State Of Origin – his favourite stage. State Of Origin – his favourite stage. Image: Getty Images

Is there a bloke you dread getting tackled by?

Nah, but the biggest hit I’ve had put on me was by Mark O’Meley. I’ve never really been hurt on a football field, but that day at ANZ Stadium, with Mark playing for the Northern Eagles, I came out from underneath our posts and all I could see was a straight 100m. I thought, ‘I’m away here!’ And he hit me on my goal line, buckled me, and sent me five metres backwards. I was just hunched on the ground. The trainer ran on and I said, “Can’t … speak … ” Then I spewed.At the other end of the spectrum, I played against Preston Campbell one day, he was playing for the Gold Coast Chargers, and he kept hitting me at the ankles and chopping me down. I was shattered. He was about 5-foot-3 and I thought, “How good’s this? I’m going to have a field day here.” But he kept chopping me down and I kept trying to bump him, trying to palm him, but I just couldn’t reach him. Then later in the game they put a kick across and he jumped up and took the ball off me. I couldn’t live that one down with the boys for a while.

How does the league culture compare to union?

I think union is a very corporate game. In league it’s just “train hard, play hard, go home”. But in union it’s the whole “wear-the-suit-and-work-the-room” thing. I noticed that straight away.

Which is the better game to play?

Well, I’m biased because league’s always been my first love – I used to idolise Dale Shearer and Gene Miles and I used to follow Manly. It was unbelievable playing the All Blacks, and playing in South Africa at Ellis Park and Newlands was definitely an experience. But for me, Origin’s the best football I’ve played. Then again, it’s easier for me to play league because I love confrontation. In union you have to have good peripheral vision and that’s probably not my finest skill. Plus, in all my years in union, I still never learnt to kick properly …