Billy Moore backs North Queensland prop Matt Scott to captain Maroons

Queensland legend Billy Moore believes there’s an obvious candidate to replace Greg Inglis as Queensland captain, urging Kevin Walters not to overlook veteran prop Matt Scott.

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Maroons legend Billy Moore has called for coach Kevin Walters to end Matt Scott’s three-year Origin exile by installing the Cowboys enforcer as Queensland’s next captain.

As the Cowboys prop prepares for Saturday’s clash against the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium, Moore believes Scott – not Daly Cherry-Evans – is the man to skipper the Maroons in their Origin revenge mission this season.

Cherry-Evans is considered the hot favourite to succeed the retired Greg Inglis, with Queensland duo Corey Oates and Jai Arrow supporting Walters’ belief that the Manly skipper has the maturity to lead the Maroons.

But Moore says the Maroons cannot ignore the leadership claims of Scott, who enjoyed a glorious seven-year reign as co-captain of the Cowboys, spearheading the club’s historic premiership win in 2015.

Scott produced his best game of the season last week, charging for 144 metres against the Storm, and can send a powerful message to Walters by dominating the Warriors pack tonight in Auckland.

“If he keeps the form up that I’ve seen, I’d give the Queensland captaincy to Matt Scott,” said Moore, the former Queensland lock who played 17 Origin games between 1992-97.

“Daly would certainly be a good candidate but Scott just has that aura and authority upfront.

“I’ve been looking at Scott’s numbers closely. Last week he ran for 140-odd metres, his defence was strong and carries were good against the best team of the decade in the Storm.

“He is playing well enough to earn an Origin recall. Queensland are going to have a lot of young kids but they need a pack leader and Matt Scott is the bloke.

Scott is the most experienced Queensland player available. Picture by Josh Woning.

“The stage is set up perfectly for Scott to come back to captain the Maroons.”

The Cowboys’ greatest prop turns 34 in July and there are fears the Origin ship may have sailed on Scott.

He played the last of his 22 games in 2016, with Scott’s hopes of a Queensland recall last year cruelled when he suffered a knee injury on the eve of the Origin series before undergoing off-season neck surgery.

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But Scott has recovered well. In the opening five rounds this season, he has averaged 47 minutes of action, compiling 583 metres at a mark of 116.6 per game.

In four of five games, Scott has amassed more than 100m, numbers which suggest his 110kg frame can withstand the punishment of one more Origin campaign.

Walters insists he has not closed the Origin selection door on the 256-game warhorse.

“If Matt Scott comes back well from injury, there’s no reason we can’t select him again,” Walters said.

“We are a young side so if we get some experienced players that are in good form, that will only help us.

“I felt ‘Thumper’ was a bit underdone for game one last year, then he injured his neck and wasn’t really in good shape.

“But it seems like he is rested up and fresh and that is good news for the Cowboys and Queensland.”

Originally published as Billy Moore backs North Queensland prop Matt Scott to captain Maroons