State of Origin selection tracker: Kurt Capewell says he’s in a fight to stay in Maroons back-row spot
ORIGIN WATCH: Broncos vice-captain Kurt Capewell admits that he’s battling to keep his back-row spot in the Queensland side. Check out our Maroons Origin tracker here.
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Broncos vice-captain Kurt Capewell says he is facing a fight to retain his Queensland jumper as the fierce battle for Maroons back-row spots intensifies in the lead-up to this year’s Origin series opener.
One of only two premiership winners at the Broncos, Capewell can submit a compelling selection case to Queensland coach Billy Slater in Brisbane’s Friday night blockbuster against Souths at Suncorp Stadium.
Now in his eighth year of first grade, Capewell has started the 2023 season impressively, scoring four tries and spearheading the ruthless defensive mindset that has propelled Brisbane (7-1) to the top of the league.
But with Maroons hitman Felise Kaufusi, Cowboys World Cup winner Jeremiah Nanai, Dolphins firebrand Tom Gilbert and in-form Titans $1 million man David Fifita all vying for back-row spots, Capewell concedes there is no room for complacency.
“It’s a great position for Queensland to be in,” Capewell said of the Maroons’ back-row depth.
“To have so many players who are on top of their games at the moment, it’s an awesome headache for Bill (Slater) and the selectors to have I guess.
“Just to be a part of the squad would be amazing.”
The 29-year-old has been a mainstay of Queensland’s team. Since being blooded by Wayne Bennett during the Covid-hit series in 2020, Capewell has played nine consecutive matches for the Maroons, starting in all three Origin games last season.
Origin teams usually comprise players operating at successful clubs and Capewell believes Brisbane’s flying start to the season can only aid his hopes of a Queensland recall.
Queensland aspirants have a month left to impress and Slater, also a Channel 9 expert commentator, will be watching Capewell closely in the Broncos-Souths clash.
“I would love to play Origin again,” said Capewell, who was at Penrith when he made his Maroons debut.
“I love that maroon jersey and you can see from our Origin performances it means so much to the guys.
“It definitely helps that I’m on the back of guys like Reece Walsh and ‘Reyno’ (Adam Reynolds) at the Broncos, they are helping me play my best footy.
“I have been pretty lucky, some of the club teams I’ve been in over the years have been pretty handy teams and they helped me a lot.
“Origin is the be-all and end-all of rugby league and I pinch myself every time I’m chosen to play for Queensland.
“It was good to get the series win last year and hopefully, if I keep my form up at the Broncos, I will be part of another series win this year.”
The Souths showdown will be a litmus test of Brisbane’s title credentials and Capewell is one of several Broncos forwards who must step up in the absence of suspended prop Payne Haas.
“I always say you can judge a team by how many tries they can save,” Capewell said.
“The scramble defence we have shown this year has been second to none.
“We have stopped a lot of tries that opposition teams should have scored and that gives me confidence we are on the right track this season.”
MAROONS SELECTION TRACKER: BRONCOS PROP MAKES HIS CASE
Tom Flegler has revealed he was suffering from “anger” issues on the field as the rugged prop targets an Origin recall in the absence of Broncos superstar Payne Haas against Souths on Friday night.
Haas, Brisbane’s No. 1 prop, is serving a one-match suspension for a hip-drop tackle, installing front-row firebrand Flegler as the Broncos’ engine-room leader for the Rabbitohs blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium.
Flegler has had his own brushes with the NRL’s match-review committee, suspended at least four times since 2019, headlined by his brain explosion last year when he was reported four times in one wild game against the Warriors.
But Flegler has missed just one game so far this season – due to concussion – and says he has found the balance between brains and brutality as the Tully tearaway looks to step up against Souths without Haas.
“I’m going in with a cooler head to be honest – just trying not to be so angry on the field,” Flegler said.
“It is paying off, touch wood.
“It has been good not being suspended. We are only eight games in so hopefully I can continue that.
“Spending time on the sideline is one not good for the team and two, not good for yourself.
“It (his suspension record) is definitely something I needed to fix and I feel like I have come a long way in that area.”
Three years ago, aged just 20, Flegler inspired a 22-18 ambush of South Sydney at Suncorp, producing 10 offloads, and the hard-hitting front-rower says his spate of suspensions haven’t affected his confidence.
“Definitely not. That is the way I play and I’m not going to stop that,” he said.
“Sometimes you are going to slip over the line.
“That is the game we play. I don’t think there is a player in the game who intentionally goes out there to hurt someone or get suspended. It is a physical sport.
The clash with fourth-placed Souths (5-3) is a glorious chance for Flegler to flex his Origin muscle.
The Dolphins-bound bookend played his one and only Origin game in 2021 and was a member of Queensland’s extended squad last year, going agonisingly close to a Maroons recall, named 18th man for the 2022 decider.
Queensland aspirants have a month to impress Maroons coach Billy Slater and if he dominates Souths’ big boppers, Flegler will put himself in the Origin conversation.
“I’d love to play Origin,” Flegler said.
“Being around players of such a high standard is good and something you don’t get to see very often. There is a lot you learn (in Origin camp). The coaching staff there is second-to-none so it was pretty cool.
“There are so many young and talented forwards for Queensland so there is a wide range (Slater) has got to pick from. Whoever gets in the 17 will be well deserving.”
PONGA FIGHTING TO RETAIN ORIGIN SPOT
Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds believes star recruit Reece Walsh is ready for a State of Origin debut as the return of Kalyn Ponga intensifies the battle for the Queensland No. 1 jumper.
Whiz-kid Walsh has fired Brisbane (6-1) to the top of the league and he faces a thrilling fullback duel with Parramatta rival Clint Gutherson in Friday night’s clash with the Eels (3-4) in Darwin.
Twenty-four hours after the Eels-Broncos clash, Ponga will make a welcome return from his concussion issues to play his 100th NRL game when the Knights superstar confronts his former Cowboys club in Townsville.
Queensland coach Billy Slater has another five games to run the rule over Maroons aspirants and he will be watching Ponga closely in the hope the fullback incumbent can stay healthy over the next month.
But should Ponga be deemed unavailable for the Origin series opener on May 31 at Adelaide Oval, Reynolds, the former NSW halfback, has no doubt Walsh would handle a step up in Queensland colours.
“I‘m all for the Blues, so I hope they don’t pick him,” Reynolds said with a wry grin of Walsh, whose planned Origin debut in 2021 collapsed after he injured his hamstring 24 hours before Game Two.
“He got picked before, so I think (Walsh would handle Origin).
“He is a quality player.
“In Origin you field the best players in the game and Reece would fit nicely in there.
“He would have a lot of experience around him and Reece would just simply do his job.”
The 20-year-old goes into the round 8 Eels clash as one of the NRL’s most dangerous attackers.
Walsh has produced 24 tackle busts in the past three games and he is ranked No. 1 in the NRL for most try assists (eight) and line-break assists (11).
While his attack has ignited the Broncos, Walsh has also muscled-up in defence, pulling off a number of last-ditch trysavers to demonstrate he has the mental toughness and attention to detail that Slater likes in his Origin players.
Broncos teammate Kurt Capewell, a member of Queensland‘s last three Origin campaigns, urged Maroons hierarchy to consider blooding Walsh.
“It’s up to the selectors, but Reece is definitely putting his best foot forward,” Capewell said.
“He is absolutely on fire, so I‘m glad he is on our team and I would love to play with him in Origin.”
Broncos colleague and rival NSW enforcer Payne Haas believes Walsh has the temperament to flourish in the code‘s toughest arena.
“If he gets the call up (for Queensland), he will do his job,” Haas said. “He is playing good footy at the Broncos and that‘s all he has to focus on at the moment.
“If he focuses on playing well, his mind won’t wander … he would be ready for sure.”
Broncos coach Kevin Walters said it’s important Walsh doesn’t get carried away with his opening six games for the club as the fullback braces for a torrid backfield test in steamy Darwin.
“Reece has got some work to do on his game, he would be the first one to admit that,” Walters said.
“But what we are seeing from him are some good positive signs on where his career is at right now.”
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Originally published as State of Origin selection tracker: Kurt Capewell says he’s in a fight to stay in Maroons back-row spot
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