Queensland debutant Reuben Cotter’s dilemma: His footy dream or the birth of his first child 

He’s the hard-hitting tackling machine from Mackay, but Queensland Maroons debutant Reuben Cotter is now facing the toughest moment of his young career – the birth of his first child.

Cotter knocked down the door of Origin selection by establishing a reputation as an NRL defensive workhouse at the North Queensland Cowboys that has drawn comparisons with the likes of Dallas Johnson and Trevor ‘The Axe’ Gillmeister.

He will line up at lock for the Maroons in Game 1 of the Origin series on June 8 in Sydney, but will be sweating on his partner Mackenzie Falco, who is pregnant with their first child. 

‘Billy [Slater] actually called Toddy [Payten] and we were out for dinner. He announced it to all the boys so it was quite a special moment,’ he said.

‘I called my partner [first to tell her I’d been selected] – she’s at home, heavily pregnant. We are expecting a little one in the next few weeks. We are pretty excited.

‘Fingers crossed she can hold off for the next couple of weeks and time it perfectly.’

The couple have elected to keep the gender a surprise until the day of the birth.

It has been a meteoric rise for Cotter, who started life at the Cowboys as their backup hooker behind premiership winner Jake Granville and former Australian Schoolboys representative Reece Robson.

He reinvented himself as a middle forward in the off-season and despite his size, has developed a reputation as one of the best defenders in the competition. 

 In just 10 appearances this season he has made 395 tackles at an efficiency rate of 97 per cent, including a gutbusting 63 tackles against Penrith last week with zero missed.

Cotter was one of six Cowboys picked by coach Billy Slater for the extended Maroons squad for game one of the 2022 State of Origin series

While Slater is quick to hose down comparisons with the likes of Dallas Johnson, Cotter admitted the Atherton product was one of his inspirations growing up.

‘Dallas was one of my idols, someone I looked up to as a young kid. It’s just something that I have tried to bring into my game and it’s just the way I have always played,’ he said.

Cotter is also stoked to be working with another one of his idols in former Origin great Cameron Smith who is assisting Slater in the preparation for game one at Accor Stadium.

‘Smithy was always someone I loved watching on telly. He’s quite smart and getting to verse him was even cooler. I think I had one game against him.

‘Even now he is in camp with us and part of the coaching staff is pretty surreal.’

How did Cotter go against Smith in their one NRL clash against each other? 

‘No good I think. I think they pumped us,’ Cotter laughed. 

Cotter’s selection comes after a number of tough performances for the North Queensland Cowboys this season, especially in defence

But the 23-year-old is ready to soak up as much as he can from Slater and Smith and realise a childhood dream when he lines up for the Maroons – emergency baby call-up pending.

‘I don’t reckon size matters too much, it’s about the fight in the dog,’ he said.

‘I try not to look too much on outside noise, I try and stay pretty internal and focus on what I am doing as a player and what the team is doing.

‘No matter if you’re in the starting team or on the bench or part of the squad, if you put the Queensland jersey on you would be expecting to give your best and that’s what I’ll do.

‘Origin is a huge occasion and I can’t wait to get up for it next week.

‘I think that’s what it’s all about in that arena and just got to focus on what I have been doing every week.’