Running out onto Lang Park in the 1980s, now known as Suncorp Stadium, Wally Lewis was regarded as a deity amongst men. This Queensland legend served as the chief antagonist for any New South Wales fan or player during the early days of State of Origin. It was during this time that Lewis earned his famous nickname: ‘The King’. In a recent interview for Nine’s upcoming documentary ‘The King’, Lewis revealed the origin behind this moniker.
According to Lewis, the nickname was given to him by Ray Price. In 1984, Queensland had a formidable team and had just thrashed New South Wales. During a press conference, a journalist posed a question to Price about Lewis, highlighting his exceptional performance in the game and suggesting that he should be the Australian captain. Price’s response was, “Aw yeah, give him everything, fair dinkum he’s everything up here anyway, he thinks he’s the King.” This comment from Price cemented the moniker ‘The King’ for Lewis.
In a television interview from that era, Price didn’t mince words about his thoughts on Lewis. He recognized Lewis as a great sportsman but was critical of the pedestal that the media had put him on. Price believed that Lewis truly believed he was a king and questioned his authenticity. Interestingly, Lewis himself despised the nickname and would become angry whenever his friends referred to him as the King.
Nine will premiere the documentary ‘The King’ on Tuesday night at 9.10pm (AEST). Don’t miss the opportunity to watch ‘The King’ on Nine and 9Now!
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Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
