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)
Last year’s team
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.
The spine
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.
The backs
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)
The pack
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.
Possible Maroons team
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
NQR
Roar Rookie
Up until a month ago I had Piakura over Nanai. Piakura is a great young forward prospect. Payten benched Nanai and he’s bounced back strong?
Don
Roar Rookie
I'd have Brendon Piakura on the bench ahead of Fermor. Can't agree with the author on Horsburgh. He was just OK last year without being great and in the games he's played this season he's been patchy. Su'a or Piakura - not Horsburgh / Fermor for mine.
langparker
Roar Rookie
Dare I use a pun, Qld have one titanic problem in their potential squad. My biggest concern is the possibility we will pick three from the Titans pack, Fotuaika & Fifita are almost certainties while Fermor is close given the number of long term injured forwards likely to be absent. These guys really struggle to play their roles in a full 80 minute pack effort. Each has strengths but are part of a proven team of faders. I’d also be wary of picking Arrow while he’s playing with the aid of needles, too big a risk. Luki is extremely promising but hasn’t strung together many games so he might be a 2025 debutant. We really need that bench forward who can cover injuries in the outside backs, not sure there’s one around at the moment to replicate what Capewell provided a few seasons back. I’m with Horses for Courses, leave Carrigan at lock & get an 80 minute game out of him. Doesn’t look like Flegler is a chance of game 1 so they have to work around that, don’t see Welch as physical enough the way the game has transformed. They’ll pick Nanai because he’s just a proven try-scorer & you need tries in origin.
johnno 2
Roar Rookie
My reckoning Walsh Coates Cobbo Hammer Holmes( goal kicker) not happy Jan Mam DCE no particular order Carrigan Grant Collins Cotter Nanai Fifita Hunt Hopgood Kafusi Walker / Dearden Luki
NQR
Roar Rookie
My Team. 1) Walsh 2) Taulagi 3) Cobbo 4) Hammer 5) Coats 6) Mam 7) DCE that’s a lot of speed, size and skill with a good experienced general. 8) Mo 9) Grant 10) Collins 11) Fafita 12) Fermor 13) Carrigan 14) Dearden 15) Cotter 16) Welch 17) Nanai. I could easily select Hopgood for Cotter, Molo for Welch Mo, and Su’a or Piakura for any of the back row spots. Holmes was the big out for me. His form with high error and poor defence this season is simply unacceptable. Picking to kick is also questionable.
NQR
Roar Rookie
Albo your spot on with Hunt IMO. His stats are indicating he’s not where he was in years past. I’d be tempted to bring Dearden for Ben now. Dearden’s key strengths are is his running game, support play, kick chase and one on one defence. Everything Ben Hunt has but quicker and more consistent now. Hunt’s 40 miss tackles and 25 errors is leading the comp? Dearden’s 39 TB, 219 Tackles and 8 line breaks are big numbers. I’d have Ezra Mam at 6 and Dearden coming off the bench in tandem with Grant.
NQR
Roar Rookie
How does Hammer miss out? He’s scored 5 tries in 4 Origins winning 75%. Holmes has 4 tries in 6 games at centre winning 66%. Greg Inglis scored 12 times in 26 games at centre winning less than 60%.
R N
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't pick Holmes. I would pick Taulagi in the centres, he showed at the end of last year how good he could be here. Big body, great hands and a great pass. Holmes should be nowhere near this side until he gets a hand transplant.
NQR
Roar Rookie
To be honest I’d be looking at Fermor in the second row. Nanai off the bench. I think you’re judging Nanai’s defence a little harshly considering he’s consistently turning in to help the slowest 7 in the comp getting beat on the outside. DCE might be a better defender to have on your inside hip. Nanai is the only forward I’ve seen put a shot on Haas and drive him 5m backwards and sit him on his back. Jayden Su’a has similar numbers to Crichton the bloke NSW say is playing out of his skin? Nanai has made 97 more tackles than Crichton for only 3 misses more. Would Kikau make the QLD team? Kikau has missed 20 more tackles and made 220 less tackles than Nanai.
Nat
Roar Guru
I could see Hetherington getting there. Defends like a beast and fast legs. I’m a big Jensen fan but not sure he’s that level.
Tony
Roar Guru
Always lazy is our Davy
Horses for Courses
Roar Rookie
Lazy Davy didn't look real lazy on ANZAC Day.
Jason
Roar Rookie
Id like to see Herherington and Jensen ge to the level expected by Slater. They seem perfect for origin
Nat
Roar Guru
Yeah I agree but I don't put too much weight on Hunt in those games vs what he will bring in origin. It's a whole other level of quality player and a backup #7 if need be.
Albo
Roar Rookie
I know he has always done the job for QLD in the past, but I thought Ben Hunt was terrible yesterday for the Dragons. Maybe it was just an aberration, but he was ordinary. You might save a bench spot by starting Grant and using Cotter or Hopgood as cover off the bench ? As for backrow spots, I think Su'A is on fire and looks the best of the Maroons backrowers at present.
Albo
Roar Rookie
After last nights performance any doubts about Munster's form should be buried. He will be the QLD number 6 yet again.
Albo
Roar Rookie
100% . Do we not forget Flegler's performance in the Grand Final ? He was enormous as a starting prop, and will surely get an Origin start with Collins. Carrigan is the 13, and Cotter will be on the bench.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
The Blues efforts in the first two games of last year's series, certainly did.
Nat
Roar Guru
Maroon heart because the Blues give you the sh.ts? :silly:
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Maroon top and Blue shorts. :stoked: