Billy Slater has declared that the famous Suncorp Stadium atmosphere won’t help his side going into their Game 2 potential clincher with NSW next week, while adding that a generational shift in players that seen stalwarts in Felise Kaufusi, Kalyn Ponga and Christian Welch – prior to his suspension – ignored in favour of younger players.
Speaking ahead of their pre-Origin training camp, the Queensland coach suggested that his side would improve further on their performance in the series opener while defending some of his changes in personnel.
“Last year won’t help us,” said Slater. “The crowd will create the atmosphere but our end of the bargain is that we need to bring our game. We need to bring our footy.
“That’s what we’ll be focusing on over the next few days, we’ll be focusing individually and collectively on what we need to do to bring our game.
“I’d like to think we’re just getting started. We can build our game more. We’ve built a great foundation of what our game is about, and the players have done that.
“They’ve decided what they want this team to be about for this generation of Queenslanders. Where they take it is up to them.
“It’s a natural growth for all teams. Coming out of Game 1, both teams will be looking to improve and grow as a team. I would expect NSW to be better with the football and better connected in defence, and same with us.
“I’d expect us to grow as a footy team from Game 1 to Game 2 and from last year to this year. That’s what naturally happens if you continue to work hard on your game and you make sure you’re thinking around earning it rather than think it’ll just happen.”
Slater’s selection calls were largely made for him, with forwards Jai Arrow and Tom Gilbert injured long-term and Selwyn Cobbo unlikely to be fit for this fixture.
Xavier Coates is back on Cobbo’s wing, Moeaki Fotuaika comes into the middle and Jeremiah Nanai return on an edge.
“Tom Gilbert is going to miss the rest of the season,” said the coach. “Jai Arrow is going to miss the rest of the series and Selwyn isn’t 100% fit right now. Heading into next Wednesday, we thought the best option was to bring Xavier in.
“Xavier has been playing fantastic footy and was involved in the series last year. He was unfortunate to do his ankle in Game 1 and tried to play on with it, he showed plenty of courage to stay out there. We’re looking to welcome him back into the team.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“I’ve been watching Mo for quite a while now. I’ve always said you need two things to happen for you to be in this arena and play for this team.
“The first is to be capable and to have earned that opportunity. That doesn’t always get you there. Then you need an opportunity, and with the injuries to Jai and Tom Gilbert, there’s an opportunity for Mo now.
“He’s been knocking on the door for a while now. He’s been playing as good as I’ve seen him play.
“It was a good phone call to call Mo and his partner, who is expecting their first child at the end of the year.
“It’s been a lot of hard work for Mo, a lot of sacrifice, and he’s earned this opportunity.
“(Nanai) played all three games last year and was outstanding. He had a great year last year. The thing that gave me confidence with Jeremiah coming back into the team was that he didn’t just come back from suspension, he had the most energy that he’s had in his footy all year.
“It looked like the Jeremiah of last year. He’s obviously worked really hard through the time that he was off and he’s earned this opportunity. He’s a Queenslander, he’s done the job before and he played well on the weekend.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
In picking his new forward options, Slater turned down the chance to look to experience, deciding against including Christian Welch – whom he said was out of consideration anyway before he was banned – and Felise Kaufusi, who has also missed time through suspension, which caused the coach to consider his sharpness ahead of the intensity of the Origin arena.
Slater also resisted calls for Kalyn Ponga to come back, reiterating that he would stick with Reece Walsh at the back. The pair faced off on Saturday in the NRL, with Walsh’s Broncos gaining a late win over Ponga’s Knights, though both were standouts.
“Like everyone else, I was sitting and watching him and Reece go head to head and really enjoying their football, attacking the game,” said Slater.
“I love Kalyn, I love what he brings to his footy team. He’s a great person, I’ve got a lot of respect for him and I’ve loved working with him, as I have with Reece. It’s just good to see him back playing footy.
“I was really honest with Kalyn going into the first selection and he’s in a good place, which is fantastic.”
1 Reece Walsh
2 Xavier Coates
3 Valentine Holmes
4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5 Murray Taulagi
6 Cameron Munster
7 Daly Cherry-Evans
8 Lindsay Collins
9 Ben Hunt
10 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11 Jeremiah Nanai
12 David Fifita
13 Patrick Carrigan
Interchange
14 Harry Grant
15 Tom Flegler
16 Reuben Cotter
17 Moeaki Fotuaika
18 AJ Brimson
19 Corey Horsburgh
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