State of Origin crystal ball: How Maroons side could look in 2028

Staggeringly, 13 Maroons who have featured in this year’s State of Origin could still be playing in 2028. Here’s a glimpse of how the Queensland side may look.

Maroons qld origin crystal ball

Maroons legend Paul “Fatty” Vautin rates Reece Walsh a “10-year” Origin player as Queensland’s next generation targets a decade of dominance.

A staggering 13 players to have featured for the Maroons in the 2023 series so far could feasibly still be playing State of Origin in five years’ time.

Queensland coach Billy Slater has invested in youth following the Maroons’ 2021 series loss and has set the state up for a bright Origin future.

Queensland famously won eight straight series from 2006-13, and nine of 10 to 2015, during the most dominant era in the concept’s history.

The Maroons can clinch back-to-back series wins under Slater in game two at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.

And many of them could be set for long Origin careers given the youth in this Queensland side.

Reece Walsh can lead the side as it plots a decade of dominance. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The only current Queensland players that won’t be around in 2028 are captain Daly Cherry-Evans (34) and hooker Ben Hunt (33).

Superstar five-eighth Cameron Munster will be 33 in five years’ time and could still be terrorising the Blues.

The likes of Reece Walsh (20), Selwyn Cobbo (21), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (21) and Jeremiah Nanai (20) are scarily young.

Former Maroons coach Vautin said Walsh was a decade-long prospect for Queensland.

“It’s just frightening how good this kid can be,” Vautin said.

“Whenever he gets the ball, he has the speed and the hop and he just scares defensive lines.

“His performance in Game One was outstanding and I honestly think he will be a 10-year fullback for Queensland.”

The Maroons have the nucleus of a strong forward pack for years to come.

Bench hooker Harry Grant is only 25 and set for a long stint at No. 9 along with Reuben Cotter (24), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (23), David Fifita (23), Pat Carrigan (25), Tom Flegler (23), Moe Fotuaika (23) and Nanai (20).

Cherry-Evans could hand the No. 7 baton over to either last year’s decider hero Tom Dearden (22) or the untried Sam Walker (21).

Gun fullback Kalyn Ponga (25) hasn’t been able to crack the top 17 of our predicted team.

How the Maroons could look in 2028 and how old they’ll be.

POTENTIAL MAROONS 2028 TEAM

1 Reece Walsh (25)

2 Xavier Coates (27)

3 Selwyn Cobbo (26)

4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (26)

5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira (26)

6 Cameron Munster (33)/Ezra Mam (25)

7 Tom Dearden (27) / Sam Walker (26)

8 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (28)

9 Harry Grant (30)

10 Patrick Carrigan (30)

11 David Fifita (28)

12 Jeremiah Nanai (25)

13 Reuben Cotter (29)

14 Karl Oloapu (23)

15 Heilum Luki (27)

16 Moeaki Fotuaika (28)

17 Thomas Flegler (28)

18 AJ Brimson (29)

19 Corey Horsburgh (30)

20 Kalyn Ponga (30)

21 Tom Gilbert (27)

Originally published as State of Origin crystal ball: How Maroons side could look in 2028