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Brisbane forward Corey Jensen has emerged as smokie for Billy Slater’s Queensland squad, with AAP reporting that the Broncos prop is in contention for the 17 set to be named on Monday morning.
“As a Queenslander, you dream of Origin,” Jensen told AAP.
“I watched it growing up and you always want to be there one day. All I can control is how I am playing footy here, and if it’s something Billy (Maroons coach Billy Slater) wants to look at, I would be 100 per cent grateful for it.
“I would love to just be a part of the arena and be part of the Queensland squad and mingle with those guys.
“To be around those guys would be a dream come true. I am here to play my role for the team. If I’m playing good footy, you never know what can happen.”
“I have always been one of those hard-working type of players.
“I don’t do anything fancy, I just get the team forward and defend well and do the little one-percenters and that’s what I try and build my game around.
“If that’s something Billy is looking at, I will 100 per cent put my hand up to be ready to go on in that arena.”
Cameron Munster will miss the entire State of Origin series after scans revealed a tear in the Queensland five-eighth’s adductor tendon.
Munster has been battling groin pain since first suffering the injury slipping in the shower during Melbourne’s pre-season trip to Fiji, missing the first month of the NRL season.
He will need between eight and 10 more weeks on the sidelines after aggravating the issue in a tackle just before half-time in the Storm’s 48-16 defeat of Parramatta at Magic Round on Sunday.
The Storm have opted against booking Munster in for surgery, which could have ended his season, but revealed a lengthy injury lay-off after the results of scans came back on Monday afternoon.
“While it is obviously disappointing for both Cameron and the club to be missing football at this stage of the season, we are confident this approach will give him the best chance of recovery in the long term,” said Storm football boss Frank Ponissi.
The news is a blow to the Maroons’ hopes of retaining the Origin shield for a third consecutive year. Tom Dearden will be the frontrunner to replace him, though Ezra Mam has been in red hot form for the Broncos and Roosters rising star Sam Walker will also come into consideration.
Previously, the only real selection debate for Billy Slater had been settled by Kalyn Ponga’s untimely foot injury.
Newcastle’s captain was probably unlikely to get the nod ahead of Reece Walsh for the Queensland fullback jersey in Origin I but Slater was keeping his options open heading into this year’s series.
The recent return of Jai Arrow this Friday from a shoulder injury is potentially a big boost for Slater’s pack after Tom Gilbert and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui were ruled out with season-ending injuries.
Tom Flegler‘s return date is up in the air after suffering nerve damage in his shoulder while playing for the Dolphins in Round 5.
“The time frame is when Tom can feel his shoulder again and the nerves are operating properly,” Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett said recently. “It is nerve damage and has got to be repaired.”
Slater is likely to blood a new forward or two for the Accor Stadium showdown with NSW on June 5 with Eels lock J’maine Hopgood, North Queensland’s Heilum Luki and Titans second-rower Beau Fermor a chance of making their debut.
More experienced forwards Francis Molo, Moeaki Fotuaika and Christian Welch are also in the mix for the bench berths.
Dolphins speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has made an early comeback from a hamstring injury and is likely to be included when Queensland name their team after Round 12.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Origin III
1 AJ Brimson
2 Xavier Coates
3 Valentine Holmes
4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5 Murray Taulagi
6 Cameron Munster
7 Daly Cherry-Evans
8 Reuben Cotter
9 Harry Grant
10 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11 David Fifita
12 Jeremiah Nanai
13 Patrick Carrigan
14 Ben Hunt
15 Lindsay Collins
16 Moeaki Fotuaika
17 Corey Horsburgh
Brimson will make way for Walsh at the back, Fa’asuamaleaui is sidelined until next year with a torn ACL and Corey Horsburgh is struggling to mount a case for selection due to a groin injury. Cameron Munster is also out long-term.
Carrigan could be switched up front to prop to take on the Fa’asuamaleaui role of being the team’s main aggressor.
You can lock it in that, barring injuries, Walsh will be at the back, Tom Dearden and Daly Cherry-Evans will combine in the halves with Ben Hunt and Harry Grant sharing the hooking duties.
Dearden put in an exemplary debut two years ago at five-eighth when Munster was out and if elevated to the starting squad, it will open a place for Ezra Mam or Sam Walker.
Tabuai-Fidow has been electric at centre for the Maroons over the past couple of years and now that he is back from his hamstring problem in time, Slater will shift Selwyn Cobbo to the flank.
The Hammer will partner Valentine Holmes in the centres.
Xavier Coates and Murray Taulagi had been the first-choice options on the flanks although the latter is set to be squeezed out if Cobbo is not needed at centre.
Reece Walsh. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
David Fifita and Jeremiah Nanai haven’t been at their absolute best at club level this season but have the ability to rise to the occasion for Origin.
Cotter is a proven 80-minute performer for Queensland while Lindsay Collins has developed into one of the top five props in the NRL at the Roosters.
The only real question facing Slater is whether he ushers in some new blood on his bench by picking Hopgood, Luki or Fermor or sticks with players who have been there and done that like Fotuaika and Welch.
Hopgood’s ability to switch to an edge could give him an advantage over other options for a bench spot.
1 Reece Walsh
2 Xavier Coates
3 Valentine Holmes
4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5 Selwyn Cobbo
6 Tom Dearden
7 Daly Cherry-Evans
8 Patrick Carrigan
9 Ben Hunt
10 Lindsay Collins
11 David Fifita
12 Jeremiah Nanai
13 Reuben Cotter
14 Harry Grant
15 Christian Welch
16 Moeaki Fotuaika
17 J’maine Hopgood
18 Sam Walker
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