Will Tino Fa’asuamaleaui be the new State of Origin team captain?
When Qld State of Origin enforcer and former Gympie lad Tino Fa’asuamaleaui steps on to the hallowed ground of Albert Park in his home town today it will no doubt bring back plenty of memories. PHOTOS
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When Queensland State of Origin enforcer and former James Nash High student Tino Fa’asuamaleaui steps on to the hallowed ground of Albert Park in Gympie today it will no doubt bring back plenty of great childhood memories.
Though Tino would have played mostly at Jack Stokes Ovals, the home of the Gympie Devils and junior footy in Gympie, he would be no stranger to Albert Park.
Former Maroons skipper Trevor Gillmeister earlier this year anointed the Titans hardman as the man to succeed Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland’s next captain.
It was no coincidence that Queensland suffered a 2-1 series loss last year to NSW without Tino, who missed the entire 2024 campaign due to a ruptured ACL.
Now Big Tino is back in business, with the towering 197cm, 110kg prop primed spearheading Queensland’s pack.
A captaincy succession plan beckons for the Queensland Rugby League.
Daly Cherry-Evans has been Queensland’s captain since 2019, but has been axed as Queensland’s halfback and captain for Origin II.
Maroons coach Billy Slater crowned Tom Dearden as the halfback to lead a new era in Game Two.
Dearden will celebrate seventh heaven when he wears the famous Maroons No.7 jumper at Perth’s Optus Stadium, tasked with saving the series as NSW eye back-to-back crowns at Queensland’s house of horrors.
In the wake of Queensland’s 18-6 loss to NSW in Game One at Suncorp Stadium, there was a push for Cherry-Evans to be given a stay of execution given his outstanding service for the Maroons.
Gillmeister described Tino as “the perfect captain ... he just conducts himself so well on and off the field”.
“Tino is so respectful and a lovely young fella, but on the field, he has a bit of mongrel up his sleeve if he needs it.”
Queensland coach Billy Slater has a plethora of leadership options in the post-DCE era.
Slater has yet to anoint a skipper for the squad but leading contenders include Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Harry Grant and reformed Storm and Maroons champion Cameron Munster.
Cherry-Evans has been a magnificent servant for Queensland. He captained the Maroons for the past six years, skippered three series wins and chalked up 26 Origin games, including 20 consecutively at halfback since his career-defining recall in 2018.
The Manly champion became the oldest Origin player in Game One at 36 years and 97 days, but after suffering three straight losses as Queensland’s halfback general, Cherry-Evans has paid the ultimate price.
Now Slater has turned to the 24-year-old Dearden, who is 12 years younger than Cherry-Evans, to save the series for Queensland in the No.7 jumper made famous by Allan Langer, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk.
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