Maroons to blood three debutants in State of Origin I
Maroons selectors met at Queensland Rugby League headquarters on Sunday night and gave the green light for the state’s 197th, 198th and 199th Origin players to be named. Check out the Maroons team for the series opener.
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Queensland coach Kevin Walters will blood three new Maroons with super-sub bench bolter Moses Mbye to be joined by Broncos duo David Fifita and Joe Ofahengaue for Origin I at Suncorp Stadium.
NSW’s 2-1 series victory last season has prompted Walters to ramp-up his youth policy with Mbye, Fifita and Ofahengaue to be unveiled as Queensland’s debutants when the Maroons team is named Monday for the series opener on Wednesday week.
The 19-year-old Fifita will make history as the first player born in the 2000s to play State of Origin.
The blockbusting back-rower has played just 21 NRL games but Maroons hierarchy cannot resist his mix of speed, strength and power.
Walters will also wield the axe, with Titans prop Jarrod Wallace dropped in favour of Ofahengaue, Gavin Cooper dumped for Matt Gillett and Cowboys hulk Coen Hess losing out to Broncos back-row sensation Fifita.
The Courier-Mail revealed on Saturday that Mbye was the shock front-runner for the No.14 jumper and despite a groin injury, the Tigers skipper has held off late bids from Anthony Milford and Jake Granville.
Queensland medicos spoke with Tigers doctors on Sunday before Walters personally contacted Mbye, who assured the Maroons coach his slight groin twinge will not stop him making his Origin debut.
Mbye’s Origin rise is the ultimate triumph for the 25-year-old, who was snubbed by the Broncos as a Noosa Pirates junior before being picked up on scholarship by the Bulldogs.
The Wests Tigers skipper will provide bench versatility to complement the power of Ofahengaue, who thoroughly deserves his Origin call-up after 18 months of ultra-consistent football at the Broncos.
The 23-year-old has amassed an impressive 1397 metres at an average of 127m per game in 11 straight games this season and was error-free in Brisbane’s 8-2 defeat of the Warriors on Saturday night.
The 108kg Broncos bookend has amassed 81 NRL games and has big-game experience, having played in the 2015 NRL grand final and the 2017 World Cup for Tonga.
While Ofahengaue is a fine middle-forward rotation option, Mbye is the ideal Mr Fix-it.
The left-footed Mbye can play five positions, including fullback, five-eighth and halfback. He debuted at centre for Canterbury in 2014 and later that year, he started at hooker at age 21 in the NRL grand final against South Sydney.
Former Maroons lock Scott Sattler last night applauded the selection of Mbye in the vital Queensland No.14 jumper previously worn by Cooper Cronk and Daly Cherry-Evans.
“Moses is the perfect choice,” Sattler said.
“He can lift the intensity with his energy in the middle and very few players have his versatility, he can play in the backs and at hooker.
“He is also a very popular guy with leadership ability so he will be an integral member of the Maroons.”
Queensland are set to name an extended squad following recent injuries to Jai Arrow and Daly Cherry-Evans, who will both be picked.
It is understood Mbye, Fifita and Ofahengaue will be joined on the bench by Bulldogs hitman Dylan Napa.
Cowboys skipper Michael Morgan is tipped to be named in the centres, Josh McGuire returns in the forwards, while Ben Hunt has clinched the crucial No.9 slot.
The Maroons may produce a tactical switch, with McGuire a possible starter at hooker for the opening 20 minutes of Origin I before Hunt enters the fray for the final hour.
LIKELY MAROONS TEAM: Kalyn Ponga, Corey Oates, Will Chambers, Michael Morgan, Dane Gagai, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans (c), Jai Arrow, Ben Hunt, Josh Papalii, Felise Kaufusi, Matt Gillett, Josh McGuire. Bench: Moses Mbye, Dylan Napa, Joe Ofahengaue. Final bench spot: David Fifita/Tim Glasby/Coen Hess.
Originally published as Maroons to blood three debutants in State of Origin I
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