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With both Queensland and New South Wales having released their emerging Origin squads last week, we have a glimpse into what both sides might look like in 2020.
Looking at Queensland first, 19 players were used over the three-match series in 2016, with nine over 30 years old – Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Corey Parker, Matt Scott, Nate Myles, Sam Thaiday, Jacob Lillyman and Gavin Cooper.
All of those players will be gone by 2020, while Darius Boyd and Greg Inglis will both be 33.
Below is a potential Queensland line-up (including their ages in 2020), taking the emerging Queensland Origin squad into consideration, and assuming Inglis and Boyd will still be about.
Queensland
Fullback: Darius Boyd (33)
Wingers: Valentine Holmes (25), Dane Gagai (29)
Centres: Greg Inglis (33), Justin O’Neill (29)
Halves: Michael Morgan (28), Moses Mbye (27)
Props: Josh Papalii (28), Dylan Napa (28)
Hooker: Jake Friend (30)
Second-rowers: Matt Gillett (32), Ethan Lowe (29)
Lock: Josh McGuire (30)
Interchange: Anthony Milford (26), Corey Oates (26), Coen Hess (24), Jarrod Wallace (29)
I am assuming Corey Oates will have transitioned to the forwards by then, making him a great bench option.
I also haven’t considered Kalyn Ponga since he wasn’t named in the emerging Queensland squad. He hasn’t officially declared his allegiance to Australia or New Zealand yet, and despite all the hype, he’s only played two NRL games.
Halfback is the most contentious spot, with Daly Cherry-Evans (who’ll be 31), Ben Hunt (30) and Ash Taylor (25) all likely to be in the mix with Moses Mbye, who I have chosen.
Cameron Munster will be 26 in 2020 and likely pressing heavily for a spot at fullback, five-eighth, in the centres, or as a utility on the bench. He would provide great insurance against either Inglis or Boyd not being available in 2020.
Turning to New South Wales, the Blues used 22 players across the 2016 series.
Five of those players are over 30 and won’t be there in 2020 – Paul Gallen, Robbie Farah, Greg Bird, Josh Morris and James Maloney.
Below is a potential NSW line-up.
New South Wales
Fullback: James Tedesco (27)
Wings: Tom Trbojevic (24), Josh Mansour (30)
Centres: James Roberts (27), Jarryd Hayne (32)
Halves: Matt Moylan (29), Nathan Cleary (23)
Props: Aaron Woods (29), David Klemmer (26)
Hooker: Nathan Peats (30)
Second-rowers: Boyd Cordner (28), Tyson Frizell (29)
Lock: Josh Jackson (29)
Interchange: Jack Bird (25), Wade Graham (30), Andrew Fifita (31), Shannon Boyd (28)
To accommodate Tedesco at fullback, I have Moylan at five-eighth, where he played in the third game of this year’s series, and slotted Hayne in the centres.
I’ve picked Roberts as the other centre, edging out Joey Leilua, for his Michael Jennings-like pace and potential ability to break an Origin game open.
Of course, a lot can happen in three-and-a-half years. Bolters will emerge, with form and injuries at the time playing a big part.
Who is in your Origin sides in 2020 at this early stage?
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