They’re all teammates but tonight there’ll be a split in the One New Zealand Warriors’ ranks - and ample banter - as the players and staff take sides for the series-deciding State or Origin encounter between Queensland and New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium.
The Warriors travelled to Canberra today ahead of Friday night's NRL clash against Raiders and will gather tonight to watch their teammates Kurt Capewell and Mitchell Barnett go at it for their states.
Chances are Capewell and Barnett will cross paths on the field at some stage during the battle.
Capewell starts in the second row for Queensland with coach Billy Slater planning on him playing big minutes while Barnett will be brought on off the bench at some point by New South Wales coach Michael Maguire.
Both players hail from small country towns, Barnett from Wingham, almost 330km north east of Sydney with a population of close to 5500, while home for Capewell is Charleville, a small matter of some 750km west of Brisbane with a population of almost 3000.
Tonight the country boys will command attention from their Warriors teammates and staff.
Just what the Maroons-Warriors split is in the camp isn’t known but Barnett can certainly count on huge support from the club’s other Australian players.
Utility Dylan Walker is a former New South Wales Origin player while hookers Wayde Egan and Freddy Lussick, second rower-prop Jackson Ford, prop Addin Fonua-Blake, winger Marcelo Montoya and standoff Luke Metcalf were all raised in New South Wales. Hamilton-born Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was also brought up in Sydney.
Indeed Capwell is the only born and bred Queenslander in the Warriors’ NRL squad although fullback Taine Tuaupiki was educated there while New South Wales Cup regular Ben Farr is also a Queenslander.
The most obvious New South Wales backer is head coach Andrew Webster who has talked optimistically about the Blues’ prospects since joining the club last season.
He hedges his bets slightly for tonight but not unnaturally has his mind set on only one outcome.
“Proud of Mitch, all the boys are, the whole club is,” he said.
“It’s a real reflection of the whole team but mostly Barney. His leadership has been outstanding and it has reflected in his performance. He has led from the front and he’s got the rewards. I hope he has a blinder.
“I’m really happy for Capey again. Obviously Queensland know how important he is to them and that’s awesome for us. We celebrate the fact they’re there.
“I hope Capey is the man of the match, I hope Barney’s the second best player on the field and New South Wales win. Then it’ll be a great night.”
No doubt passions will be running high in the camp tonight between those pumping for Barnett and the Blues and those backing Capewell and the Maroons.
Flashback: Maroons v Blues in 2015 Origin decider
