Opinion: Here’s the team that can get the job done for Queensland in State of Origin II

COACH Kevin Walters needs to rip apart Queensland’s battered and bruised front row to save the Maroons’ famous Origin dynasty, writes Peter Badel.

Gavin Cooper. Photo: Adam Head.

QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters needs to rip apart his battered and bruised front-row to save the Maroons’ famous Origin dynasty.

Walters must axe two starting Maroons (Gavin Cooper and Jarrod Wallace), recall a familiar face and blood a Broncos front-rower to have any hope of Queensland staving off a NSW uprising in Origin II.

Jarrod Wallace. Photo: Adam Head

Origin games are won in the engine room and Queensland’s front row were blown off the park in the series opener at the MCG. It was evidence that Dylan Napa and Wallace, while very good props at NRL level, are not quite seasoned enough to spearhead Queensland’s pack in a three-game series.

Walters has the forward pieces to level the series in Sydney on Sunday week. The Maroons mentor just needs to put them in the right place.

When the Queensland team for Origin II is named this Monday, Walters should unveil a fresh front row by sending an SOS for Matt Scott and pairing him with ironman lock Josh McGuire.

Matt Scott deserves a Maroons recall. Photo: Zak Simmonds

In today’s game, the prop and lock positions are virtually interchangeable.

Catapulting McGuire into the front row will see him remain as a ‘middle’ forward, in the process providing the toughness, workrate and defensive mobility that was missing around Queensland’s rucks in Game One.

McGuire made the most metres (121) of any Queensland forward at the MCG and spent seven years cutting his teeth in the engine room at the Broncos.

A McGuire-Scott front-row suddenly gives the Maroons some menace, midfield composure and authority.

That would ease the strain on Napa, whose monster frame is perfectly suited to some interchange impact.

Wallace, at 26, has better years ahead, but has to pay the price after running for just 43 metres in Origin I.

By moving McGuire to prop, Walters can give the No. 13 jumper to Jai Arrow, whose energy and appetite for work is better suited to a starting role than limited involvement off the bench.

Here’s the team that can get the job done for Queensland in Origin II at ANZ Stadium:

1. BILLY SLATER — Queensland will be praying his hamstring comes good for the return bout. If Slater fails to prove his fitness again, the Maroons must blood Kalyn Ponga at fullback.

Billy Slater is a must for Queensland. Photo: Adam Head.

2. VALENTINE HOLMES — Came under pressure from Darius Boyd and Corey Oates but justified his selection with his 85-metre intercept in Origin I. Also proved himself a fine striker of the ball.

3. GREG INGLIS (c) — Queensland’s best player in Origin I with his brutal defence but needs to see more early ball. Fittingly, will equal the man he is so often compared to, Mal Meninga, with his 32nd Origin match in Game Two.

4. WILL CHAMBERS — Should be put on notice after missing a whopping eight tackles at the MCG. But Chambers has been superb in six previous games for Queensland and deserves a chance to atone.

5. DANE GAGAI — Continues to be Queensland’s Mr Reliable on the flanks. Now a blue-chip representative winger.

6. CAMERON MUNSTER — With Inglis one of Queensland’s better players in Game One. Needs to provide his skipper with more service for a more complete Origin game.

7. BEN HUNT — Daly Cherry-Evans should be the Maroons’ halfback but it won’t happen anytime soon so it’s up to Hunt to deliver. Needs to back his running game and play more direct in Origin II.

8. MATT SCOTT — Bring back the old Cowboys bull. Scott’s lateral defence is not as sharp as it once was but 22 Origin games and his bullocking frame will give the Maroons a front-row aura.

9. ANDREW McCULLOUGH — Sometimes the best players are barely noticed. McCullough is safe after churning through 42 tackles at the MCG.

10. JOSH McGUIRE — It’s time to reprise the role that made McGuire an NRL player. In his rookie years in the Broncos front row, McGuire would charge for 200 metres. That’s the output the Maroons pack needs.

11. JOSH PAPALII — The Maroons need more speed and size on the edges. Gavin Cooper is a superb club player but Papalii deserves a promotion after a good performance off the bench in Origin I.

12. FELISE KAUFUSI — With Matt Gillett still sidelined, Kaufusi must stay. Made some costly defensive misses in his debut but still topped Queensland’s tackle count with 45.

13. JAI ARROW — This is his best position. At 100kg, Arrow lacks the size to be an interchange wrecking ball but his workrate as a starter will complement McGuire perfectly in the heat of battle.

INTERCHANGE

14. MICHAEL MORGAN — Fine effort filling in for Slater in Game One and is one of the most versatile players in the NRL. Anthony Milford was a poor utility choice in Game One. Morgan slots in nicely here.

Anthony Milford is in Game One. Photo: Getty Images.

15. DYLAN NAPA — Relegating Napa to the bench eases the burden of responsibility on a prop still learning his craft. Walters should just let him rip and tear when Scott is given a breather.

16. COEN HESS — Hasn’t been in peak form this year but at 21, Hess will get better with every Origin game. Brings some power and tryscoring punch to the Maroons’ bench.

17. JOE OFAHENGAUE — Queensland can no longer ignore the Broncos hulk. Ofahengaue has an imposing body at 114kg, but most importantly, can play big minutes if required. He is ready for Origin.

Originally published as Opinion: Here’s the team that can get the job done for Queensland in State of Origin II