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Speculation that Cameron Smith will make a State of Origin comeback won’t go away after Queensland coach Kevin Walters made a curious squad announcement on Monday.
A fired up Walters spoke for 15 minutes spruiking his 17 unveiled for June 5’s Origin I before surprisingly calling back the media for a late announcement.
He named Anthony Milford as his 19th man and Cronulla forward Kurt Capewell as his development player before announcing No.21 was “TBC” – to be confirmed.
Walters then raised eyebrows when he declined to confirm or deny whether former skipper Smith would be the man added to his extended squad for next week’s series opener at Suncorp Stadium.
» Full State of Origin team news
“We’ve named Tim Glasby at 18, Anthony Milford at 19, Kurt Capewell will be coming in from the Sharks later in the week as our development player and then there’s player No.21 to be confirmed,” Walters said.
A journalist then asked: “Is his name Cam Smith?”
Walters then curiously replied: “I’ll get back to you later in the week.”
It ramped up speculation Smith may again don the boots for Queensland just as the long-serving Maroons skipper had appeared to finally dismiss the rumours.
Earlier this month Queensland Rugby League chairman Bruce Hatcher became the latest to ask Smith to end his representative retirement and resume his record 42-game Origin career after the Maroons were hit by a No.9 injury crisis.
Hatcher sent an SOS after incumbent Maroons hooker Andrew McCullough broke down with a knee injury following Sydney Roosters rake Jake Friend’s serious biceps complaint.
Yet Smith appeared to finally pour cold water on a return when he wrote a recent column for website Player’s Voice explaining why he was never going to return for Queensland and that he was happily retired from representative football.
Still, NSW will be wary of a surprise return after being burned in the past by a scheming Queensland.
In 2002, the Maroons included “TBC” in their squad to allow flying winger Lote Tuqiri to serve a dangerous throw ban and feature in their game two win over the Blues.
And Queensland pulled the ultimate rabbit out of the hat when UK-based Allan Langer made a shock return in 2001, flying in to inspire a series-deciding game three victory.
© AAP
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