Origin 2020: Maroons will be inspired by 12 players that were rejected by Brisbane Broncos
The Broncos will have one of their lowest State of Origin representations in 40 years, but the Queensland team is stacked with players who were discarded by the NRL’s wooden spooners.
Maroons
Don't miss out on the headlines from Maroons. Followed categories will be added to My News.
They are the Dirty Dozen – the 12 Brisbane Broncos rejects ready to snap Queensland’s State of Origin losing streak.
At least 12 of Queensland’s 27-man squad for the upcoming series against NSW either played for the Broncos, came through Brisbane’s development program or were overlooked by Red Hill scouts.
The Broncos will have one of their lowest Queensland representations in Origin’s 40-year history this series, with only winger Xavier Coates to pull on a Maroons jersey in Adelaide on Wednesday and forward Patrick Carrigan in the reserves.
Catch Fox League’s news, views and analysis on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
NRL NEWS
‘I bleed blue brother’: Maroon rants don’t bother Luai
Numbers to decide State of Origin schedule fate
‘He’s ours now’: Blues hit back at Maroons’ Keary claim
The likes of Dane Gagai, Ben Hunt, Jai Arrow, Jaydn Su’A and Dunamis Lui made their NRL debuts for the Broncos before joining other clubs.
Storm star Cameron Munster, Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans, Titans dynamo AJ Brimson and emerging Dragons prop Josh Kerr weren’t regarded as good enough to secure Broncos contracts as juniors.
Debutant Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was a Broncos junior along with Souths flyer Corey Allan while prop Lindsay Collins played three years of under-20s for Brisbane before heading to the Roosters.
“I grew up in Brisbane playing for Brothers Juniors,” Collins said ahead of his Origin debut.
“I went to Norths Devils for Cyril Connell Cup and Mal Meninga Cup. From there I was signed by the Broncos in development and worked my way up to get an under-20s contract.
“I had three years in the under-20s at the Broncos, then in my last year I got a contract offer from the Roosters and moved down.
“There was an opportunity to stay at the Broncos, but development-wise, I saw a good forward pack at the Roosters.”
Su’A, 23, debuted for the Broncos in 2016 and was tipped to develop into one of Brisbane’s great backrowers.
But the arrival of Anthony Seibold as coach led to Su’A being released to the Rabbitohs after eight games last year, where he linked up with former Broncos and current Queensland coach Wayne Bennett.
Ironically, it was Bennett who farewelled a handful of Broncos players that he is now relying on win Queensland’s first series since 2017.
“It feels like it was yesterday I was at the Broncos, but I’m very grateful for what they have done for me and for the opportunities they gave me,” Su’A said.
“It was a tough time (leaving), but I am lucky, I have some good people around me. I am a family orientated guy, so the hardest thing was leaving my family and with COVID, I haven’t been able to come up here.
“I don’t like talking about it (Broncos departure). I got a few injuries and I was coming back and I did my ankle and fell too far behind. Seibs actually started me in round one in his first game but I was underdone and I was a liability out there.
“I have nothing but respect for Seibs. It sucks I had to leave but I’m very grateful for how it turned out. I am potentially about to put on a Maroons jersey so the move has paid off.”
Brimson, 22, played his junior football in Brisbane and his older brother, Will, was in the Broncos’ under-20s.
But it was the Titans that snapped up Queensland’s new fullback sensation after he joined league school Keebra Park on the Gold Coast.
“My brother was a Broncos junior in the under-20s,” Brimson said.
“When he first got a contract at the Broncos, it was a massive deal. He was contracted at an NRL club.
“I don’t know (why the Broncos weren’t interested in me), I just never got picked up until the Titans saw me in Year 11.”
Rockhampton product Munster held a Broncos scholarship in his teens and attended a camp where the club decided they did not want to sign him.
He is now a Kangaroos and Maroons representative and a two-time premiership winner with Melbourne.
“I went down to the Broncos development program for a couple of days and did the sessions and that and then they came back and my manager goes, ‘Nah, they’re not too interested anymore’,” Munster said.
“My heart sunk a little and I was like, ‘Oh. No worries’.
“I loved watching Darren Lockyer as a kid and hoped to play for the Broncos, but it’s worked out for me at the Storm.”