Coen Hess admits he has to step up to keep his Queensland Origin jersey
Queensland forward Coen Hess says his form is tracking upwards as the state’s Origin selectors contemplate a cleanout of the incumbent Maroons bench.
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Queensland forward Coen Hess says his form is tracking upwards as the state’s Origin selectors contemplate a cleanout of the incumbent Maroons bench.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Queensland’s selectors are considering blooding up to three forwards – Storm improver Christian Welch and Broncos pair Joe Ofahengaue and David Fifita - on their bench in the team to be chosen in four weeks.
Welch and Ofahengaue would support likely starting props Jai Arrow and Josh Papalii if they were blooded in the Maroons team picked on May 27, and both were 18th men in Origin camps last year to prepare them for a call-up.
Hess, a right-edge specialist like Fifita, has the selection-room advantage over the Broncos 19-year-old of having five Origin games under his belt.
But he needs to make the most of the last four rounds, including Friday’s NRL home clash with Gold Coast.
“My performances haven’t been up to scratch compared to what I expect from myself – the last two performances have been on the right track,’’ Hess said.
“I’d had a slow start to the year. It’s about putting a few more performances together and having full faith in what (Maroons coach) Kevvie Walters wants to do with the team.’’
Cowboys coach Paul Green said Jason Taumalolo had trained Thursday but a decision was yet to be made on whether he would return against the Titans from a knee injury which has sidelined him from round 2.
Hess is averaging 67 minutes per game for the Cowboys, in which time he has compiled 73 run metres from nine runs and 23 tackles, with a total of three tackle busts for the season.
From the first seven rounds, Fifita is averaging 45 minutes for the Broncos, with 88m from nine runs and is averaging 20 tackles. He has made a total of four line breaks.
Welch and Ofahengaue are competing for Origin spots with incumbent bench middles Tim Glasby and Jarrod Wallace.
Hess and Ben Hunt were the other two interchange players in Queensland’s winning Game Three side last year.
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“It’s about putting together some good performances in clubland because that’s how I got the spot,’’ Hess said.
Green said a consideration with the selection of Taumalolo remains to negate any risk of further injury after he was given more time last week when considered for North Queensland’s loss to Canterbury.
“The Titans halves are good and Jai Arrow is a handful, getting them some ruck speed,’’ Green said.
Green scotched suggestions that John Asiata would see time at five-eighth tonight instead of Jake Clifford.
“We need to get Cliffo going. In some areas of his game (Clifford has improved),’’ Green said.
“John plays like that (a five-eighth), no matter what number he wears.’’
Originally published as Coen Hess admits he has to step up to keep his Queensland Origin jersey
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