The 2020 premiership is done and dusted and Queenslanders will be glowing with pride that their fourth team, the Melbourne Storm, have come away with yet another trophy. But now they need to prepare for Origin.
Due to COVID protocols, each team has named 27 squad players who will enter a quarantine bubble, and final playing squads for each match will be selected from these players.
The Queensland squad looks like this.
Outside backs
Corey Allan
AJ Brimson
Xavier Coates
Dane Gagai
Valentine Holmes
Hyme Hunt
Brenko Lee
Edrick Lee
Philip Sami
Forwards
Jai Arrow
Lindsay Collins
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Moeaki Fotuaika
Josh Kerr
Dunamis Lui
Josh Papalii
Christian Welch
Back-row forwards
Kurt Capewell
Patrick Carrigan
Coen Hess
Felise Kaufisi
Jaydn Su’a
Hookers and halves
Daly Cherry-Evans
Jake Friend
Harry Grant
Ben Hunt
Cameron Munster
After a big clean out, 14 of last year’s Queensland Origin representatives won’t be playing this year due to either lost form or unavailability – Kalyn Ponga, Corey Oates, Michael Morgan, Will Chambers, Matt Gillett, Josh McGuire, Moses Mbye, Joe Ofahengaue, Dylan Napa, Andrew Fifita, Jarrod Wallace, Tim Glasby, Corey Norman and Ethan Lowe won’t be pulling on the maroon jersey this year.
There were almost too many surprise Maroons selections to mention, and their preparation hasn’t been helped by the unexpected departure of coach Kevin Walters, and the late appointment of Wayne Bennett as his replacement.
Apart from an excellent middle forward rotation, and two excellent halves im Cherry-Evans and Cherry Evans, the rest of the players making up the Queensland numbers look to be good club standard at best.
There’s not much to get excited about in the outside backs selected and you’d think that they would struggle to get anywhere near their NSW opposition.
Scoring points is going to be a problem. Queensland’s options in the halves are also very limited and they will be crossing their fingers and toes that both Cameron Munster and Daly Cherry-Evans remain injury free for the whole series.
Another cause for concern for the maroons is their back rowers. Apart from Felise Kaufusi, the stocks look pretty bare, with Jaydn Su’a, Kurt Capewell and Coen Hess hardly setting the competition on fire this year. They’ll really have to aim up if the Maroons are to be competitive.
The run-on side for Origin 1 will probably look something like this.
1. AJ Brimson
2. Edrick Lee
3. Dane Gagai
4. Hymel Hunt
5. Philip Sami
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry- Evans
8. Josh Papalii
9. Jake Friend
10. Christian Welch
11. Felise Kaufisi
12. Patrick Carrigan
13. Jai Arrow
14. Ben Hunt
15. Moeaki Fotuaika
16. Lindsay Collins
17. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
We know what putting the maroon jersey does for Queenslanders and we can never underestimate the Wayne Bennett factor, but when you run your eye over this year’s Origin squad, all you can say to them is “good luck!”
Rob
Guest
You could have gone. Johns v Lam, Fittler v Smith, McGregor v Moore, Harragon v Allen, Menzies v Gillmeister, Carroll v Hearn, Mackay v Larson, Wishart v Dallas Gould v Vautin? Qld 3-0
Tony
Roar Guru
Exactly. Great example of the Storm system and why they never need to recruit big name players.
Soda
Roar Rookie
Gee Brenko Lee has certainly benefited greatly from the Melbourne machine. I don't think even he though that when he left the dogs for storm, he would have been in the GF winning side let alone make the origin 30 man squad. A bumper year for him and a testament to how proffesionalism and good coaching can exceed expectations.
Rob
Guest
Considering the shortage of centres, I would have personally looked at Lachlan Lewis in the centre’s. Lewis is a strong 1 on 1 defender with good hands and possess a natural instinct for support play. He not an attacking genius but has a good football brain to hit holes, pass well and reads well in defence IMO.
Nat
Roar Rookie
I could give you 14 other examples but the biggest problem is you’ve forgotten the taste of foot… :stoked:
Tony
Roar Guru
You're living in the past Nat :happy:
Nat
Roar Rookie
Schifcofski v Hodgson Wesser v Tahu Hannay v King Tate v Cooper Mogg v Grothe Jnr No chance at all... Where will their points come from... Origin is dead... Who held up the trophy? :stoked:
bjt
Guest
I have no idea why they continue with Hunt. He is not a big game player. This has to be about building for the future, and there is no future for Hunt in the team. The experience of origin is better severed for someone new....
Tony
Roar Guru
And only 3 would make the NSW squad. Stand by for QLD to lose 3 - 0. I'm doing this as a public service to avoid panic north of the border and to save devoted cane toads from losing their jobkeeper payments on Sportsbet.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Come on BB, you've posted the same thing so many times I think you are trying to convince yourself more than anything. 6 Qld players played in the GF, another 6 played Prelim and Hunt, Arrow and DCE are all experienced and series winning SOO players. You may not rate Fotuaika and Brimson but you will by Nov. :stoked:
Nat
Roar Rookie
Su'A may enjoy a more liberal reffing.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
The bomb lottery… Or AJ’s dancing feet… Or just kick a FG whenever they are close. Kick FG.. get ball back, move upfield.. kick FG and repeat.. I do agree it’s hard to see much scoring from them… But if they start yelling “Queenslander” in the tunnel before the game – get worried.. :stoked:
Tony
Roar Guru
Time will tell DP. Apart from the front row rotation I think it's a very weak squad. I don't see where they score their points. I expect QLD to lose 3 -0.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Tino...
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Great review BB, though you might ask the Roar to edit your double entry of Cherry Evans :thumbup: unless you want to clone him. QLD biggest weakness is in the centres, but without Latrell to exploit that I’d not be too concerned. All they need is to hold their opposites and Branko Lee can do that – I’d have him in instead of one of the others. I’d prefer Gagai as a winger but again – not that many options for centre. Glad you didn’t pick Coates first up, he has looked out of his league lately and while he’ll be good down the track, it’s not now. QLD pack is honest without being exceptional and they might miss a Maguire or two. Again, Carrigan – IMO – is out of his depth here, put Su’a in instead. Qld’s other big issue is depth; their firsts will be competitive and up there for the fight however, lose a few and some of the subs might be found out. One final thought however, I give QLD a huge chance in this series. The time, place and the year are in their favour. I can’t see the Blues – overconfident and weary – having the same level of motivation that QLD will have and that will be a big factor. I see QLD starting on fire, possibly winning game one while the Blues are looking to wind down and then it’s game on… If QLD lose game 1, Blues will be even more complacent in G2. Ghosts of ’95.. If Uncle Wayne doesn’t invite Vautin in for a team chat he’s missing a trick.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Doesn't look good for QLD, very bleak in fact. I would go for Xavier Coates in place of Edrick Lee and Brenko Lee for Hymel Hunt. Coates showed some talent in a pathetic team this year so I'd like to see how he goes in better company. Brenko Lee is a premiership winning centre whereas Hunt played well for Newcastle but not well enough. The NSW 3/4 line looks ominous although Paps has been ruled out.
Tony
Roar Guru
HK The answers are NIL and YES :happy:
Tony
Roar Guru
Any contenders?
Hopeless Knights
Roar Rookie
Barry what are QLD chances of winning and us Ben Hunt QLDs version of Mitchell Pearce? Asking for a mate...
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Potential QLD three quarter line 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 4. Hymel Hunt 5. Philip Sami Potential NSW 3/4 line 2. JAC 3. Gutherson / Papenhuyzen 4. Whighton 5. Cotric Even with NSW having at least 2 players totally out of position, their backline is still infinitely stronger than the QLD one.