Queensland coach Paul Green has handed 18-year-old Warriors fullback Reece Walsh the no.1 jersey for the Maroons’ must-win clash at Suncorp Stadium this Sunday night.
Walsh, who has played just seven NRL games but has been impressive in all of them, will be the youngest Origin debutant in 26 years when he runs out against the Blues. Injuries to Kalyn Ponga (groin) and AJ Brimson (knee), on top of a disastrous Game 1 effort from the backs, forced Green to make the stunning call.
The rest of the Maroons Origin team features a number of changes.
Valentine Holmes, who played an okay game at fullback in Game 1, gets moved to the left wing to accommodate Walsh, with Xavier Coates getting the axe and Kyle Feldt keeping his spot in the side despite both players having absolute shockers.
Andrew McCullough has been called up to play hooker thanks to injuries suffered by Brimson, Harry Grant and Reed Mahoney, while Ben Hunt returns to the side in the bench playmaker role.
Josh Papalii returns from suspension to assume a starting prop role, while Francis Molo has also been named for his Origin debut off the bench.
Jaydn Su’A and Joe Ofahengaue have been left out of the side altogether, while there has also been plenty of shuffling in the forward pack.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui moves to lock from prop, shifting Jai Arrow into the second row and dropping David Fifita to the bench. Moeaki Fotuaika also surprisingly remains on the bench despite being praised as Queensland’s best player in the game 1 massacre.
Incredibly, this is the first time no Broncos players have been selected to Queensland’s State of Origin team.
1. Reece Walsh, 2. Valentine Holmes, 3. Kurt Capewell, 4. Dane Gagai, 5. Kyle Feldt, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Christian Welch, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Josh Papali’i, 11. Jai Arrow, 12. Felise Kaufusi, 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Interchange/reserves: 14. Ben Hunt, 15. Moeaki Fotuaika, 16. David Fifita, 17. Francis Molo | 18. Coen Hess, 19. Ronaldo Mulitalo
Rossi
Roar Rookie
I think many females share your opinion!
Rossi
Roar Rookie
He should of been 14 in game one. And with Grant, Mahoney and Friend unavailable McCullough was really the only option. He's smart and tackles all day so could have picked worse.
Rossi
Roar Rookie
I'm surprised by that too, I guess he's there to try and put NSW off their games with his cheap tactics, not there for his ability
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Players would have been 10-15kg lighter on average in those days; the best example of that is the fact Mitchell Pearce is heavier than Wayne Pearce was when he played. NSW centres would be as big as chief was!
Rossi
Roar Rookie
If Benny was coaching I'd back the kid to pull a Ben Ikin or Alfie from England, but this Blues side has a real menace about it after last year's debacle and those two gun centres running amok; one thing Browny has been good with is junior talent and I think he's right that Walsh ain't ready for Origin. NSW will belt the living crap out of the poor kid!
Rossi
Roar Rookie
Only as good as your last game...
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Well done :thumbup: with your memory and assumptions. I did know about Gagai but not the other two.
elvis
Roar Rookie
I'm guessing Gagai, Capewell or Molo supply your two guys. Gagai was sacked years ago, Capewell was in the Junior system and Molo left ages ago too. I just have a good memory, I don't especially follow the players.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
:shocked: 8?? I counted 6 but you’d know better, I obviously don’t know some players’ early history.
matth
Roar Guru
Yep, we are going boom or bust here. Whether we lose by 10 or 30 we still lose the series, so we are rolling the dice with the few resources left standing.
Sydneysideliner
Roar Rookie
I'm a Cowboys fan so I know what he can do there, but the fact is he's merely a competent club FB who's much better suited to another position at rep level. He won't win you an origin, but like you say, he's a safer way to lose one. Like if NSW put Stephen Crichton at FB.
matth
Roar Guru
Could have stayed with Holmes at the back and Coates on the wing or found another winger. That option would have been a safer way to lose.
PB Meister
Roar Rookie
Haha.. no, unlike QLD’ers who live in the past, I’m focused on now, and looking forward :silly:
Sydneysideliner
Roar Rookie
Yep, next best option was moving Munster to FB, and moving the problem to 5/8!
Short Memory
Guest
Do you mean the Sutton factor?
Nico
Roar Rookie
At least that'll mean no post-origin slump this year :stoked:
matth
Roar Guru
Still sore about last year, are we?
matth
Roar Guru
Yep with no Ponga, Brimson, Lee, Morgs medically retired and the Broncos in a world of hurt there weren’t many options.
elvis
Roar Rookie
No Broncos - but EIGHT former Broncos by my count. HALF the Qld squad was let go by the Broncos, how's that for talent retention!
Lance Boil
Roar Rookie
On the subject of Reece Walsh's stature. I remember Robbie O'Davis who was shorter and lighter being a champ in the 1995 3 zip triumph. He played against a team with one of the immorals ahh sorry I guess I meant immortals and captained by the sandwich eater