Origin teams: Storm giant Brenko Lee leads a wave of new Maroons set to make their Queensland debuts
Queensland coach Wayne Bennett famously blooded nine new faces in the Maroons’ epic series win 2001 – and the master mentor is set to dust off that playbook once again.
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Maligned Melbourne centre Brenko Lee is on the cusp of a stunning Origin debut as Queensland coach Wayne Bennett prepares to blood a host of new faces for his Maroons rescue mission.
The Sunday Mail can reveal Bennett will preside over Queensland’s biggest selection shake-up in 19 years with up to nine debutants in line for a Maroons baptism in Origin I on November 4.
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Queensland’s injury crisis has prompted Bennett to dust off his 2001 playbook, when he chose nine new caps following the Maroons’ embarrassing 3-0 series loss to NSW in 2000.
The likes of Carl Webb, John Buttigieg, John Doyle, Chris Beattie, Kevin Campion, Lote Tuqiri, Brad Meyers, Daniel Wagon and Chris Walker helped inspire a stunning 2-1 series upset.
Now Bennett is plotting another Blues boilover, with the unrelated Lee duo – Brenko and Edrick – to usher in Queensland‘s Generation Next in the series opener at Adelaide Oval.
Storm giant Lee was not named in Queensland’s train-on squad because Melbourne are still in the NRL finals, but he is pencilled in to debut at centre in Game One.
Lee has had a chequered NRL career, having played 65 games in six seasons with stints at four clubs, including Canberra, Canterbury and Titans.
But Lee has enjoyed the best season of his career for Melbourne this year at centre and Bennett likes his 104kg frame and tackle-busting ability in Queensland‘s weakest positional area.
Bennett, back for his fourth term as Queensland coach, is also considering eight other debutants for Origin I. They are Edrick Lee, AJ Brimson, Phillip Sami, Jake Friend, Jaydn Su’A, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Lindsay Collins and Moe Fotuaika.
Former Maroons coach Kevin Walters, who quit 10 days ago to take charge of the Broncos, confirmed Brenko Lee has rocketed into contention as he eyes a premiership at the Storm.
“Brenko is a real chance,” Walters said. ”He has been good in the Storm system, he has a strong carry of the ball and he has improved out of sight since moving to Melbourne.
“Brenko has the physique for Origin but it’s also about having the mental capacity.
“He is a very calm person and he would handle the step up in class not only because of his ability, but his mental strength.
“I‘ve had Brenko in emerging Origin squads so he has been earmarked for some time.”
Bennett was tight-lipped but said he had the majority of his Origin I side locked in, with up to six spots still up for grabs.
“There‘s 11 or 12 guys fit and picked in my mind,” he said. ”We just need to see how the other guys come through.”
Kalyn Ponga’s withdrawal with a shoulder injury on Friday will see Titans sensation Brimson make his Origin debut at fullback, with Dane Gagai and the Lee duo chasing three-quarter spots.
With Valentine Holmes to miss Game One due to suspension, Maroons selectors are considering quick-stepping Sami, who has a Titans connection with Brimson.
In the forwards, Bennett is keen to balance youth with the premiership-winning experience of Roosters hooker Jake Friend, who could claim his maiden Maroons jumper at age 30.
Souths hit man Jaydn Su‘A is likely to start in the back row, with rookie trio Fa’asuamaleaui, Collins and Fotuaika to inject size, energy, hunger and aggression off the bench.
Queensland‘s player-of-the-year last season, Ben Hunt, faces being relegated from hooker to the crucial No. 14 slot because of his utility value.
Bennett is also closely watching Kurt Capewell, who came off the bench for the Panthers in the finals last week and is capable of playing centre or back row.
Titans ironman Jai Arrow is a frontrunner for the No. 13 role, with Broncos workhorse Pat Carrigan applying pressure in the extended squad.
Former Queensland lock Scott Sattler was handed his Origin debut by Bennett in 2003 and said the super coach is the perfect man to engineer another Maroons boilover.
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“This is Queensland‘s biggest challenge since that 2001 series,” he said.
“NSW will be the raging favourites but these batch of Maroons kids have nothing to lose and Wayne can get the best out of them.
“I made my Origin debut under Wayne in 2003 and he took all my nerves away because he just simplified things.
“Wayne won‘t over-complicate the situation for young kids like Tino and AJ Brimson. They will love being coached by him in Origin.
“What you will get with all these debutants is enthusiasm and energy which can lift the entire squad.
“Wayne Bennett brought together a group of kids in 2001 and I couldn‘t think of anyone better to do it again.”