State of Origin: Shock selection calls that prove Queensland are favourites

As the 2023 State of Origin series rapidly approaches, the legend that Queensland have clung to since 1980 is officially dead.

Queensland State of Origin coach Billy Slater with fellow Maroons legend Cameron Smith. Picture: NRL Images

The lunacy in Queensland being outsiders with the bookies for the upcoming State of Origin series will be understood when the team list reveals who in the side has missed out.

When the Maroons name their team on Monday, there will be some shock omissions. There just has to be.

Meanwhile, the Blues are considering picking players who have played just one game in a month.

So good are Queensland going, I don’t expect Reece Walsh, Corey Horsburgh or Christian Welch to be chosen for Queensland in game one of the series that begins in Adelaide on May 31.

Reece Walsh, with the most lethal speed across the field in the game, is also battling to usurp fullback Kalyn Ponga.

Only injury or suspension to others ahead of them on the pecking order may change that opinion.

Don’t forget too, Queensland enforcer Josh Papalii is unavailable after retiring on Thursday from the Origin arena.

NSW would happily take them all for a game.

Reece Walsh is battling to win a spot in the Queensland team. Picture: Getty Images

The legend that Queensland have clung to since 1980 is dead.

Give it up Fatty. The joke is over Kevvy. Rugby League‘s great underdog? You’re kidding Mal.

We all know the tune.

It‘s sung every Origin series up north.

That NSW are flush with options at the selection table because those pesky Cockroaches have more players to pick from than us, downtrodden, hard on our luck, Queenslanders.

We are just battlers with pride under our jumper, former Maroons coach Kevin Walters, says with tears in his eyes.

Don’t fall for it NSW. Not this year.

In fact, never again.

What Queensland coach Billy Slater has at his disposal this year, is the richest list of NRL talent to pick from, not seen since the dynasty years of 11 out of 12 series wins with Darren Lockyer, Cam Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk and Slater.

Queensland State of Origin coach Billy Slater has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal. Picture: NRL Images

The Maroons spine will surely be Kalyn Ponga, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans and Ben Hunt at hooker.

World Cup-winning Storm hooker Harry Grant can‘t make the run-on side.

By now, both Slater and NSW coach Brad Fittler have usually picked their teams.

It’s just a case of their 17 chosen stars surviving their club matches.

Yet this year, Fittler can’t finalise his team until Sunday night.

On the comeback trail from a foot injury, the Origin-readiness of Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr has to be seen to be believed.

He plays against the Titans at 2pm on Sunday.

Play well and he’s in.

Don‘t play and how could Fittler possibly take ’’The Foxx“ into an Origin game, eight weeks since he limped off the field on Good Friday against the Rabbitohs.

Tom Trbojevic is a shell of himself. Picture NRL Photos.

In the same boat is Tom Trbojevic. Manly travel to Canberra for a 4pm game.

Trbojevic is a shell of his great self. The Blues want to pick ‘Turbo” but must see more than what they have of late.

He is being considered as a wing option, as much as he is a Blues centre.

NSW won’t know until Trbojevic walks off the field.

Meanwhile, the Maroons can leave the likes of Tom Dearden, Reed Mahoney and even Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow out, if they want too.

Sorry Fatty, the legend is dead.

Originally published as State of Origin: Shock selection calls that prove Queensland are favourites