When Cameron Munster and Corey Oates step on to Suncorp Stadium for next Wednesday's State of Origin finale, it will be the long-awaited reunion of a childhood partnership.
The pair first met as wingers for a Central Queensland junior representative when they were in Grade 6 at school.
Later they were to have sleepovers and form a deadly one-two punch for club side Norths Rockhampton.
Speaking to QRL Media this week, Munster revealed how he called Oates 'Sausage' as a kid because of his long body shape, while Oates remembered Munster as a "larrikin" from a young age.
Origin duo had sleepovers as kids
For the full interview, click on the embedded video.
Remarkably the two have never before had the chance to play in the same side as adults.
Even though the Origin duo featured for the same club as kids – with Oates in the second row and Munster at five-eighth or fullback – they went to opposing schools Emmaus College (Munster) and St Brendan's Yeppoon (Oates).
That meant the pair also went head-to-head on the paddock almost as frequently as they combined, leading to a healthy history of banter between the two NRL aspirants.
Outside of rugby league they competed in a number of sports, primarily in athletics, with bragging rights on the line.
Next week against New South Wales, Munster and Oates will both be part of a left-hand side attack for the Maroons, meaning the chance to combine will be presented once more.
Within the Maroons side there is a strong representation of former Central Queensland schoolboys, with Ben Hunt and Tim Glasby also from the CQ region.
