State of Origin 2023: Why have Queensland Maroons abandoned ‘pick and stick’ loyalty policy
For years Queensland have claimed the moral high ground over NSW when it comes to team selections. But it seems the Maroons ‘pick and stick’ policy has been given the flick, writes Dean Ritchie.
Opinion
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It appears Queensland’s fragile ‘pick and stick’ has now been given the Origin flick.
In reality, it’s pick and stick when it suits.
For years, Queensland has taken the moral high-ground and lectured NSW about the desperate need to stick solid in team selections.
In Queensland’s warped eyes, the Blues just don’t understand State of Origin.
Queensland’s mantra would seem a little feeble today however given their treatment of Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai – two champions who have always excelled in Origin.
Both have been dumped for Origin I despite years of unyielding service to their beloved Maroons.
Gagai has played 23 Origin games for Queensland; Ponga the hero in game three just last year.
I’m all for picking players on form but please stop advocating a phantom loyalty that clearly doesn’t exist.
It was only a year ago when Maroons legend Cam Smith took to SEN radio to claim: “I lean towards (picking players) based on what that particular player has done previously for an Origin jersey. I really do … no matter how your team is travelling.”
And Queensland champion Mal Meninga agreed when penning a column for NRL.com in 2019.
“For me pick-and-stick is the Queensland way, but I understand the arguments for swapping around,” big Mal wrote.
“However pick-and-stick is all about established combinations, cohesion, familiarity with each other.”
And in the same year, current Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans said selection “continuity” was “something that you probably all want,”
DCE said: “So to some degree we do have more than them when it comes to that.”
All upstanding comments that ring ever-so-true.
Yet Queensland – just one day into the 2023 series – has already clearly shown they don’t practice what they preach.
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