Maroons should invoke the spirit of Arthur Beetson in opener

The Maroons have Kalyn Ponga and Cam Munster surging but they need an old battering ram to give their sharp shooters every chance to shine. Check out Robert Craddock’s Queensland team.

Matt Scott is in the frame for a Maroons recall. Picture: Peter Wallis

Each week, The Courier-Mail’s chief sportswriter Robert Craddock looks at the big talking points coming out of the NRL.

ONSIDE

ROLL OUT WELCOME MATT

Queensland should revive the spirit of Artie Beetson and recall 33-year-old Matt Scott as their State of Origin enforcer.

Scott has not played Origin for three years but he ran with as much gusto as he had in that time in the opening 20 minutes against the Eels on Saturday.

He is desperate for one last Origin crack and wants to mentor the forwards in the way Peter Civoniceva guided him.

In a pack which lacks a standout prop, he can be the senior shepherd Beetson was in the first Origin clash in 1980.

To the right you can find my 17-man squad that could wrestle back the Origin crown.

ROBERT CRADDOCK’S QUEENSLAND TEAM

1 Kalyn Ponga

2 Corey Oates

3 Michael Morgan

4 Will Chambers

5 Dane Gagai

6 Cameron Munster

7 Daly Cherry-Evans

8 Josh Papalii

9 Ben Hunt

10 Matt Scott

11 Matt Gillett

12 Felise Kaufusi

13 Josh McGuire

Interchange:

14 Moses Mbye

15 Jai Arrow

16 David Fifita

17 Dylan Napa

Matt Scott is in the frame for a Maroons recall. Picture: Peter Wallis

WHAT A STAR

If Kalyn Ponga was making NSW coach Brad Fittler wake up in cold sweats last week, how is he suffering now?

Ponga was sensational in the Knights’ 45-12 decimation of the Dragons, not simply his running and will-o’-the-wisp sidesteps, but his game smarts such as his try-saving strip on Ben Hunt in the dying minutes.

Fear not about this being a slightly weaker Queensland era — any team with Ponga and Cam Munster can snatch the trophy.

BRAVE CALL

Peter Beattie has become a popular whipping boy for NRL critics but he deserves credit for his swift, strong stance on the Jack de Belin case.

Beattie is a lawyer by profession and his legal instincts helped him push for and shape the NRL’s “no-fault’’ stand down policy that has seen de Belin banned until his case against several serious sex charges is heard.

The NRL knew they faced severe humiliation had de Belin’s legal challenge against the rule been successful, so the court’s endorsement of their stance was a major victory for Beattie, NRL boss Todd Greenberg and rugby league.

TOUGH BUT FAIR

Bold selections which ignore reputations and defer to commitment and form can enhance the fabric of a club, particularly when there is much to lose.

Almost every experienced judge expected Anthony Seibold to recall James Roberts to confront his Origin teammate Latrell Mitchell last week but he displayed admirable courage to go with rookie Gehamat Shibasaki.

Winning without the flighty Roberts has put the team in a stronger state, particularly after the storming efforts of the young Broncos forwards.

Anthony Seibold has stayed strong in overlooking James Roberts. Picture: AAP

REAL SWIFTY

Fine effort by the five Walters boys — Kevin, Kerrod, Steve, Brett and Andrew — to attend the Booval Swifts Centenary lunch on Saturday.

On his way to becoming an NRL star, Kevin fetched sand for fellow Swift and Canberra Raiders goal-kicking forward Gary Coyne when he first headed south.

Coyne told the lunch he would occasionally tell his sandboy “more water thanks’’.

OFFSIDE

THE COASTING COASTERS

The heat is rising on Gold Coast coach Garth Brennan.

From the time they led the Broncos 18-0 in a pre-season trial and lost, the Titans have seemed to lack fight and Brennan has a major job ahead to salvage something from the lacklustre winter.

The Walker brothers, with all their funky tricks, interviewed exceptionally well for the Titans coaching job two years ago and it’s a shame they were not given the job.

Even if they lost games, they would have been interesting to watch.

Titans coach Garth Brennan is feeling the heat. Picture: Getty Images

A DOG’S TALE

NRL boss Todd Greenberg sparked a frenzy of debate when he said the game’s governing body went too hard on Mitchell Pearce after his infamous afternoon simulating sex with a dog.

Why go there? The massive penalty was justified if viewed in the light of the fact it made the game an international laughing stock.

KING ARTHUR

What’s the rush?

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has led the Eels to one finals series in five years yet he has won another two-year deal at the precise point where his team is just starting to wobble.

The jury is out on whether they have gone off too early.

CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

Storm prop Christian Welch cried all night after hurting his knee last week before learning it was not as bad as first thought.

But he will still miss the first two Origin games and his absence is a disappointment for fans who admire not simply his ability but his good character, which would have been welcomed in the Maroon set-up.

Christian Welch received good news on the injury front. Picture: AAP

DREADFUL DRAGONS

Ben Hunt is expected to be named State of Origin hooker but there are concerns about his hot and cold form.

As great as it was to see Ponga slicing through the Dragons like a dolphin through a breaker yesterday, it was hard to come to grips with how dreadful the home side were and Hunt’s confidence appears down.