With Darius Boyd looking to be unavailable for selection and Brent Tate now retired, who will Mal Meninga select to play on the wing for the Queensland Maroons in 2015? In this edition of the series, we look at the Queensland wingers.
Will it be Dale Copley, Will Chambers, Dane Gagai or a bolter to line up on the flanks for the Maroons?
Dale Copley (Brisbane Broncos)
Aspley Devils junior Dale Copley is destined for huge things. A stand-out for the Broncos last season, Copley scored 16 tries in 25 matches for Brisbane, more than any other Broncos player. He has played in front of large crowds before but is yet to play in front of a stage as big as State of Origin.
Dale Copley must step-up his season if he wants to be included in Meninga’s side for Game 1, after returning from injury last week.
Will Chambers (Melbourne Storm)
26-year old William Chambers was the Maroons’ 18th-man in the first two games of the 2014 State of Origin series, making his State of Origin debut in Game 3 as a replacement for the injured Brent Tate. Chambers has proven he can perform in the State of Origin arena, he might just be the man to heal the Maroons’ wounds for the second year in a row.
Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
Born in Mackay, Dane Gagai will no doubt wear the Maroon jersey one day however, the question is when? At just 24 years of age, Gagai is part of Queensland’s generation-next missing out on selection for last year’s Maroons side but featuring in the emerging Maroons squad two years in a row.
Dane Gagai has been one of the most deadly wingers so far this season and if selected, will add some spark to Queensland’s attack.
Bolters
The grandson of a Queensland rugby league legend, Lachlan Maranta (Brisbane Broncos) isn’t the best choice to play for the Maroons but is still a chance. The 22-year-old winger from Brisbane has been in great form for the Broncos so far this season, scoring four tries from five games.
John Folau (Parramatta Eels) has represented his state before playing for the Queensland Under-20s team in 2014 a year in which he also represented Tonga in their Test against Papua New Guinea. Scoring two tries after just three games. the baby-faced younger brother of NSW Waratahs star Israel Folau is already turning heads.
Edrick Lee (Canberra Raiders) was one of Queensland’s best players in their 2012 U20s Origin match. The tall Raiders winger showed the rugby league world his attacking prowess in that game.
Edrick Lee has played 29 first grade games for the Raiders, scoring 15 tries in a career plagued by injury. However, if the beginning of his 2015 season is anything to go by, it looks as though Lee may be ready for his first full season in first-grade.
Come May 27, Justin Hodges (Brisbane Broncos) will be wearing a Queensland jersey, representing his state in the series opener. However, it is unsure where Hodges will play.
The Broncos captain has featured 21 times since 2002 for Queensland, scoring a total of five tries. The dominant outside back could be playing his last State of Origin series as he will turn 33 years just two days before Game 1.
Justin Hodges could be a deadly replacement on the wing and he has enough experience under his belt to appear on the flank for Meninga’s Maroons.
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