All-time Queensland Controversial Selection XIII: Daly Cherry-Evans out, Alfie Langer in

WITH Daly Cherry-Evans’ controversial Game III selection turning out to be not so controversial, MIKE COLMAN selects his all-time Queensland Controversial Selection XIII. This is some team!

Allan Langer’s debut and return selections were controversial.

AS the controversy over the Maroons selecting Daly Cherry-Evans to make his Origin return is overshadowed by the controversy over the selection of Billy Slater as Man of the Series, we can finally sit back and ask “what was that all about?”.

Sure DCE might not have been the most popular of choices as Maroons halfback in some people’s minds, but he doesn’t even make my top all-time Queensland Controversial Selection XIII – although some might say that is controversial.

Here’s my squad of Queensland most contentious Origin selections.

Allan Langer’s debut and return selections were controversial.

FULLBACK

Darius Boyd (2017): Given the sainthood bestowed on Slater after Origin III this week, the fact Darius was preferred to him in Origin I wins him the No.1 jersey yet again.

WINGERS

Adam Mogg (2006): The southern media called him “Adam Who” when Mal Meninga swung him in for Origin ll. The Courier-Mail headline said “Adam Mogg That’s Who” after a two-try blinder.

SELECTION: Long way back to green and gold for DCE

GORDEN TALLIS: Is it time for a mid-season break

TBA (2002): Better known as Lote Tuqiri, TBA (or To Be Announced) was read out on the wing for Origin II. Facing a one-match suspension, the move allowed Tuqiri to sit out a Broncos match and join the Maroons next day.

CENTRES

Josh Hannay (2006): So far off the radar that when Cowboys coach Graham Murray called him aside to tell him he was in the side for Origin III, he thought it was because he’d been dropped to reserve grade.

Greg Inglis (2006): No controversy as far as Queenslanders are concerned, but Blues supporters just can’t get over the fact that GI hails from NSW. Talk about picky.

Who are you?

FIVE-EIGHTH

Ben Ikin (1995): They don’t get much more unknown. When he walked up to coach Paul Vautin at the team hotel, Fatty thought he was chasing players’ autographs.

HALFBACK

Allan Langer (1987, 2001): Take your pick, Alfie’s debut selection when NSW media labelled it a joke, or the time Wayne Bennett secretly flew him back from England. No Blues laughter that time, just tears.

Tallis was a bench player for the Dragon when first selected for the Maroons. Picture: Anthony Weate

BACKROW

Gorden Tallis (1994): A 20 year-old interchange player for the Dragons when Wally Lewis picked him – a point ARL recruiter Phil Gould emphasised when he refused to pay him Origin-level money during the Super League War. Good move Gus.

Terry Cook (1995): Struggling to find a club at the start of the season, but found himself in Fatty Vautin’s “Nevilles” a few months later. A shock selection to say the least, Billy Moore rated him Queensland’s player of the series.

Tonie Carroll (2005): Hard to know where to start – that he played for Queensland, then New Zealand, then Australia, then back to the Maroons? Or that in a similar case to Lote’s TBA, he was named as TBC (To Be Confirmed) to sidestep a suspension? Either way, he a selection certainty in this squad.

Apparently Artie Beetson was past his prime ... Picture: Geoff McLachlan

FRONTROW

Arthur Beetson (1980): Again, no problems this side of the border, but NSW pundits claimed 31-year-old reserve-grader Beetson was past it. Good judges.

Craig Smith (1995): Kiwi-born prop who was playing rugby in Brisbane when signed by the Bulldogs, so never played a game of league for a Queensland team in his life.

HOOKER

Wayne Bartrim (1995): Once lived in Brisbane while playing for Tweed Heads, although claimed to have had a holiday on the Gold Coast as a kid.

COACH

Graham Lowe (1991): Might have won a series but plenty of old-timers are still filthy that a Kiwi was handed the keys to the kingdom.

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