Brown in Maroon – now that would have been a scary sight for the NSW Blues.

As Melbourne gears up for rugby league’s State of Origin on Wednesday night, the Brisbane Lions legend has revealed he wishes he could have played in that code’s showpiece series.

The triple-premiership winner, who will be attending Origin II at the MCG, told The Sunday Mail he still wonders how he would have fared in the NRL, particularly State of Origin.

“I didn’t grow up with rugby league but I envied State of Origin, especially when it took over the state,” Brown told The Sunday Mail.

“I would have loved to have played it. I would have had to spend a lot more time in the weights room.

“I wish I could have played in that theatre of Origin. I have been to several Origin games at Suncorp Stadium and hearing the hits is something special.

“What is great about Queensland is the amount of sport on offer and rugby league is a great game which I am sure it will creep into my young son when he goes to school.

“It is good for Origin to be back at the MCG. Growing up, I remember those games in the mid-’90s with huge biffos.”

Brown told The Sunday Mail that Maroons star Greg Inglis could make the transition to AFL, while Lance Franklin and Gary Ablett could make it in rugby league, as a winger and halfback respectively.