Kevin Walters says he won’t hesitate to blood more of Queensland’s young forwards

KEVIN Walters said he would not hesitate to blood more young forwards to provide the blunt force needed to wrest back State of Origin supremacy next year.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: Billy Slater and teammates are seen celebrating after Daly Cherry-Evans of Queensland scores a try during game three of the State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on July 11, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

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KEVIN Walters said he would not hesitate to blood more young forwards to provide the blunt force needed to wrest back State of Origin supremacy next year.

Of Australia’s nine forwards who played in last month’s Test loss in Auckland, only two are Queenslanders – Josh McGuire and Felise Kaufusi.

Players like Joe Ofahenguae and even young Broncos teammates David Fifita and Jaydn Su’A would come into consideration if they can put convincing form on the board early next season.

Ofahengaue, 23, is closest of the three Broncos to an Origin call-up, with 21-year-old Su’A making good strides before breaking an ankle in July and Fifita, 18, impressing with an 11-game NRL stint.

Walters will ensure Ofahengaue has chosen to be available for Queensland first rather than the Tongan team he could play for in the June representative weekend.

Queensland need another overhaul. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

“It’s a discussion we will have with him but he was very close to selection this year,’’ said Walters, who leaves on Monday on a fact-finding visit to two British rugby union teams.

“We’d have no hesitation if the case is there for young players. We brought Kalyn Ponga through this year and he was 20,’’ Walters said.

“If you are good enough you are old enough. Some of those guys have shown some strong glimpses of what they can do.

“The other two young blokes (Su’A and Fifita) will be in our Emerging Origin squad.

“We are putting a lot of work into them to help make them future Origin players. With our younger players, we are going to put a good mentoring system around them in the new year. We are doing everything we can to improve ourselves.’’

Titan Jai Arrow was a successful addition to the Maroons forwards rotation as a 22-year-old debutant in a losing series in 2018.

Queensland will hope to be able to draw on Matt Gillett, 30, again in 2019, provided he is cleared late this month by one last scan on his neck, which he fractured in April.

Queensland had a good blend of ages in their Game Three win, with five of the nine forwards aged 28 or older, including 32-year-old Gavin Cooper and 29-year-old Tim Glasby.

Arrow was one of the finds of the series. Picture by Peter Wallis.

Walters did not want to disclose which British rugby teams he would visit next week.

“These are rep teams. It’s more of a scenario we face as a representative team, a group that’s together for three games,’’ he said.

“I’m just going to look at how other successful teams do things and make sure we are on the right track, which I’m sure we are. It’s more of a little personal development for myself always good to mix with other sports and leaders.

“The aim is to make me a better coach and hope it transitions through the team and the staff.’’

On his return Walters and the QRL will decide on his coaching and staff appointments for 2019, but he does not see a need for notable changes.

“All the staff have been good for a lot of years … all very good at their jobs and know the team so well,’’ he said.

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