Queensland forward Reuben Cotter and his teammates are ready to run through brick walls in the State of Origin series opener after watching video clips of late Maroons legend Carl Webb in full flight.
Webb died last year at the age of 42 after a brave battle with motor neurone disease.
At representative level, Webb earned 12 caps for the Maroons, memorably scoring a blockbusting try on Origin debut as a 20-year-old in 2001.
Footage of him throttling NSW prop Luke Bailey with the letter "Q" shaved into his head in 2005 has become an iconic image of Origin folklore.
Webb went on to feature across the first three series of Queensland's eight-year dynasty and won a single Test cap for Australia in 2008.
At training last week the Maroons wore an Indigenous jersey co-designed by Webb.
The jersey is for sale, with all proceeds going to the Carl Webb Foundation, set up by Webb to raise awareness and funds in an effort to combat MND.
"It's a very special, important series this year, representing what Carl did for the jersey and for so many Queenslanders," said Cotter, who, like Webb, is Indigenous.
"We'll all look to bring his aggression and his style of footy on Wednesday night.
"They made a little highlight reel of what he brings and it gave us all goosebumps and made us feel like we were ready to run through a brick wall, so no doubt we'll be thinking of him on Wednesday night."
The jersey has Indigenous motifs loaded with meaning and showcases the iconic "Q", in tribute to the unique hairstyle Webb sported while wearing a Maroons jersey.
"He just threw himself at Luke Bailey. That sort aggression sums up a Queenslander with the backs-against-the-wall sort of mentality and just going after it," Cotter said.
"Back up each other and look out for each other … it's the only way you get through during the tough times. You relate it to the millions of Queenslanders that go through tough times as well, and that's the only way you get through something, is together."
Cotter won the Wally Lewis Medal last year as the Origin player of the series on either side and the Ron McAuliffe Medal as the Maroons' best, but he's not resting on his laurels.
"It was a very special year with some pretty cool accolades considering some of the players that have won those (awards)," he said.
"I'm not really one to boast about it, but they're great accolades to receive and I'm happy with how I performed last year.
"But it's a new year, it's a new series and some new players in the mix now, so it's time to re-earn my position in the team and re-earn the jersey.
"I do that through my actions at training and ultimately actions next Wednesday night."
