Brad Thorn. Photo / Getty Images
For one night only, James Horwill and Brad Thorn will be on the same side at Suncorp Stadium.
Cornerstones of the Wallabies and All Black forward packs, the second row rivals will unite behind the Queensland cause in tonight's State of Origin decider against New South Wales.
The locks resume
hostilities on the same turf on Saturday night when the Crusaders and Reds determine the inaugural holder of rugby's Super 15 trophy.
They could potentially go head-to-head at the venue again in the final Bledisloe Cup clash on August 27 - the last transtasman encounter before the World Cup.
But for game three of the most hyped Origin series of the new millennium, they will occupy common ground.
Darren Lockyer's final match for the Maroons will be a particularly poignant moment for 36-year-old Thorn, who played alongside the legendary five-eighth at NRL, state and international level.
A reminder of how the Mosgiel-born Thorn - who made his final code switch to rugby in 2008 - is still revered in his second home is evident on the forecourt of Queensland's footballing fortress. His name and match stats are immortalised in a plaque just a short pass from a bronze statue of the great Wally Lewis.
The Crusaders arrived in Brisbane on Monday to find Origin hysteria in full swing as Queensland strive to send Brisbane Broncos and Kangaroos hero Lockyer out in style with a sixth successive series win.
Crusaders management got their liaison man on the case to source tickets but his attempts were unsuccessful, such is the interest generated by a newly competitive NSW.
Thorn played 11 matches for the Maroons and his status as a Former Origin Great guarantees his admission to the 52,000-seat cauldron. Reds captain Horwill, head coach Ewen McKenzie and the Faingaa twins Saia and Anthony also secured invites.
A Queenslander born and bred, Horwill doesn't quite have the same affinity with league's interstate rivalry as Thorn - tonight's epic will be his first Origin experience.
"It'll be exciting. The atmosphere will be great and you get to take your mind off our game a bit," he said.
"You watch a different bunch of guys get stuck in. It'll be good."
- NZPA
