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Dumped NSW halfback Peter Wallace could have done “something special” if Blues selectors had kept the faith, according to his Broncos teammate and Queensland foe Karmichael Hunt.
Hunt concedes he could be playing his 10th and final Origin next Wednesday night at Suncorp Stadium when Queensland vie for their first clean sweep over the Blues in 15 years.
Hunt is expected to take up a lucrative overseas rugby deal.
But his thoughts were not far from good mate Wallace.
Hunt could barely hide his disappointment after the Blues selectors axed Wallace and opted for their third halves pairing of the series – and their 10th in 12 Origin games.
As a result, NSW will use the oldest halves pairing in Origin history – Brett Kimmorley, 32, and 31-year-old Trent Barrett – in game three.
Canberra five-eighth Terry Campese was cut by NSW following Origin I and Wallace was clearly on his last chance in game two after speculation emerged he could be hooked at halftime if he did not perform.
Following Queensland’s 24-14 win that secured an unprecedented fourth straight series win, Wallace’s fate was sealed.
But it didn’t make the news any easier to take for Wallace’s close friend Hunt.
“I am really disappointed for Peter, he is a good mate of mine,” Hunt said.
“With the word that came out of camp before that game we all knew if they didn’t win game two he wouldn’t be selected.
“It’s a shame, but that’s NSW.”
Hunt said the Blues should be wondering what might have been after dumping both Campese – a former Test pivot – and Wallace.
“I am definitely disappointed the way they have treated him,” Hunt said of Wallace.
“I would have kept Campese and Wallace together for a while.
“They are young, ambitious and with a bit more game time together they could have done something special for NSW.
“But it wasn’t to be. Instead they have chopped and changed their halves.
“There is no consistency so Wallace hasn’t been able to establish the confidence that he needs to have at Origin level.”
Hunt admitted Wallace had lost plenty of confidence due to NSW’s treatment, but backed the Broncos No.7 to bounce back in the NRL.
“I don’t expect it to spill over for the Broncos. I have every faith in him,” he said.
After receiving a Maroons bench nod for Origin III on Tuesday, Hunt said he was confident of overcoming an ankle injury.
But he didn’t give too much away when asked about his Origin future.
“There is a possibility it could be my last Origin camp and last game for Queensland, but in two, three weeks’ time we will have an answer to that,” Hunt said.
“It is not going to change the way I prepare for Origin.
“But I am always going into an Origin thinking it is my last. It helps me play my game, playing it the best I can.”
Teams named on Tuesday for round 18 of the NRL (all times AEST):
FRIDAY
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS v PENRITH PANTHERS at ANZ Stadium, 7.35pm
RABBITOHS: Nathan Merritt, Jamie Simpson, Colin Best, Beau Champion, Fetuli Talanoa, John Sutton, Chris Sandow, Luke Stuart, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi (capt), Ben Lowe, Eddy Pettybourne, David Fa’alogo. Interchange: Beau Falloon, Shannan McPherson, Dave Tyrrell, Scott Geddes, Garret Crossman. (one to be omitted)
PANTHERS: Jarrod Sammut, Ben McFadgean, Geoff Daniela, Brad Tighe, Junior Tia Kilifi, Wade Graham, Luke Walsh, Tim Grant, Paul Aiton, Frank Puletua, Gavin Cooper, Joseph Paulo, Nathan Smith. Interchange: Maurice Blair, Adam Woolnough, Matthew Bell, Joel Romelo, Sam McKendry, Andrew Emelio. (Two to be omitted)
Referees: Ben Cummins, Tony De Las Heras.SATURDAY
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v CANBERRA RAIDERS at EnergyAustralia Stadium, 7.30pm
KNIGHTS: Shannon McDonnell, Keith Lulia, Junior Sau, Adam MacDougall, Akulia Uate, Ben Rogers, Jarrod Mullen, Mark Taufua, Isaac DeGois, Chris Houston, Steve Simpson (capt), Zeb Taia, Matt Hilder. Interchange: Wes Naiqama, Cory Paterson, Marvin Karawana, Scott Dureau, Richie Faaoso, Danny Wicks. (Two to be omitted)
RAIDERS: Josh Dugan, Daniel Vidot, Jarrod Croker, Joel Monaghan, Phil Graham, Terry Campese, Marc Herbert, Dane Tilse, Glen Buttriss, Troy Thompson, Joe Picker, Bronson Harrison, Alan Tongue (capt). Interchange: Joel Thompson, Nigel Plum, Josh Miller, Scott Logan, Glen Turner. (One to be omitted)
Referees: Jared Maxwell, Bernard SuttonSUNDAY
WARRIORS v BULLDOGS at Mt Smart Stadium, 2pm
WARRIORS: Wade McKinnon, Kevin Locke, Jerome Ropati, Joel Moon, Manu Vatuvei, Lance Hohaia, Stacey Jones, Russell Packer, Ian Henderson, Sam Rapira, Simon Mannering, Lewis Brown, Micheal Luck (capt). Interchange: Aaron Heremaia, Jesse Royal, Ben Matulino, Jacob Lillyman, Ukuma Ta’ai. (One to be omitted).
BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Daryl Millard Matt Utai, Bryson Goodwin, Ben Roberts, Daniel Holdsworth, Jarrad Hickey, Michael Sullivan, Michael Hodgson, Gary Warburton, Andrew Ryan (capt), David Stagg. Interchange: Brad Morrin, Chris Armit, Yileen Gordon, Greg Eastwood.
Referees: Jason Robinson, Gerard SuttonST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS v MANLY SEA EAGLES at WIN Stadium, 3pm
DRAGONS: Jason Nightingale, Brett Morris, Chase Stanley, Matt Cooper, Wendell Sailor, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby (capt), Dan Hunt, Luke Priddis, Jon Green, Jarrod Saffy, Beau Scott, Dean Young Interchange: Trent Merrin, Nick Emmett, Michael Lett, Nathan Fien, Mathew Head. (One to be omitted)
SEA EAGLES: Michael Robertson, Andrew Suniula, Ben Farrar, Steve Matai, Tony Williams, Chris Bailey, Matt Orford (capt), Jason King, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Shane Rodney, Adam Cuthbertson, Glenn Hall. Interchange: Heath L’Estrange, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, George Rose, Vic Mauro, Kieran Foran. (One to be omitted).
Referees: Gavin Badger, Ashley KleinMONDAY
GOLD COAST TITANS v PARRAMATTA EELS at Skilled Park, 7pm
TITANS: Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Esi Tonga, Brett Delaney, Chris Walker, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince, Luke Bailey (capt), Nathan Friend, Michael Henderson, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Brad Meyers. Interchange: Matt White, Will Matthews, Daniel Conn, William Zillman, David Mead, Josh Graham. (Two to be omitted)EELS: Luke Burt, Krisnan Inu, Joel Reddy, Domenic Nasso, Ben Smith, Eric Grothe, Daniel Mortimer, Jeff Robson, Nathan Cayless (capt) Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Joe Galuvao, Todd Lowrie, Jason Baitieri. Interchange: Kevin Kingston, Broderick Wright, Tim Mannah, Jeremy Latimore.
Referees: Steve Lyons, Matt Cecchin.(BRISBANE, NORTH QUEENSLAND, MELBOURNE, CRONULLA, ROOSTERS, WESTS TIGERS all have the bye
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