club rugby for Melbourne Storm.

He quickly became a fans favourite at The Halliwell Jones Stadium and helped The Wire to back-to-back Challenge Cup crowns in 2009 and 2010.

STAND-OFF: KEVIN WALTERS

He may have only played four times for Wire, but we could not leave the current Maroons coach out of this team.

Walters scored three times in 20 Origin appearances for Queensland and is preparing to lead them into his fourth series as head coach.

SCRUM-HALF: ALLAN LANGER

Some would call him the ultimate State of Origin legend…and it’s hard to argue.

Alfie crossed 10 times in 34 games for Queensland and was even picked by then-Maroons coach Wayne Bennett for Game Three of the 2001 series while he was still playing for The Wire.

Despite being very much in the autumn of his career, Langer set up two tries and scored one himself to held the Maroons to a series win. He remains the only England-based player to be picked for an Origin match.

PROP: LES BOYD

The first of the forwards is Les Boyd, who played eight Origin games for New South Wales and scored one try.

He played 86 times for The Wire between 1985 and 1989.

HOOKER: ANDREW JOHNS

Well, how could we leave out the man many say is the greatest to have ever played the game?

Who could ever forget the furore around Warrington when “Joey” came over for his all-too-brief spell back in 2005?

Johns played 23 times for the Blues in State of Origin matches between 1995 and 2005 and racked up four tries, 37 goals and four drop goals.

PROP: STEVE ROACH

Blocker’s time in England was brief – he made 20 Wire appearances in 1988 – but he was a solid New South Wales representative back home.

He made 17 Origin appearances between 1984 and 1991.

SECOND ROW: LES DAVIDSON

Before his stint in England saw him score four times in 22 Warrington games, Davidson was a Blues rep as he played five games and scored once across the 1987 and 1988 Origin series.

SECOND ROW: TRENT WATERHOUSE

Big Trent – a real fans’ favourite with The Wire and a menacing presence on the edges.

He helped Warrington win the 2012 Challenge Cup and his virtuoso display in the semi-final victory at St Helens helped them to their first ever Super League Grand Final later that year.

Before then, Waterhouse played five times for New South Wales during his spell with Penrith Panthers.

LOOSE FORWARD: ANDREW GEE

Gee’s Origin career stretched over 13 years, with his 17th and final Queensland cap coming in 2003 after he had returned from a two-year stint at Warrington.

He made 40 Wire appearances between 2000 and 2001, scoring four tries.

> READ: A 4th Wire legend is cast in bronze

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

Danny Nutley – 107 Wire appearances but played just the one game for Queensland in 2005.

Bruce McGuire – One try in five Origin games for New South Wales before a 46-game spell with Warrington.