Queensland State of Origin hero Wally Lewis has sent an early Christmas present to his good friend, Maroons coach Mal Meninga. It’s a message warning big Mal that he should be wary of a hungry young NSW team ready to steal back the shield in 2011.
Between them, Lewis and Meninga spent years terrorising Blues’ defences, similar to what the likes of Greg Inglis, Billy Slater and Darren Lockyer have done to catapult this Queensland side to a record five consecutive series victories.
But Lewis admits he is concerned about the way a talented young Blues squad is shaping up for next year’s contest, with Dally M medal winner Todd Carney the centrepiece of a new generation of youngsters from south of the border, sick of seeing their team lose.
Lewis can see the potential in sticking with a bold new team.
“It’s starting to look like a side that is young, hungry and is starting to get enough experience to be very competitive State of Origin wise,” Lewis told AAP.
“It’s going to make sure it’s a very tight series … I think it will just make Mal that little bit more determined.”
Led by the 24-year-old Carney and his 21-year-old Sydney Roosters team-mate Mitchell Pearce, the Blues have a stable halves foundation capable of standing up to Queensland’s duo of Lockyer and Johnathan Thurston.
Like many, Lewis enjoyed watching Carney’s successful comeback season and said the brilliant five-eighth was capable of transferring his skills to the Origin arena.
“The tough footy scene and the Origin scene are very different, in fact they’re very different games of footy altogether,” Lewis said.
“You’ve got to be a different player with different skills and a different personality to even be able to exist at that level.
“But (Carney) has managed to handle everything that’s been put in front of him so far since his return to the game.
“If the team was picked today he would be the five-eighth.
“The form that he displayed this year was very enterprising.
“It was wonderful to see how his confidence was restored after a couple of devastating years in his life off the field.”
Hoy
Roar Guru
l actually think that Carney might take a while to settle in. I thought he was not that great for Australia, and did nothing with the ball at all in the creativity stakes. Having said that, I do believe that NSW will turn it around.
James Mills
Guest
The Maroons will meet their worst nightmare in 2011....and his name is Todd Carney