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NSW advisor Bob Fulton is a rugby league immortal. He has achieved more than most players and coaches ever have.
But in his only interview since last Wednesday night's epic victory by NSW, Fulton explains why it was one of the greatest feats in modern-day sport.
You went off in that coaches box when the siren went. Do you remember the first thing you said to Laurie?
You know, emotions from people are different. And the older I get, the more emotional I get. It was an overwhelming feeling of "we did it". My emotions were for Laurie and the team.
HODKINSON A BLUES HERO TO A TEE
Laurie Daley and Bob Fulton having a coffe together to discuss team selections. Source: News Limited
Can you believe how big State of Origin has become?
This is the greatest rugby league competition on the planet. It deserves to be a world game. It's an ideal game for America, they would love this contest. I've spoken to people in the US and they're astounded by the collisions. No other competition pits 34 players against one another in the way Origin does. And we saw that in both game one and two. Amazing.
When did everyone know the drought was over?
When the final whistle went. I've seen too many Origins when the game wasn't done until that final whistle. The last four or five minutes in game one drew a line in the sand for NSW. By holding the best attacking players, both collectively and individually, we've seen at any level is a fair indication of the trust and commitment this NSW side has. Wednesday night was just our time.
WE WON'T ROLL OVER: SLATER
NSW coach Laurie Daley with Steve Roach and Bob Fulton, sharing a beer. Source: News Corp Australia
As well as being an advisor to Laurie, you're an Australian selector. Do you feel that the majority of Kangaroos chosen for the end of year Four Nations will be Blues players?
Over the past eight years, Queensland have had on average 10 players involved with the Australian team. But with every year, over these past few years, there has been increasingly more NSW players getting into the Test teams. That says something about how the gap at Origin level is closing between NSW and Queensland.
They have had the best one, six, seven and nine in the world for the last eight years. Without comparing our players to theirs, it takes a super human team-effort to overcome their dominance.
After the match, James Tamou said that this is just the beginning for NSW. Do you also believe the tide has turned?
I do. We've got a great foundation of current players within this NSW team who still have plenty of football in front of them and who can instil a winning culture for the younger players coming through.
NSW skipper Paul Gallen in action. Source: News Corp Australia
You're an Immortal. You've won premierships, Origins and been on Kangaroos tours. So where, in your career, did Wednesday night rate for you?
They all have varying degrees of importance and achievement and, personally, I think that comes down to the individual on how it's assessed. But this series win is up there with best ever by a NSW side given the quality of opposition.
Outside of the players, what was the biggest influence on this team?
Laurie, of course, and what Ricky Stuart did prior to him was critical. But, for me, the support for Laurie through the NSWRL with Dave Trodden and George Peponis and his board has been unbelievable. The decision by Laurie, Dave and the board to go to Coffs Harbour was a must. We needed a change in mindset and it was about a change in discipline, too.
NSW's Jarryd Hayne sings the team song in the rooms. Source: News Corp Australia
Can you describe the Laurie Daley
you know?
We had a meeting with the referees on Tuesday before the game. And Laurie comes across as a Clark Kent type personality. Easygoing, laid-back and all that. But inside, when you scratch below the surface, he's as emotional as any player or coach I know and the referees found that out at this meeting. Laurie started out Clark Kent, but ended up as Godzilla. He was that emotional. I was so impressed that they knew Laurie was so upset for his team — that he thought his team got a real bad serve in game one. They'd never seen Laurie like that before. But he rides everything. He couldn't have been more thorough, he's the complete package.
In your opinion, is Jarryd Hayne the best player in the game at the moment?
It's a hard question. Put it this way, Jarryd's 10 out of 10 is better than the 10 out of 10 of any other player. You look at the great players in the game and you certainly look at Jarryd, you look at Thurston, Inglis, Smith and Slater. They are all different builds and contribute differently to their teams. The lot of them are all freaks.
Jarryd Hayne attempts to bust the tackle of Aidan Guerra. Source: News Corp Australia
You said a couple of weeks ago that NSW man of the match Paul Gallen is a future Immortal. Do you stand by those comments?
I certainly do. When you start to look at players and what they contribute to a team, he's right up there with the very best. John Raper and Arthur Beetson are the only two Immortals to have played in the forwards. But the rest of us are all backs. I don't care if you're Darren Lockyer, Wally Lewis or Johnathan Thurston or whoever, it doesn't matter. If your forwards aren't going forward, you've got no chance as a back. I think it's time we started to recognise the contribution of forwards in our game through the selection of Paul Gallen as an Immortal.
Are you staying in your role next year?
If David Trodden and the NSWRL board think I've got something to offer, I'd be more than happy to stay on. It's something I enjoy. I love working with guys as professional as Ricky to start with and now also Laurie. I coached both those boys. We've won Ashes Test matches, World Cups and so it's enjoyable to work with people you have a strong relationship with.
NSW's Paul Gallen wrapped up by the defence. Source: News Corp Australia
But were you starting to feel a bit of pressure after the eight years of coming up short?
Not really because I've been involved when we've won series as well.
Before this series, how confident were you of winning the series?
Very. As I said, going to Coffs Harbour was not only a brave move but a calculated move by Laurie. They were able to prepare without distraction. The other thing is I could see what Laurie had done with discipline within the team was also going to have a big impact on the side when the going got tough, which is what we saw particularly in game one when NSW defended their own try line against one of the greatest teams ever for six consecutive sets.
Jarryd Hayne tackled by Cameron Smith. Source: News Corp Australia
Should the players have been presented with the shield in front of their fans?
Yes. Do I need to say any more? Yes.
A clean-sweep in just over a fortnight. Is that the goal now?
Game three will be tough. It's been 14 years since we've swept them. It will be a challenge, but we've won the series so the goal absolutely now is to clean-sweep them. There'll be no letting up from the players because they've suffered over the past eight years. Now it's time for payback.
Will NSW win game three of the State of Origin series?
