Jack Reardon

It is commonly accepted that the birth of State of Origin rugby league in 1980 was driven by then QRL chairman Ron McAuliffe, but folklore says the first person to suggest the concept back in 1964 was Queensland captain and Australian vice-captain turn journalistic great Jack Reardon. 

Originally from Ballina, he played once for New South Wales in 1934 before crossing the border to join Norths and later Brothers in Brisbane. He played 21 times for Queensland, but as countless Queenslanders headed to Sydney he and his Maroons copped plenty of hidings from Blue sides full of Queenslanders. 

Let Queenslanders playing in Sydney play for Queensland, he said. And although the southerners instantly  dismissed his plea time woudl prove he was on the money. Just 17 years ahead of his time. 

When late in a hugely-respected 30-year stink as chief rugby league writer with The Courier-Mail he covered the early Origin games he could have been excused an 'I told you so' attitude, but not 'Gentleman Jack'.

An inaugural inductee to the Sports Media Hall of Fame at Suncorp Stadium in 2006 after his passing in 1991, he represented all that was good about football and newspapers and will be right at home in the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame.