The Spirit That Built FOGS: From Forgotten Heroes to Unbreakable Legacy

© Suncorp Stadium

For many Queenslanders, playing State of Origin is the ultimate dream - a chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with legends and wear the Maroons jersey with pride. But for those fortunate enough to achieve that dream, what comes next? For decades, the answer was simple: fade quietly into the background, with little recognition and, sometimes, not even a seat at the game they helped build.

This was the reality that led to the creation of Former Origin Greats (FOGS), an organisation woven into the very fabric of Queensland rugby league thanks to visionaries like Alan Graham and the late Dick "Tosser" Turner.

“There were two big issues. One, a lot of them hadn’t even seen each other since 1980. But the most important thing was a lot of them could not get a ticket for State of Origin. And because tickets went so quickly in the stadium in those days, and we were only, I think, 41,000, 42,000 people, they went like that.

The solution wasn’t grand at first - just the simple idea of a reunion, a chance to reconnect. In 1997, a hundred tickets were secured, and as Alan explained, “We set about contacting as many of the FOGS, the former Origin players, as we could."

"They weren’t FOGS in those days, we didn’t have a name. But as many of those players that did play. So we organised a reunion up at the Caxton. And that was a dinner pre-game. And then they all walked down. And we had a special seating area for them. And it was just amazing. Some of these people hadn’t seen each other for 17 years. Some did not even recognise some of the others.”

"The feeling in the room that night was electric. A reunion not just of mates, but of kindred spirits bound by Queensland’s Origin heritage. There was a genuine collegiate interest in trying to stay together,” Alan says. “Tosser and I sitting down and looking at what the benefits were about having this group together, the long-term benefits of, hey, this was a special thing, Origin.”

From that moment, FOGS began to grow, embracing not just the spirit of shared memories but a lasting purpose. As Alan puts it,

This vision expanded far beyond social gatherings. FOGS became an organisation that supports former players, helps transition into life after footy, and delivers programs touching communities state-wide, especially Indigenous communities and, recently, women’s rugby league.

“That comradeship, the spirit of Origin, the desire, the want to give something back…if you have a look at our constitution, all of those things are the reasons FOGS was created, and they represent the strategies and the goals that we continue to try and roll out,” Alan explained.

“You come to the first day of camp, you’re actually given a presentation pack that says you are FOG number 187 or whatever it might be, you know, and that’s your number for life. No one can ever take that away from you. And, you know, you become part of a special group,” Alan said.

The impact goes far beyond the big names.

As FOGS grows, it champions succession, not just keeping the spirit alive for the older generation, but empowering the next. “We’ve got to think of the future and that whole linear progression of, well, who’s going to take the baton? And who’s going to keep this going?” Alan mused.

Host Mark Braybrook summed it up, “Where does your involvement in the birth of FOGS sit in your mind in your list of achievements?” To which Alan reflected, “I see it more as, a benefit for Queensland. I see it as, obviously, a benefit for Origin. Everyone talks about the Queensland Origin spirit. New South Wales would love to put it in a bottle, but they can’t. And it just keeps turning up time after time after time.”

From an idea sparked by the need to honour forgotten heroes, FOGS has grown into one of Australia’s most respected rugby league organisations. The mission remains clear: celebrate legacy, empower the next generation, and keep the Maroon spirit burning bright - for every Queenslander, on and off the field.