Queensland coach Kevin Walters facing a forwards headache just five weeks out from State of Origin I
WE may be five weeks away from Origin I, but already Maroons coach Kevin Walters is sweating on injuries to key players. It’s time for all Queensland forwards to step up, writes GORDEN TALLIS.
Opinion
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CALLING all Queensland forwards — it’s time to step up.
Maroons coach Kevin Walters will be sweating on the fitness of Josh McGuire just as much as the Broncos at the moment.
We may still be five weeks away from the first Origin match, but already Matt Gillett (neck) is gone, Tim Glasby (thumb) is in doubt and as for McGuire, well no one knows the extent of his ankle injury until he sees a specialist later this week.
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It’s not a crisis point for Queensland, but it’s definitely time for some new contenders to step up and show Walters and his selectors why they can fill the massive holes that are being left behind.
In my opinion, it could be anyone.
This isn’t just a chance for the next generation, but also the older blokes who maybe thought their time in the Origin arena was over.
Just three weeks everyone was crossing incumbent bench forward Josh Papalii off their lists because his club coach Ricky Stuart had dropped him to reserve grade.
But the Canberra star is still a 100 per cent chance of playing Origin this year in my eyes.
I rule no one out.
Sam Thaiday is one who probably thought his representative career was over.
But if he can get up good quality minutes while McGuire and Gillett are missing for the Broncos and if he can slim down a bit and look like an international player again, there’s no reason why he couldn’t push for that recall.
Another one is Aidan Guerra.
He has a real opportunity to impress while playing with that young group down in Newcastle.
But if it has to be the next generation then there are plenty of guys who are pushing for their chances — Ethan Lowe, Patrick Kaufusi and Jai Arrow are just a few that spring to mind.
However, whether it’s the old guys who are trying to turn back the clock or the young guys looking for their start, someone needs to produce a moment.
The moment I am talking about is like what Jarrod Wallace was able to do against the Broncos last year.
It was in Round 7 and — while the Titans lost — Wallace ran for 259m off 26 runs against his old club in an inspirational 80-minute performance.
That’s the kind of game that shows a player is Origin-ready.
After that match I spoke to Kevvie and I said Wallace had well and truly put his hand up for Origin.
He may have been overlooked for the first game last year, but he was in the side by Origin II and I daresay will retain his spot in the upcoming series.
That is what the likes of Kaufusi, Arrow, Thaiday, Guerra and company have to do in the next five weeks.
A few pretty good performances do not make an Origin player. You need consistency and you need to be the standout.
There’s a wonderful opportunity right now for these Queensland hopefuls. I can’t wait to see who stands up to the challenge.
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