Seriously, do we stand a chance?
Every year us Queenslanders like to give the middle finger to the NSW Blues after we win a State of Origin series.
Some sections of the media are saying they are seeing shades of 1995 purely because Channel Nine are worried that viewership will be down because of the time of the year and also the master Wayne Bennett is back.
But when actually breaking it down, unfortunately I can’t see miracles happening twice.
Kalyn Ponga – the so-called next Darren Lockyer – is out with a shoulder injury that requires immediate surgery.
The question is where are the Maroons’ players for the 2020 series are coming from? The Wynnum Manly Seagulls?
Queensland supporters and possibly players in leadership positions in the Queensland team were probably asking the same question back in ’95.
But with the stocks in most departments low, it is hard to see us Queenslanders getting over the line.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
When putting the probable teams on paper side by side, the only player who could win their position would be Cameron Munster, yet he still has an asterisk next to his name because of a recurring knee injury.
David Fifita, Kalyn Ponga, Ethan Lowe, Moses Mbye, Will Chambers, Michael Morgan and Josh McGuire are all players who played in Game 3 of last year’s series, but they are missing the 2020 series either through injury, non-selection or in Will Chambers’ case being in a different code.
It is clear to see the chances on paper are numbered. This isn’t even including the fact that the Brisbane Broncos finished 16th, the North Queensland Cowboys finished 14th and the Gold Coast Titans finished ninth in the 2020 season.
Wally Lewis, are you willing to pull the boots on again?
On the other side of the border, the New South Wales team is stacked. James Tedesco is the best player in the competition.
Cody Walker is in career-best form and is only second in the pecking order for the number six jersey behind two-time premiership winner, Clive Churchill medalist and former Queenslander Luke Keary.
In the forward pack, David Klemmer – former NSW Blues shoo-in – isn’t even picked in the squad and is behind the likes of Payne Haas, Junior Paulo, Paul Vaughan, Jake Trbojevic and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
Queensland have emerging players such as Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, David Fifita, Moeaki Fotuaika, AJ Brimson, Jadyn Su’A and Xavier Coates.
I can see the reason why people are saying they see 1995 all over again but I can’t see it occurring again, unfortunately.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
Good article mate.
Percycutor
Roar Pro
Will be very interesting if Papalii and Munster are unavailable. If they can play (and there are no other injuries) I reckon this series (just like every other) is going to be a bit closer than most believe.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Queensland have shown time and time again that you don’t need 50 Origin class players to win a series, you just need 17...and sometimes not even that many A Queensland pack of Papalii, Welch, Arrow, Fotuaika, Kaufusi, Su’A, Tino, Collins and Friend/Grant/Hunt can go toe to toe with any pack NSW can put up so there’s half the battle Centre is obviously the big problem NSW won 2-1 last year in the 80th minute of Game 3. Queensland look likely stronger than that game 3 team so any NSWman thinking this will be a cakewalk is kidding themselves
Sydneysideliner
Roar Rookie
It’s pretty hard to estimate just how bad the 1995 team was on paper. Dallas and Sing had barely played a season. Ikin had about 10 games. A 30-something Dale Shearer was at 5/8. The pack was full of SQ Crushers who wouldn’t get a run in the NRL today. The 1997 team was terrible too, and they lost that series by 2 points. Point is, you play the team in front you. NSW have always been 4-5 superstars deep in every position, so the pressure’s always on them not to fail. So bring it on I say!
thomas c
Guest
Mbye and Norman aren't mainstays. Norman has played one game, has barely maintained selection this year and is on the cusp of 30. Corey Oates has been injured this year (2 leg injuries, i think) and moved between wing and edge forward while being horrible under the high ball. I think he was going to be dropped from club, but got a reprieve due to injury. Josh McGuire's service and tolerable form mean he can feel hard done by. So it should probably be "pick and stick while being aware of certain realities and periodically culling players as convenient scapegoats.". If loyalty was EVERYTHING, then Milford has 2 games. I'd like to someone argue for his selection while keeping a straight face.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Fatty, Gilly and the 1995 Maroons say g'day....
thomas c
Guest
Yeah, Even with losses in recent series, I thought queensland were overperforming. The golden era is long gone and I'll take even just being physically competitive. Our team is decimated so I'd keep hopes at a very manageable level. DCE and Ben Hunt need to step up if they want any kind of legacy for the maroons. They're north of 30. Welch has some years left and has looked great for the storm at points. You can say that Brimson, Tino, Munster and Grant might represent the start of something. But things are grim and in I don't want to know what we do if anyone else gets injured. But after this year, who wins could be just a matter of who seems freshest. I mean there were some good players this year who just looked completely rundown by the final rounds.
Bryce
Guest
Kevvie thinks it is...
Graham White
Guest
I don't think people were seeing 1995 happening either. But its not just 1995, we've won a series with adrian lam, paul green and ben ikin in the halves, for all but the last game of 2001 we had daniel wagon and paul green in the halves Queensland find a way of winning when we have a weak team and win most of the time when its break even on paper. This year we have a small problem in the centres, but I'm sure Bennet will find a solution and we have had many years with weaker centre pairings. We have a good pack, a good spine and good wingers ------------------------------Brimson------------------------------ Holmes/Allan-----------Lee----------------------------Gagai----Lee-- ---------------------------DCE---Munster------------------------ ------------------------------Carrigan------------------------------ ---------Kaufusi------------------------------Tino------------------ --------Papali---------------Grant----------Welch---------------- Interchange: Ben Hunt, S'ua, Collins, Fotuaika Its a pretty exciting squad to be honest QLD 2-1
Nat
Roar Guru
I'm not as glib. There isn't a better prop in the game than Papalii. He's the big bull on the paddock. How much will Fotuaika learn from him? Welsh and Kaufusi are as good as 1%er forwards as you'll find. Munster walks into the NSW team as would Ponga (somewhere) but in his absence, what an oppo for Brimson? If DCE was NSW, Cleary wouldn't have debuted yet given this is his first really good season. Grant is alreay top 3-4 hookers in the game. This team can only get better and it starts with a dominant pack and settled spine. We've won with far less individual talent.
Joe
Roar Rookie
On paper maybe...but as someone once said..the game isnt played on paper.
DaveTarquin
Roar Rookie
Putting aside my tongue in check comments above. QLD should have a better team this year. AJ Brimson is in hot form, Munster at 6 will be better than Norman. Friend or Grant will be stronger than Hunt at Hooker (hunt to the bench), Lindsay Collins (who never gets mentioned) will bring fire off the bench. QLD have some spots to fill like centre. Chambers will not be there however he was never mentioned in the same breath as Inglis, Coyne, Renouf etc I dare say whoever replaces him will be probably on the same money he played at. I would still have Hunt, Mbye & Maguire in my squad as they will all perform better with better players around them. Players like Corey Allan have emerged (he won’t play fullback but deserves a shot on the wing).
DaveTarquin
Roar Rookie
What happened to Queensland’s famous “pick and stick” policy? Surely Oates, Norman, Mbye, Maguire, Hunt and co will be there again this year? Coming from NSW I didn’t fully understand the QLD selection strategy but after many, many detailed descriptions of it - I now wait to hear the above names announced because Queensland “pick and stick - form doesn’t come into it” Perhaps a “new” clause needs to be added. Something like this “in the event of a loss, perceived lack of form or change of policy no loyalty will be shown” this is needed as it was thoroughly explained to me, loyalty first and QLD will pick them no matter what their form because as soon as they pull on a jumper they go to a new level. (QLDers citing Gagai, Shearer, Chambers as examples etc ) Is there new jumpers this year? QLD lost 2-1 last year, not 3 nil and already they are talking mass changes (eg no loyalty shown). I am from NSW and understand our policy - pick the best players available! (which sounds a lot like QLD’s actual policy because a few losses have always shown QLD don’t pick on loyalty)
Paul
Roar Guru
Macca, I'm not sure you should be too concerned just yet because neither squad has been finalised and the Blues have only named 6 players to date. If their big names also sit out the series (and Keary, for example, might do that after another head knock last night), you might find the teams to be pretty evenly matched. I'd give it another week or two to see what both squads look like, before worrying about how good the Maroons are.
Emcie
Roar Guru
To be brutally honest I'm feeling more optimistic with the new blood coming in then I would be if the big names were still available given the performances they've put in over the last couple series. Qld could use a few less stars and few more players at this point
Max power
Guest
2002 I think was similar with guys like Buttigieg, Adam Moga snf john Doyle They still won some games