QLD State of Origin 2013 team announced; expert reaction

The 2013 Queensland State of Origin team has been announced by coach Mal Meninga, and despite some last minute hiccups over the weekend the Maroons have once again named a formidable line up.

Meninga has named a 19 man squad to cover for injuries. As a team, QLD have long preached player loyalty. Combined with seven series win in a row, it’s no surprise to see a host of familiar faces retained from last year’s series.

Despite this though there are still some interesting selections that have been made, as QLD looks to build for the future with a couple of new faces. The team is:

Billy Slater
The current Australian fullback (and twice Australia’s Greatest Athlete) is regarded as the ultimate competitor, and despite a few murmurs about moving Greg Inglis to his Rabbitohs position for Origin, Slater will once again slide into the Maroons number one jersey.

Darius Boyd
Darius Boyd has been selected after being cleared of serious injury. Boyd aims up in every Origin he is selected for, and will no doubt play a part to harass the Blues if he is right to play.

Greg Inglis
The Maroons footballing nuclear weapon, Inglis is in ridiculous form and is quickly closing in on one Kevin Sinfield for best player in the world status. Dangerous from anywhere on the park, it’ll be a matter of when not if Inglis will make his mark on this series (and hopefully not via a contentious Video ref decision).

Justin Hodges
Another walk up start if fit, Hodges has the ability to beat defenders and off-load at will all whilst seemingly moving in slow motion. Public enemy number one South of the border, Hodges is a big match player who has never let the Maroons down. Ok maybe just once, but that was a looong time ago!

Brent Tate
While he seems to have been around forever and can occasionally have a dud club match, Tate always brings his A game to Origin.
A player who grows an extra couple of inches for these games, Tate is great for getting his scoot on out of dummy half and will cop anything the Blues throw his way in attack square on the chin.

Johnathan Thurston
May come into camp a little late after the birth of his child but don’t expect it to affect his game preparation. With a decent seven and nine to help him out for a change Thurston will be firing on all cylinders, and is just as adept at running the footy as he is booting it down the field.

Cooper Cronk
Rugby league’s new Mr Clutch after his field goal in last year’s deciding match, Cronk has served his apprenticeship and has so far revelled in his representative roles. Seems destined to break Blues hearts for a few years yet. Cronk has been cleared of a spearing tackle and won’t face any judiciary trouble.

Matt Scott
Has been the stand out prop in the last couple of series but has been a tad quiet this year. I’m tipping the big man to fire up against teammate Josh Tamou and put in some extra time in game one with the injury to Ben Hannnant.

Cameron Smith
The most important man in the QLD set-up, Smith will be doing everything bar driving the team bus in camp Maroon (Wally did actually drive the team bus funnily enough). Endless tackles, scoots out of dummy half, deft grubbers for repeat sets….the man is a machine with a Just Cuts Hairdo.

David Shillington
The nicest man in Origin thanks to Ben Creagh’s omission from the Blues, Shillo beat a last minute judiciary charge to take his place with the Maroons and will be champing at the bit after an up and down NRL season so far. Is capable of bending the line back with his massive frame. Shillington has been cleared of a high tackle ahead of Game 1.

Nate Myles
Myles is the Maroons Mr Consistency and will be going just as hard in the final minute as the first. Loves a tackle or fifty, could possibly spend some time in the front row as he has done so with the Titans this season.

Sam Thaiday
Another backrower who has played a lot of prop in the NRL this year, Thaiday will get the chance to run a little bit wider in Origin and has the knack of being on the end of sweetly timed Thurston cut outs when wearing Maroon.

Ashley Harrison
The Maroons indestructible man, Harrison – much like Dallas Johnson in recent years – has a knee injury, and is likely to cop an absolute flogging from the ‘Bruise Brothers’ but still be standing in the eightieth minute. The modern day Bob Linder, Harrison always plays his best in Origin matches.

Interchange

Corey Parker
Usually an eighty minute player, Parker is probably coming into the twilight of his Origin career. Still, you know what you get with the man (lots of tackles, couple of off-loads, stylish grey streaks) and will provide a calming influence on the team.

Matt Gillett
A handy player who has the skills to slot into the centres if required, Gillett has been retained by the QLD selectors despite stern competition from Raiders hitman Josh Papalii and Souths versatile Chris Mcqueen. Hasn’t shown his best at Origin level yet.

Ben T’eo
Up until a week ago T’eo was just another cog in the all-conquering Souths forward pack, but has been thrown into the limelight for all the wrong reasons in the last week. His form warrants selection as does his brutal tackling, and whilst perhaps controversial is a savvy choice from a footballing perspective.

Chris McQueen
Kingaroy junior and South Sydney Rabbitohs star Chris McQueen is the only new face in the Maroons’ 17. He makes his debut for QLD, and can cover wing, centre and fullback.

Daly Cherry-Evans
Manly’s star specialist halfback is in the squad for the Maroons, but is likely to only be needed should something go amiss for Johnathan Thurston. He’s not suited to the rotation of the bench, and Meninga hasn’t chosen to carry him here. But he’s available if needed, and gets to experience the Queensland setup

Josh Papalii
The Canberra Raiders power forward and firebrand is in Mal Meninga’s squad, possibly to further push thoughts of playing for New Zealand out of his man. He joins the extended squad for Origin I as cover.

The Melbourne Storm’s Justin O’Neill is on standby for Darius Boyd.