Queensland need to stay calm amid State of Origin forward injury crisis

Queensland’s forwards might be dropping like flies but there’s no need to panic - they will travel to Perth with all the pressure on their opponents writes GORDEN TALLIS.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 05: Kalyn Ponga, Corey Oates, Cameron Munster and Michael Morgan of the Maroons celebrate victory after game one of the 2019 State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on June 05, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

• BLUES: NSW dance with oblivion

• BATTLE: Who replaces Jai Arrow?

Don’t panic Queensland.

Yes, we’ve lost a couple of forwards from the State of Origin series opener with Joe Ofahengaue and Jai Arrow being ruled out through injury.

It’s never ideal to have to make forced changes to a winning side but that’s Origin football. Injuries happen.

How you deal with them is what matters most.

You have to have the “one soldier down, next soldier up” mentality because getting down in the dumps about who isn’t playing doesn’t help anyone.

And I like what the contenders to replace them bring.

Jarrod Wallace, Tim Glasby and Christian Welch are effort players.

And Queensland is the effort state.

So it is like for like.

Those guys will never win you an Origin. But if they don’t do their job in the middle of the park, they can lose one for you.

Glasby is a proven performer at Origin level. Picture by Brett Costello.

But these guys always do their job. Their workrates are excellent.

They don’t let their club sides down and they wouldn’t let Queensland down either.

Glasby was 18th man for Game One so he would be the frontrunner to slot straight into the side for Game Two in Perth.

He has played Origin before and comes out of that great Melbourne system that demands professionalism and discipline. He has kept those high standards since he made the move to Newcastle this season.

Controlling the middle of the ground is what Melbourne is all about so he would do a job for Queensland off the bench.

So would Welch. Another Storm product. He was right in the mix for Game One before a knee injury ruled him out and he’s back playing now so the Maroons selectors would be having a look at him.

Could Wallace earn an Origin recall? Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

Wallace has found some good form at the right time. His last couple of weeks for the Titans has been very good. He has played at Origin level before too so you wouldn’t lose any sleep about him pulling on the Queensland jersey again.

The Blues have had their own injury worries and more than a few selection headaches after the series opener. They have also turned on their own south of the border.

But despite all that, Queensland have to take their game to another level to beat them.

NSW will be desperate. They have more than a few blokes with a point to prove and you have to show the utmost respect to any opposition with their backs to the wall.

The biggest positive for Queensland as they to wrap up the series is their spine.

Think about this.

Welch is one of the NRL’s most underrated players. Picture by Michael Klein.

Kalyn Ponga was playing just his second Origin and his first game at fullback for Queensland.

Ben Hunt was playing his first Origin game as a starting no.9.

And Daly Cherry-Evans was playing his first game in six weeks.

And Cam Munster, well he’s just a freak that gets better with every game for the Maroons.

That spine did a brilliant job in Game One. That 80 minutes of high quality football and another week in camp training alongside each other will only help them take their collective game to another level.

A level they must find if they want to head home with an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series.

It won’t be easy. But that’s Origin.