Queensland coach Mal Meninga reckons centre Willie Tonga is now a State Of Origin legend after playing much of last week’s game against NSW with a partially dislocated shoulder.
“I think it should go down in the annals as one of the bravest performances by a Queensland player ever because we needed him. He hung in there tough and some of the defence he came up with, with that shoulder was outstanding,” Meninga said.
Tonga, for his part, was typically modest after the 16-12 Queensland win.
“I don’t think I was brave. There’s other boys that do things,” he said.
But he admitted he did become a target as the Blues looked for any advantage.
“I heard them talking it up. They’re not silly. I was a bit worried marking Mark Gasnier because he’s hard to handle.”
