By Wayne Heming

The opening game of this year’s interstate series against NSW in Adelaide will be very special for Queensland Origin captain Daly Cherry-Evans.

The 34-year-old halfback, who is advancing on 300 NRL club games for Manly, will join an elite group of Queensland players who are already recipients of the prestigious FOGS Dick “Tosser” Turner Medal.

Gaining membership to the 20 game club — formed to honour the contributions of the legendary Queensland team manager is a goal of every player who pulls on a maroon jumper and represents his state.

It’s an emotional award named after a man known fondly as “Tosser” who not only instilled the culture and ethos into Queensland rugby league players but also contributed greatly to the Maroon’s early success.

Considered the “Godfather” of Queensland Origin, Turner created the FOGS (Former Origin Greats) and was the founding chairman until his death.

While he never scored a try or made a tackle for Queensland, Turner provided the inspiration for many of their finest victories.

“Often when you look at Origin you mention player’s names and coach’s names, they get all the credit and the glory that goes with it,” said close friend and Queensland immortal, Wally Lewis.

“I truly believe, if we didn’t have Tosser (Turner) that the early success and domination Queensland enjoyed may not have happened.

“He was priceless.”

“He was widely respected because he was an absolute gentleman. He was prepared to do whatever was necessary to ensure his players were always happy and having fun.”

Not long before he died, aged 76 in 2008, Turner dictated a letter to his devoted wife Jan about what Queensland meant to him, and what it should mean to every player, to proudly represent their state.

Team manager Steve Walters had tears rolling down his face as he read Turner’s impassioned letter out to the playing group before the Maroons beat NSW 30-0 at Suncorp Stadium in June 2008, setting up a series decider in Sydney.

A frail Turner was pushed into the Queensland dressing room for one last celebration but sadly passed away before he could see his beloved Maroons clinch the series with an emotional 16-12 win at ANZ Stadium – a bogey ground where they had won just one of their previous 12 Origin games.

Cherry-Evans, FOGS#176,  will be the 32^nd player from 228 who have worn the maroon jumper to earn membership to the club.

“As a young fella milestones were all I ever wanted to chase, to be honest.

“As an older guy, I am grateful for them and really humbled by them.

“But they are no longer the whole purpose of me playing anymore, they are just a part of my journey.

“However, I’m definitely going to embrace this one and enjoy the moment with my family.”

Cameron Smith heads the list with a record 42 games, followed by Darren Lockyer (36), Allan Langer (34), Peter Civoniceva (33), Mal Meninga (32) Nate Myles (32), Johnathan Thurston (32), and current coach Billy Slater (31).

Lewis, a member of Arthur Beetson’s 1980 Origin Originals also retired with a record eight man-of-the-match awards from his 31 games.

Mark Coyne, who finished off Origin’s “miracle try” in game one of the 1994 series, and Corey Parker, a key player in Queensland’s golden era when they won eight series straight between 2006 and 2013, both came painfully close to earning membership playing 19 games each.

The NRL Rookie-of-the-year in 2011, Cherry-Evans made his Origin debut off the bench in 2013 helping Queensland register a record eighth-straight series win over the Blues.

He captured the Clive Churchill medal the same year in Manly’s grand final loss to the Sydney Roosters, confirming his standing as one of the game’s best players, as only two other players in history had previously won the award from a losing side.

Cherry-Evans was recalled to Origin duty for the third game of the 2018 series to help cover injuries with halfback Ben Hunt used off the bench.

He scored a crucial try in the 18-12 win at Suncorp Stadium as the Maroons averted an embarrassing series whitewash.

The following year the boy from Redcliffe where Turner was a legend, was made the 15^th player to captain Queensland, a great honour given another Redcliffe great, Arthur Beetson, was the very first man to lead the Maroons into battle at Lang Park 39 years earlier.

Cherry-Evans has been part of four series wins in 2013, 2015, 2020, and last year and has played 18 games for Australia.

Former Queensland player and team manager, Chris Close, who was man-of-the-match in the first two Origins played in 1980-81, described the FOGS Dick “Tosser” Turner Medal as a “very special” honour given what he meant to the team and what he did in the early years to improve conditions for players.

“The players all loved him and he loved the players,” said Close, who Turner hand-picked and transitioned into his replacement as Queensland team manager before his 14-year run ended due to illness.

Close said Turner’s most endearing feature was that he was a “good bloke”.

“He was a good person, a kind person, but a tough person as a businessman who expected a lot from people but always gave a lot of himself,” said the man called Choppy.

“He had a sharp sense of humour and had a lot of fun in him.

“Even when he got older, he was still the world’s oldest, most annoying teenager.”

Turner was a people person, but it wasn’t just rugby league players who looked up to him.

He was a man who could cut through the bull and have those “hard talks” when they needed to be had.

“He always showed a genuine interest in your life and your family. He wasn’t boisterous or bombastic, he spoke with great clarity and he was a remarkable mentor,” said Close, adding Turner had had a profound influence on his life.

“He was a man well ahead of his time.”

Close said it should never be forgotten how instrumental Turner was in fighting for better conditions and wages for Queensland players.

“He cut through a lot of early crap and made it rewarding for the players.

“He made them all want to play for Queensland by removing the stigma that they should consider themselves lucky” to be involved.”

One of the most popular Turner stories, and there are hundreds, was when the Queensland team was staying at the Swiss Grand Hotel at Bondi Beach, a regular Sydney base from where the Maroons enjoyed great success.

On this particular day, a crew of Council workers suddenly arrived outside the team’s hotel and fired up the jackhammers while the Queensland players were trying to rest.

Turner immediately sensed foul play.

He went outside, found out who the foreman was, and asked him how much the men were being paid for the day.

“When the foreman told him, Turner said:  ‘I’ll double it if you pack up and go home now’,”.

Close said Turner loved being with the players but at times could be “an annoying bastard”.

“I remember coming back to my room one night in camp and he had crushed and emptied every packet of biscuits, chips, and peanuts and scattered them all over the bed and the floor.

“I was so embarrassed, I just went and got a vacuum cleaner and cleaned it up myself, because I didn’t want anyone to know.

“Tosser thought it was hilarious.”

Turner also loved taking the players out to see one of his favourite club acts Phil Cass — a handy rugby league player for Brisbane Souths in his day, but a wonderful comedic magician who claimed many entertainment awards.

“Wherever Cass was performing his magic show, Tosser would take the team for dinner,” recalled Close.

“After the show, he’d come back to the team hotel and try doing all of Cass’s magic tricks, like cutting the player’s ties in half and trying to put them back together.

“None of it ever worked, but he loved it.

“As annoying as Tosser was, he was also as loving as he could be. He was a thorough professional.

Turner’s other great love was sailing boats and driving, very badly according to Close, his prized Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.

“He thought he was the skipper of the S.S, Minnow off Gilligan’s Island,”  joked Close.

“All the stories you hear about Tosser, including a wild night of Go Carting before a big game, are true. He made it fun to be part of the camp.”

Cherry-Evans will be presented with his special jumper, which this year will feature a symbol of Turner’s hat, he rarely was seen out without a hat, in camp before game one in Adelaide.

His QRL team blazer will also have the symbol on it.

If the tradition continues, much like the US Masters green jacket hand-over, Cherry Evans will be presented with his jumper by the last Queensland player to reach 20 games,  Dane Gagai.