When Cameron McInnes runs onto Accor Stadium next Wednesday night, he’ll be one of six debutants for New South Wales under new Blues coach Michael Maguire.
At 30 years old, McInnes is the seventh-oldest Blues debutant in history, so he’s seen and experienced quite a bit in this game in comparison to some of his younger NSW teammates such as Joseph Suaalii (21), Spencer Leniu (23) and Zac Lomax (24) who will also be unleashed in the Origin arena for the first time on June 5.
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The fact that it was Maguire who delivered the news to McInnes that he’d be wearing a NSW jersey for the first time is a full circle moment, with the coach handing the Sharks skipper his maiden NRL jersey ten years ago when both were at South Sydney.
McInnes has been a part of the Blues’ extended squad before, in 2020 when with the Dragons.
At times, a Blues jersey was so close but ultimately, just out of reach.
Now, his dream has become a reality, with McInnes named to start at lock forward against the Maroons.
It’s a changing of the guard for the Blues, who hope Maguire and a smattering of new blood, including McInnes, can help end a two-year Maroons reign.
LONG, WINDING ROAD
A junior for the Botany Rams in the inner southern suburbs of Sydney, McInnes didn’t go far to continue his career.
McInnes was signed by the South Sydney Rabbitohs, featuring prominently in the club’s under-20s (Toyota Cup) team from 2012-2014.
The leadership ability was evident early, with McInnes named captain of the Souths Toyota Cup side for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
He would make his NRL debut in Round 5 of the 2014 season and go on to play 39 games with the Rabbitohs before signing a deal with the Dragons from the 2017 season.
Former Dragons coach Paul McGregor, who McInnes maintains a close relationship with, was a huge reason why he linked up with the joint venture club.
“When I was at Souths, I probably didn’t play the footy I could have and should have for whatever reason, but Mary (McGregor) wanted me and he gave me that chance,” McInnes said back in 2020 after McGregor’s final game at the helm of the Dragons.
“He had faith in me and believed in me.”
When McGregor was given his marching orders from the Dragons, McInnes was the team’s captain, playing some of the best footy of his career and on the cusp of Origin selection.
McGregor was also the catalyst for McInnes’ shift from hooker to lock forward – a position he’s thrived in.
So, when McGregor was sacked in August 2020, McInnes didn’t know how to feel or what his future held.
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SLIDING DOORS MOMENT
McInnes would only play a few more games with the Dragons after McGregor’s firing.
Leading up to the 2021 season, the St. George-Illawarra had a new coach in Anthony Griffin and there were reports circulating of a rift between the two, which McInnes denied.
However in February 2021, the then-Dragons skipper shocked the NRL world by signing a four-year deal with Cronulla from the 2022 season.
McInnes would miss the entirety of the 2021 campaign after sustaining an ACL injury a week after putting pen to paper on the Sharks deal.
When asked about the decision to leave the Red V, McInnes said it was partly due to “the new regime” when the Dragons failed to table a new contract extension.
“It was a tough time. With Mary moving on, it was hard,” McInnes told foxsports.com.au.
“I still had another year there so obviously the new regime came in and then I was training and just trying to um adapt like everybody.
“I wanted to get my contract sorted before the season. I just had that in me head for whatever reason and when I get things in me head sometimes I’m pretty set on it.
“But they weren’t able to do that at the time and there was no there was no offer there at that time, so I was like, okay.”
McInnes said he feels fortunate to have linked up with the Sharks, believing that the playing group is a big reason why he’s in the position he’s in now.
He also credited former NSW Origin star-turned Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon
“I was very lucky to have the Sharks there interested. I didn’t know Fitzy was going to be there when I signed but from afar, I really admired that young group they had together, which you look at them now, those young fellas are a big part of why I’m here really,” McInnes told foxsports.com.au.
“So that’s how it worked out.
“The conversations were always to play lock and I knew that, because (Sharks hooker) Blayke Brailey for me, he’ll be here (in Blues camp) in the future.
“I feel very lucky and grateful for all the clubs I’ve been at, but particularly going to the club that I’m at now. I can’t explain to you how much the club means to me and the boys there.
“Sometimes it’s a throwaway line, ‘give credit to the guys’, but the gratitude I have to my teammates and those coaches at the Sharks is huge.
“Playing for the state first and these fellas here and my family, but those Sharks boys as well, as much as they’re not all New South Wales fans, I know that they want me to do well because that’s what we all want for each other.”
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WARRIOR-LIKE MENTALITY
McInnes has long possessed the attributes needed for the Origin arena.
He’s tough as nails, boasts an outstanding motor, is one of the best tacklers in the game, and fears no one.
It’s no wonder he’s been the captain at some point at every club he’s played for (Souths under-20s).
It was ten months ago he broke the record for most tackles in an NRL game (81).
You just have to look at him during any post-match interview as well. Often battle-scarred, bruised and bandaged.
He literally bleeds for his teammates and puts it all on the line.
Former Eels hardman Nathan Hindmarsh said he resembled a “Chucky Doll” when McInnes was interviewed by the Sunday Night with Matty Johns panel following a Sharks win over Canberra earlier in the year.
McInnes admits the commotion about his post-match look is “funny”.
“I’ve been getting split since I was younger and my old boy thinks I bleed easily,” McInnes told reporters during the Blues’ media day on Tuesday.
“I mean like there’ll be little nicks and that so people give me more credit than I deserve on how I hard I play.”
THE MADGE FACTOR
As we know, McInnes would ultimately sign with Cronulla from 2022, but there was at least one other team pining for his signature. The Wests Tigers.
At the time, their coach was Maguire, who was keen to link back up with McInnes, who ‘Madge’ coached at Souths.
Maguire spoke about the McInnes selection on Monday night’s episode of NRL360.
“I love his character,” he said.
“I’ve known Cam for a long, long time obviously through his days when he was coming through Souths and he represents what this jersey stands for.
“He’s tough, he’s passionate, every player wants to play with him.
“He was a player I was looking at and keen on.”
Maguire believes McInnes is ready for the Origin arena. What does the man himself think?
“We’ll find out next Wednesday,” he said with a grin.