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There’s a wealth of superb rugby league talent on show tonight in Origin 1 at Etihad Stadium, with one glaring exception: Ben Barba.
What more has the Darwin-born 22-year-old fullback to do to pull on the Maroon jersey?
Week in, week out, he’s made short work of opposition defences with his electrifying runs.
Last Monday night against the Sharks, he crossed for two tries before the break. It so easily could have been three, except for a desperate ankle tap with the white line beckoning.
Barba is an exceptional talent, as his 48 tries from 64 games for the Bulldogs suggests. If Billy Slater wasn’t around, arguably one of the greatest fullbacks in the history of the code, Barba would be among the first chosen.
With the fullback berth locked away, the wing is an obvious alternative for Barba replacing either Darius Boyd, or Brent Tate. Nothing against either player, both have served Queensland with distinction.
But neither is a Ben Barba.
Imagine the nightmare for NSW coach Ricky Stuart if he had to find the game plan to keep Barba quiet when he would have Greg Inglis and Justin Hodges inside him with Slater chiming in from behind.
That’s sleepless nights material.
Stuart has enough on his plate as it is, without Barba. Facing a record seventh straight series defeat, the former Kangaroo half-back had every right to spit chips when Etihad, a neutral ground, was chosen to kick off the 2012 series.
It was NSW’s turn to have two home games this year.
That distinct advantage has been denied the Blues in the belief it was in the best interests of rugby league to promote the code in AFL-mad Melbourne. What a waste of time.
A minimum 95% of the crowd will be from Sydney and Brisbane.
Only the airlines and Melbourne hotels will be the beneficiaries, certainly not rugby league.
Make no mistake: had Queensland been denied the extra home advantage, they would have hit the roof big time, and more than likely had the venue changed to Suncorp.
That’s the difference between Queensland and NSW. The Maroons make things happen.
They will not be denied, their culture demands it.
And that will be the case again tonight.
Queensland can leave super-talent Barba out, while NSW have selected Michael Jennings, who can’t even make Penrith first grade, and Jarryd Hayne, who has been well below par for Parramatta all season.
NSW would kill to have Ben Barba, but can’t have him. Queensland has the riches, and NSW has to pay.
Best summed up by Barba: “There are some bloody great players from Queensland. One day my turn will come”.
Right on both counts Ben. And when your turn does come, it will be for a long time.