Colman’s Call: Maroons halves issue poses a major dilemma

YOU have to wonder what Cameron Smith and Kevin Walters discussed at the State of Origin launch after the cameras turned away, writes Mike Colman.

Say cheese, boys. This is going to be a tough one (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

HOW good was it to see Kevin Walters and Cameron Smith smiling happily at this week’s photo shoot in Melbourne to promote the upcoming Origin?

They looked like they didn’t have a care in the world.

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Still, you have to wonder if when the cameras were off their conversation went something like this:

“So Kev, what the hell are we going to do about our halves?”

“Beats me. I thought you might know.”

“Mate, I’m battling to see out a full game for the Storm without getting sent to the bin. Selections are your job.”

“That’s not what you were saying last year when you were putting in your two bob’s worth.”

“Yeah, well that was when we had some options. Any chance of getting Coop and Thursto out of retirement?”

“Mate, did you see last week’s games?”

“True. Hang on, the photographers are coming back. Better start smiling again.”

Smile! Maroons captain Cameron Smith and coach Kevin Walters pose for a photo during the 2018 State of Origin launch in Melbourne. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Well why not?

A few weeks ago I wrote a column having a dig at Kevvie for saying that the Maroons’ halves spots were still up for grabs.

If memory serves, I think I said he was having a lend of us and that if Michael Morgan and Cameron Munster weren’t walk up starts I’d eat my hat.

Right now I’m wondering whether I should have it with tomato sauce or just salt and pepper.

After Origin lll last year you could be forgiven for thinking that Morgan and Munster had the Maroons six and seven jerseys locked up for the next five to 10 years.

Right now you wouldn’t back them to hold on for five to 10 minutes.

Morgan is coming back from injury but still looks a long way off even a hint of last season’s form. Munster has shown a few glimpses of the old magic, but they have been few and far between and at fullback instead of five-eighth.

Which means that Kevvie might have to reach into his much vaunted back-up stocks.

Let’s see: what was the name of that five-eighth who ran out for the Maroons in Game l last season?

Oh yeah, Anthony Milford. Whatever happened to him?

According to Queensland’s greatest-ever five-eighth Wally Lewis, he shouldn’t even be playing the position, let alone wearing The King’s old maroon number six.

Then there was the other name being bandied about early in the season: Cory Norman. Come on, stop laughing. This is serious.

Which leaves two, Ben Hunt and Daly Cherry-Evans. Both are in decent form and both are last resorts. Hunt because the selectors have question marks over whether his kicking game and big match temperament are up to an Origin starting spot, and Cherry-Evans because … well, because he’s Daly Cherry-Evans.

There’s no doubt the boy can play, but over the course of the past few years he has managed to get off-side with a lot of people who matter in the Origin selection room.

Even his latest comments, that he is “sick of watching Origin from the couch” could be taken as a criticism of the selectors and used against him.

It all adds to some serious soul-searching for Kevvie and Cam over the next few weeks.

Say cheese, boys.

Originally published as Colman’s Call: Maroons halves issue poses a major dilemma