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Queensland's Cameron Smith celebrates with Nate Myles. AAP Image/Dean Lewins
NSW looked to add more mongrel, while Queensland backflipped on their decision to stand down Israel Folau from the Maroons after the Bronco switched to AFL in a move which barely caused a ripple of interest in the Australian sporting news media.
“He’s doing what? Honestly, mate, I read the papers cover to cover every day pouring through the pages looking for some sort of news about rugby league and it really gets my goat that nobody bothered to report this sort of thing in the papers. I’m sure someone would have been interested,” was what Darren Lockyer didn’t tell me when I didn’t confront him about the Folau selection.
But wouldn’t it have made a nice change.
Meanwhile, Dragons centre Beau Scott has redefined what it means to be a Origin bolter by streaking past the likes of Josh Morris, Jamal Idris, Michael Jennings, Chris Lawrence and Beau Champion to secure the other centre postion alongside team mate Matt Cooper.
Scott’s defensive reputation has clearly got him the nod, and the shift towards grunt is underlined, put in bold, and then the font is increased to 72 with the selection of Paul Gallen, Nathan Hindmarsh and the human penalty count, Luke O’Donnell.
The Blues side does look better balanced with Hayne at fullback and a natural five-eighth in Barrett at six.
But really, it’s largely academic when facing the might of the Maroons.
I’m glad they picked Folau – anything to bring us back to some version of normality. The press would have gone into overdrive had he been dumped.
No doubt there would have been calls to drag Ross Livermore in front of International Criminal Court and some human rights abuse charges from Folau manager David Riolo.
It’s high time the circus moved on.
Let’s face it, whether it’s all about marketing or taking up a new challenge, the school kids don’t care. They just want to get out of science class.
It’s a battle hardened Blues side picked to try and stop a Maroons juggernaut on their home turf.
I’ll make just one prediction: Johnathan Thurston will be caught on camera swearing at least half a dozen times during the match.
NSW: Jarryd Hayne, Brett Morris, Beau Scott, Matt Cooper, Timana Tahu, Trent Barrett (vice-capt), Mitchell Pearce, Michael Weyman, Michael Ennis, Brett White, Ben Creagh, Trent Waterhouse, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Kurt Gidley (capt), Nathan Hindmarsh, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Luke O’Donnell.
Queensland: Billy Slater, Israel Folau, Greg Inglis, Willie Tonga, Darius Boyd, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Dave Shillington, Cameron Smith, Matt Scott, Sam Thaiday, Nate Myles, Ash Harrison. Interchange: Cooper Cronk, Neville Costigan, Dave Taylor, Ben Hannant
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