Leader of the pack O’Meley delighted at ‘added bonus’

Time is of the essence as the disparate bunch of Australians and New Zealanders congregate for their first training session ahead of Friday’s inaugural CarPlan International Origin.

Hull FC prop Mark O’Meley is chatting with coach Brian McClennan, establishing a few basics which will no doubt form the crux of their preparations for the contest.

The old adage that rugby league is a simple game made difficult will be touched upon as the 18-man group bid to unite quickly and efficiently while being uncomplicated before the Headingley Carnegie fixture.

O’Meley, a veteran of 10 State of Origin games with New South Wales and 15 Australian Tests, thought his representative days were behind him when he left Sydney for East Yorkshire 18 months ago.

“This is what we call an added bonus,” he told the Yorkshire Post.

“I’m always telling my kids that some things don’t come around too often and you shouldn’t take them for granted.

“This is one of them – playing for the Exiles.

“I probably came over a year too early to England. I was on the verge of Origin again but Hull came in and I realised if I didn’t go then I probably never would.

“I knew it would mean I probably wouldn’t play rep’ footy again but I’ve no regrets and now I’m getting the chance to play with a lot of those old mates again.”

Leeds hooker Danny Buderus, Hull team-mate Craig Fitzgibbon, Warrington pair Brett Hodgson and Matt King are all colleagues of Origins past but he is equally excited by the prospect of linking up with some stellar Kiwis.

Furthermore, the fact Australian legend Steve Menzies was yesterday omitted from the 22-man squad shows the depth of talent available to McClennan.

“Yeah, there’s no ‘Beaver’,” said O’Meley, “but Glenn Morrison’s been playing great for Wakefield and it’s good to see him get in.

“I played with him for North Sydney when I first started out and he was unlucky never to get Origin or Test caps back home.

“His name was always mentioned but Morro played through that era of great back-rows and locks.

“The same was true of (Hull KR’s) Clint Newton. I’d have liked to have seen him in here but he’s just left it too late with his injury.

“Now, there’s not as many quality back-rows back home but we’re doing well here.”

O’Meley, 30, is expected to lead the Exiles’ pack against England and, as he trotted around the South Leeds Stadium pitch yesterday, less than 24 hours after a bruising derby defeat against Hull KR, he was enticed by the prospect.

“The last time I was at this ground was a few years ago when we (Australia) were preparing for a Tri-Nations and it was belting down with rain,” he laughed.

“It’s good to be here together. We joined the camp last night and had a bit of a get-together and now we’re just going to go through a few plays.

“We’re trying to put a few combinations together with players who play with the same clubs but mostly it’s just about getting our intensity right.

“A lot of us have played together before whether it be for our country or in Origin and the main thing is working together on what we call the one per cents.

“If we do those right, everything else falls into place.”

The chance to come face-to-face with his Hull team-mate Tom Briscoe is another factor which warms O’Meley to the task in hand.

The robust England winger, 21, is tipped as someone who could prosper in the NRL and his team-mate agrees.

“I’ve told him to stay away from me in the middle,” said O’Meley.

“If he doesn’t, I’ll get him in a headlock and screw it off.

“He’s a very dangerous player. We’ll have to take his strong hips out – he’s so strong around the legs – and he’s just a real good kid. I’m a big believer in the old saying good things happen to good people and he’s a good one.”

O’Meley also reckons Hull colleague Willie Manu – the explosive Samoan second-row who is in the Exiles’ 18-man squad – could play himself into Steve McNamara’s Four Nations plans with a big performance.

Manu, 30, qualifies for England through residency and was in their training squad last season.

“He’s like Benjamin Button,” said O’Meley.

“He’s getting younger in reverse whereas I’m just looking older than I actually am.

“Willie’s been tremendous for us this year, is a great athlete with so much strength and the X-factor too.

“If he goes well, he could make that squad at the end of the year.”