Wade Graham's bid to make his Origin debut for New South Wales at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night has found some unlikely support north of the border.
Graham will challenge a Grade 1 careless high tackle charge at the judiciary on Wednesday night after he was charged for a hit on North Queensland and Maroons half Johnathan Thurston in Cronulla's 13-10 win on Monday night.
In the immediate aftermath of the Sharks' 10th-straight win Graham was informed that he had been selected by Blues coach Laurie Daley for Game Two but was forced to put any celebrations on hold when the match review committee presented the charge sheet on Tuesday morning.
While Maroons and Blues camps rarely see eye to eye on issues surrounding the Holden State of Origin series two Queensland legends spoke out in support of Graham from deep within Queensland heartland.
Fourteen-time Origin representative Steve Walters, travelling with the team on their fan day in Gladstone on Tuesday, said that he hoped Graham would be granted an opportunity to line up for the Blues.
"I hope he gets to play. If it was one of our players it would be the same thing," Walters told NRL.com.
"We have the same discussion every year but I think missing an Origin game is a pretty heavy punishment for that.
"You don't like to see people injured or suspended. I like to see them at full strength with their best players when they get the chance.
"I'm too far down the food chain to have any influence there but I wish him well."
Trevor Gillmeister famously climbed out of a hospital bed to play in Game Three in the 1995 Series and also hoped Graham would be cleared so that he could take his place for the Blues.
"Actually I do hope he is able to play," Gillmeister said.
"He's never played before and I'd be disappointed for him if he couldn't get to play.
"I hope he does get off."
There are believed to be no injury concerns over the four Cowboys who played on Monday night but Sam Thaiday and Dane Gagai both stayed in Brisbane for treatment, Gillmeister confident they wouldn't miss any sessions later in the week.
"As far as I know they're OK," Gillmeister said.
"Even those boys here will have a couple of little niggles going on this time of year. If you're not you're not having a go."
