It has been a year Maroons supporters would rather forget, with their Origin team thudding back to earth after a series loss.
At halftime at Suncorp, there must have been thousands of Queenslanders getting ready to turn their TV sets off and punch some walls, after the Blues went into the sheds with an incomprehensible lead.
But whatever Kevin Walters said in the dressing rooms, the Maroons came charging back into the game – aided by a ridiculous penalty count it must be said.
It was a classic State of Origin game. In fact, it’s one of the best series I can remember. Overall though, the little moments mattered, and NSW won more of them.
Looking at the makeup of the next Kangaroos squad, surely more NSW players will be present. That said, a few days ago the three men who picked Billy Slater as player of the series selected a so-called ‘merit team’ for the upcoming Kangaroos series, and Slater’s name bobbed up again – which is rather odd when the bloke announced his retirement from rep footy, and had far less influence in the series than James Tedesco.
If we’re picking players to represent Australia based on current form, then a lot of Queensland players who were a shoe-in 12 months ago are now a boot-out.
Let’s start with the non-starters. It’s goodbye to Darius Boyd, who said he was retiring from rep footy about two weeks after being dropped from the Queensland side. We also know Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater have all decided to call it a day on rep footy.
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So who’s playing for Queensland that is currently playing better football than their NSW counterpart? Not many is the short answer.
Let’s start with fullback. You’ve got to pick Tedesco, who was one of the standouts in the Origin series.
Of the wingers, Tom Trbojevic had a terrific series and continually made breaks through the weak Queensland defence. In fact, Brad Fittler thought he was unlucky not to get player of the series. I’d also go with the electrifying Josh Addo-Carr on the other wing, who is seriously quick and a very good finisher.
In the centres, my pairing is Josh Dugan and Latrell Mitchell, who completely had it over Will Chambers for most of the Origin series.
At five-eighth I’d pick both James Maloney and Cam Munster, but with Jimmy starting.
James Maloney of the Panthers (AAP Image/Michael Chambers)
Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans had a blinder in Origin 3 under all sorts of pressure. He’s my most unexpected starter.
At lock, you can’t go past Jack De Belin, who gets through a mountain of work, and while he rarely makes a bust he rarely misses a tackle.
At second row, let’s start with Blues skipper Boyd Cordner. What a warrior – I’d make him captain of the Kangaroos after NSW won the series. His partner is the super quick Tyson Frizell, who would be even more damaging if he learnt to run straighter at the line.
At hooker, is there anyone disputing Damien Cook? What a champion and what a series for NSW.
David Klemmer is a beast and has to be one of the props, and I’d pick Josh McGuire as the other, as he’s a tough nut.
On the bench, I like the versatility of Ben Hunt, while I’d also have Cameron Munster, who did nothing wrong. Tariq Sims made some errors but hits like a Mack Truck, while the mercurial Kalyn Ponga had a terrific game in Origin 2.
John Fogarty
Guest
The Journo Lance states that League is his 5th sport... it shows! Stick to what you know
Matt P
Roar Rookie
He also ran more for more metres and scored more tries and points. But yeah, big deal.
Paul
Roar Guru
the only aspect Holmes beat Turbo Tom was in the intercepts. Big deal.
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
well Nat, I think that's the only thing I almost got right throughout this series! Sims seems like he's good for brain snap every so often and regrettably that came to show in that last game. Oh you mean the part where he lay on Ben Hunt and put him in the missionary position? That's a good hit? He did make a number of cane toads go arse up on a number of occasions; all in all, not a bad start to an origin career that could last a couple of years. And I agree that that mind fade changed the entire complexion of the game..
Nat
Roar Guru
Hey Ray, what happened to your "definite white wash " and Sims will have a blinder? He definitely had an impact, 1 good run and 1 good hit and the latter went a long way to costing the game.
Nat
Roar Guru
Are you reading the comments lancy? Don't care do you? You would have written 17 x Scott Minto's for all you care about the content of the article, you just wanted to be published for your own narcissistic needs.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
That was almost imaginative, I’ll give you that. QLDers weren’t the ones carrying on about an inconsequential award for an entire week but ok.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
You’re blind if you think Holmes wasn’t the best winger of the series. Outperformed Trbojevic in every department. Gagai v Addo-Carr was at least 50/50. Which favours Gagai, as the incumbent Australian winger. It’s not in NSW’s favour to keep on over-hyping this team, in case you weren’t aware.
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
it's sad when you see a very close relative of Mitchell Pearce be such an antagonist toward the state of NSW. The perpetual whinging correctly confirms they really have come back down to earth..
madmax
Guest
Holmes & Gagai outperformed Tom T & Addo-Carr........yeah right. i did need a good laugh, although I don't agree with the team the author has submitted.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Where to begin? No Holmes and Gagai, who outperformed Trbojevic and Addo-Carr, and no Chambers, but you are keeping the incumbent Dugan, just to keep out Inglis. Hilarious. Munster behind Maloney on the bench, despite picking DCE. What a winning combination. Pick McGuire out of position at prop, and he’s apparently the only QLD player who deserves a spot, despite our pack outperforming NSW’s supposedly superior pack. De Belin? Frizell? All hype, no substance this Origin series. Love the bench as well, three backs. A brilliant tactic convincingly proven by the test of time. Hunt did absolutely nothing in Origin. Ponga’s a fullback, why not pick him there? Worried he’ll outdo the “superhero” Tedesco? Sims played one Origin, and didn’t even actually do all that much either. What a piece. Your team neither reflects the actual Aust selection process, nor even a true Origin merit team. You don’t even understand what the merit team is, to boot. Thanks for making my day. Protip: we haven’t been brought down to earth at all. Not even close.
Jonathan Paul
Roar Rookie
Lol, nice one u suckered them all in with this "fake news" article. Lol no Greg Inglis who was at his best in first two games and you replace him with Dugan who was not even considered due to poor form.
rossco
Guest
Surely Dugan won't be selected. And over Inglis??!! Josh will get injured just running on the field.
Ray Paks
Roar Rookie
how on this beautiful earth does Dugan get in there? Theee tatoo infatuated Josh Dugan ? honestly, I must be from Mars..
Gus Paella
Guest
Exactly. Like Josh Dugan.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I don’t know why I keep backing up and reading this tripe. Part of me wanted to confirm no Inglis. Three utility backs on the bench, the author either has absolutely no idea or this is the least funny p1ss take ever.
Paul
Roar Guru
Okay, not sure why Munster would miss out to Maloney in the run on side when he combined well with DCE in game 3. The Qld pack was at least as solid as NSW for most of the series but only one guy is good enough to make the 17, bearing in mind selectors normally pick 3 forwards on the bench? Assuming he's fit and available to play, Inglis wpuld captain the Kangaroos, Mitchell might be included in an extended squad for the experience but he wouldn't get a game barring injury.
DP Schaefer
Guest
No Holmes? Best winger in the world at the World Cup and Mitchell over Inglis? If you are going to guess the Kangaroos NB Mal has faith in incumbents.
Emcie
Roar Guru
The merit team has nothing to do with the Kangaroos, it's purely an acknowledgement for players that played well in the series
Peeko
Guest
Indeed it does