Carrigan and Hunt named Maroons' best

Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has provided an insight into the State of Origin contributions of 2022 award winners Patrick Carrigan and Ben Hunt.

Slater, who guided the Maroons to a 2-1 series win in his first year as head coach, announced the recipients of the Ron McAuliffe Medal and the FOGS Peter Jackson Memorial Award at the QRL Awards in Brisbane.

Slater said Carrigan was a deserved winner of the Ron McAuliffe Medal as Queensland’s player of the series.

“Patty finished off the series in great style, forcing his way into the starting line up and earning himself the Wally Lewis Medal (as the overall player of the series),” Slater said.

“Before the series we spoke about the word ‘earning’, and if I look at Patty Carrigan the past 12 months, he suffered a season-ending knee injury last year and to come back the way he did (was outstanding).

“He earned himself a Queensland Origin jersey, he earned himself a starting position in that team, he earned himself a series win, and he earned himself the Wally Lewis Medal.”

Carrigan was delighted to win the premier Maroons award, named after one of Queensland’s most respected former administrators.

“The thing that stuck out for me throughout this whole Origin campaign was Bill said at the start of camp that no one had a mortgage on a Maroons jersey,” Carrigan said while on stage at the awards lunch.

“I think that stands out in terms of the work they (the coaches) put into us. I know as a team we wanted to win the series for the people of Queensland.

“Everyone that is here today, all the volunteers and guests being acknowledged is what makes rugby league so good.”

Hunt was just as thrilled to be announced as the recipient of the FOGS Peter Jackson Memorial Award, an honour given each year to the player or staff member who best demonstrated Queensland’s trademark spirit.

“Ben was one of our best for the whole series, and owned many of the big moments in the series, none bigger than the last moment of the State of Origin series in 2022,” Slater said.

“When we talk about Queensland spirit, which is what this award is based on … and Ben on the field was the Queensland spirit for us, and off the field was the Queensland spirit for us.

“And I’m sure you would have been a great pillar for our captain Daly Cherry-Evans to lean on throughout that series.”

Hunt was grateful for the recognition, which followed consecutive Ron McAuliffe Medals for the tenacious Maroons utility.

“Thank you very much Billy for those kind words,” Hunt said.

“To you and the coaching staff and selectors for giving me the opportunity to play for this great state again, it’s something that I’ll always cherish every time I get the opportunity.”