Maroons to 'win one for the Tosser' - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Maroons to 'win one for the Tosser'

By Wayne Heming 16/06/2008 07:50:24 PM Comments (0)

Queensland will be emotionally revved up to "win it for Tosser" when they confront NSW in next month's State of Origin decider in Sydney.

Tosser was Dick Turner, Queensland's team manager from 1982-1996, a stalwart who more than any stood for everything Maroon.

In the 1920s American football coach Knute Rockne urged his Notre Dame players to "win one for The Gipper".

His star player George Gipp was dying and had asked Rockne to promise him when things went bad for the team, he'd inspire them by asking them to 'win one for The Gipper'

There won't be any need for Queensland coach Mal Meninga to ask his players to win one for Tosser, who died on Monday aged 76.

His passing will be enough to inspire Queensland in Origin III, just as his appearance in the dressing rooms did before they smacked NSW 30-0 last week.

"It would be a great tribute to him if this team could go on and win this series," said former Queensland star Gene Miles as the state mourned the loss of an Origin giant and popular rugby league figure.

"There's not another person in the world as passionate about Queensland State of Origin footy than this man was."

Queensland's greatest player, Wally Lewis, said Turner's presence at last week's game had impacted greatly on the players.

"When Dick was wheeled into the dressing room while the boys were preparing for the game they gave him a standing ovation," said Lewis.

"Big boys don't cry.

"But I can tell you plenty of them have been over the last few hours and there'll be a lot more tears to come.

"He was a very special part of Queensland rugby league.

"Should Queensland need any inspiration whatsoever, it will only take one small thought of Tosser and I'm sure you'll see them respond on the football field.

"He is the most respected rugby league person Gene or I have ever known."

Despite his ill health in recent years, Turner continued to be heavily involved with rugby league and with Queensland Origins sides.

"Just to see him wandering the change rooms over the past four or five years when he's been struggling with his health and we've had all these young kids coming through the system," said Miles.

"It was important that we got that message across to the players that this guy was state of Origin football and that it was important to him that the tradition he had set up over the last 15 was carried on.

"There was nothing Tosser enjoyed more than beating the Blues."

Turner's achievements though were not just with the Queensland Origin team.

He coached Redcliffe between 1967-69 and was the club's president for 17 years.

He also bankrolled the South Queensland Crushers, one of four clubs to debut in the ARL in 1995 when Super League was established.

Turner however was left disillusioned when the ARL withdrew support for the Crushers at the end of 1997 when their crowds and performances fell away.

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