TOMMY Raudonikis was NSW's first State of Origin captain, the architect of that Origin institution, the "cattledog" call.

And he was a welcome absence from the Blues love-in dinner last month.

Tom Terrific was left off the guest list as the Blues got together. They are still struggling to find a formula to beat Queensland and Tommy was bad for business.

He wasn't missed, even though most of the better stories told on the night concerned Raudonikis in his stint as NSW coach or, from one ex-Blues skipper Steve Mortimer, his playing days.

media_camera NSW Blues Legends, Noel Kelly, Benny Elias and Tommy Raudonikis at the True Blues State of Origin Legends Ball ahead game 1 in the 2013.

Raudonikis failed to get an invite as a former captain on the carefully worded grounds that he was not a former "winning captain" - the invites going out to series winners only.

Raudonikis only captained NSW in the first Origin game, a 20-10 Queensland win.

So no win, no invite.

It meant Gavin Miller (1989), Ray Price (1983-84) and Max Krilich (1982-83) also were not invited.

The other series captains that have not tasted success are Kurt Gidley (2009-10) and Paul Gallen (2011-13), who did get a start on the grounds they might still be needed come May.

The idea was coach Laurie Daley's, trying to strike upon a theme to help end Queensland's eight-year winning streak.

"No-one has got an issue with him in terms of a bloke, it's just that every time Origin rolls around they just cop it," Daley said of Raudonikis.

"But it wasn't a directive at all.

"They have done all different ones and I was trying to do something a little different. I wanted to have the winning captains there.

"It wasn't a snub of anyone in particular."

The irony is that Raudonikis is one of the great winners.

Johnny Lewis harnessed the fury of Jeff Fenech and the cold purpose of Kostya Tszyu, and yet still hails Raudonikis as the greatest winner he knows, above even them.

Nobody, he says, could find a way to win like Tommy.

That's the point the Blues are missing.

It's an injustice they need to address.

media_camera Tom Raudonikis celebrating a Western Suburbs win.

When Raudonikis talks of hating Queensland he reveals a passion for winning that goes above anyone else.

Yet the Blues players see it as a caricature. A punchline.

Dig deeper, and what drives Raudonikis is a desire to do whatever is needed to win.

It is certainly missing from this Blues line-up.

For instance, as much as he likes a beer, and we all know how much, Tommy wouldn't sneak down the fire escape to get on the drink in Kings Cross, as several Blues players did last season, and risk breaking the bond of togetherness they worked so hard to build earlier that week.

That's one reason Daley has moved the Blues camp from Coogee to Coffs Harbour this year. To stop it happening again.

Instead of dropping their lip at Tommy's criticisms the players should look deeper, into the desire that drives it, and see that's what it takes to win.

In essence, that's all Raudonikis is about.

Because you better believe this: that attitude is Queensland's greatest strength.

The Maroons have worked it out, and giggle themselves silly that the Blues are still searching.

media_camera Quade Cooper and Anthony Mundine announce a Brisbane fight card at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Cosell, stop horsing around man

HOWARD Cosell: "Well Anthony, people told me you were a Muhammad Ali act. A fighter, a political leader _"

Mundine: "They know it!"

Cosell: "And that you were going to shock the world."

Mundine: "Ain't I pretty?"

Cosell: "Well Anthony, the problem as I see it, you truly could have been one of the great ones except you left it all too late to try to fight somebody genuine. You're 38 years old and only now trying to conquer America _"

Mundine: "I'm chasing the dream and that's doing what it takes to get to fight a Mayweather or Pacquiao, the very best in the world."

Cosell: "Well Muhammad _ sorry Anthony ... a 10-round decision against a late replacement like Gunnar Jackson hardly puts you in Mayweather's class."

media_camera Muhammad Ali talking to Howard Cosell during an interview on December 15, 1970 in New York.

Mundine: "The big fights are where my dreams are."

Cosell: "Well you can say that all you like but you needed to knock him out. How could this fight excite anyone in America?"

Mundine: "They're holding me back, man. They're the big dogs and they don't want to fight me."

Cosell: "Tell me, how could Showtime, which is two fights into a six-fight, $200 million deal with Mayweather, expect to recoup any of that money if Mayweather walked in saying he was going to fight somebody called Mundine?"

Mundine: "Because I said I wanted to fight Mayweather, that shows I'm genuine."

Cosell: "Doesn't mean it's a legitimate fight for Mayweather. Some would say this all sounds a bit phony."

Mundine: "You're the phony, and you have the hair of a horse."

Cosell: "I think Ali said I was a phony with the hair of a pony. You know, to rhyme."

Mundine: "That too."

A GOOD WEEK FOR

PHIL Hughes should be planning a Dave Warner like revival after his late call-up for South Africa. And it will be needed. Hughes' late call-up satisfies calls that Shield runs should equal selection. Others remember, though, that Hughes has had four starts in a 26-Test career and has failed at each.

media_camera Swimming star Ian Thorpe at the Omega Olympic launch at Walsh Bay in Sydney.

A TOUGH WEEK FOR

IAN Thorpe has always held a special place within the Australian community, even allowing for his place as Australia's greatest Olympian. His battle with alcoholism and depression has shocked many, and underscores the vacuum in many athletes lives after retirement. Wish him well.

media_camera Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos.

DON'T MISS

TWO years ago Peyton Manning's career was in doubt after major neck surgery. Now he is on the verge of becoming the first starting quarterback to win two Super Bowls for different teams when his Denver Broncos take on Seattle in Monday's Super Bowl (ESPN 10am). Yes, we love a fairytale.

media_camera Willie Mason at his home in Newcastle after he was caught DUI on his way to Newcastle Knight's training.

CHILL PILLS

WILLIE Mason's painless handling of his DUI charge is a lesson for sport that a quick, honest apology beats denials and media bans every time.

ANGRY PILLS

CONFUSION remains before the Sochi Olympics about whether athletes can speak out about issues such as gay rights. And in other news from the 1950s ...

Originally published as Raudonikis on the outer with NSW