McInnes doesn’t blame Crowe. He blames himself.
“Yeah, for sure. I always look back at that time at Souths,” he says. “It’s just maturity, isn’t it? Some guys mature when they’re 18-year-olds, they’re just ready for it straight away. Other guys, it takes them a bit longer to figure out what it takes to play week in, week out at a good level.
South Sydney co-owner Russell Crowe.Credit: Getty
“For me, it took a bit longer. That’s on me, I had to learn some lessons. You do, and that’s what happens.”
The sight of Maximus Decimus Meridius, full of ink and bravado, castigating a youngster in front of his peers would be enough to dent anyone’s confidence. Even more so for McInnes, who was at the start of his NRL journey and still wondering if he deserved to be there.
“It’s a part of my maturity,” McInnes says. “Some guys feel more secure as they go in, whereas I probably didn’t have that because I’m always thinking, ‘Am I good enough? I need to do this, I need to do that.’
“Once I got a bit older, I relaxed a bit more and that’s how it works. Your confidence is up to you, it’s not what other people say to you. There’s no dramas there.”
Cameron McInnes began his career at the Rabbitohs.Credit: NRL Photos
Keary, the other protagonist in Crowe’s most famous rugby league scene, appears wary talking about his place in it. It needn’t be the cause célèbre for a playmaker who, among other things, has won three premierships at two clubs.
However, he can’t help but smile when speaking about his great mate McInnes and how far he has come since those days at Souths. McInnes has become a father, transitioned from hooker to lock, established himself as a leader at St George Illawarra and then Cronulla, set an NRL record of 81 tackles for a single match and then finally earned a Blues debut many felt was overdue.
“He came in as a kid at Souths, and he was just straight as; barely drank a drop of alcohol, super smart, not an ounce of fat on him,” recalls Keary, who was part of the Blues’ extended squad.
“He has got the funniest sense of humour. He’s loosened up a heap, and he has a beer with you now. To play lock the way he does, he was a hooker and he’s not the biggest bloke, and he’s just hard as nails: no teeth, cuts all over him.
Cronulla workhorse Cameron McInnes holds the NRL record for most number of tackles in a game.Credit: NRL Photos
“He was never the most talented kid, so he’s really diligent and professional like that. He wasn’t ever a freaky hooker like Api [Koroisau]. I remember when they first chucked him in at lock, I went, ‘Man, this bloke’s gonna get killed.’
“I’d watched him play hooker for like 10 years, he’s got no chance in the middle. I remember watching him at the Dragons just run into brick walls and get smashed.
“Now to watch him, he actually dominates games and can hold the middle of the field up.”
McInnes has been handed a NSW jersey by Michael Maguire, the same coach who gave him his NRL debut.
“It’s 10 years ago this year,” McInnes says. “To get the Origin call from him, it’s a pretty crazy sort of full-circle experience. Learning how to become professional and what it takes and that hardness and toughness, he instilled in all of us [at Souths].
“I remember when they first chucked him in at lock, I went ‘Man, this bloke’s gonna get killed.’”
Luke Keary on great mate Cameron McInnes
“As much as we’ve all gone different ways, we had a chat the other night about if we didn’t have that, who knows where we’d all be? I owe a lot to him and those values are going to serve the state well.”
McInnes, who only narrowly missed out on being crowned dux of his school, doesn’t need to look far for inspiration. His autistic six-year-old son, Talanoa, is a constant reminder of what is possible.
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“He’s always with me,” McInnes says. “I want to do my best for him because every day he does his best. It’s not easy for him, but he tries his hardest. It’s very inspiring.
“Just going to school the other day, he did a speech in front of the class. For him, his communication is coming on. If he can stand in front of a class and talk like that, playing in front of however many for your state [is nothing].
“You’ve got to put it into perspective. I train every day for this, whereas for him his brain doesn’t work that way, but he’s going to try his best as well. I’m lucky, my six-year-old is better than me, it’s pretty cool.”