With the passing of arguably the best-ever Magic Round – certainly for the four Queensland teams anyway – it is now time to move on to the next big event on the rugby league supporters’ calendar. I speak of course of the endless debate over who should be part of the Maroons team for Origin I.
Magic Round made it easy for Billy Slater and his fellow selectors, as they could watch every prospective Queensland player – and their potential NSW opponents – all over one weekend without having to move from their seat at Suncorp Stadium.
So, what did the weekend’s smorgasbord of rugby league reveal when it comes to Origin selection?
Well, in my opinion, the standout performer from a Queensland point of view was Raiders’ redhead Corey Horsburgh. I’ve been covering Origin since day one and I can’t remember seeing any young forward look more suited to the gladiatorial contest as this bloke. It’s like he runs around each week with a neon sign on his back saying, ‘Pick me Billy, pick me’.
Of course, Queensland selectors traditionally stick solid with the players who have done the job for them in the past and after last year’s series win it would take either injury or a massive drop in form to see someone miss out. Sadly, Jaremiah Nanai falls into the second category. The boom backrower was one of the standouts in the Cowboys’ successful season and he made a good fist of his Origin debut, but his poor start to the season including the hip drop suspension that saw him miss Magic Round should see his Maroons jersey go to Horsburgh. Others to do their cause no harm on the weekend were Reese Walsh and David Fifita.
The fullback spot will be the hardest decision the Queensland selectors will have to make, especially after the way Kalyn Ponga played in Origin III last year. After a shaky start Walsh was dynamic against a tepid Manly and the Knights’ bye couldn’t have come at a worse time for Ponga who needs every game he can get to work his way in to form. Slater will give Ponga every chance, but Walsh will do the job if required.
The rest of the backs pick themselves:
Coates and Cobbo on the wings, Holmes and Gagai centres, Munster five-eighth, Cherry-Evans half. Forward certainties are Fa’asuameleaui, Collins, Kaufusi, Capewell, Papalii, Carrigan, Grant and Hunt as 14th man.
Which still leaves a couple of empty seats.
Jai Arrow was there last year so will have inside running, and Horsburgh has to be a big chance. As for Fifita, he looks like a different player with Keiran Foran inside him at the Titans, but who misses out to give him another shot at Origin? Reuben Cotter is in the same boat. He is starting to show some form and was outstanding in his Origin debut last year, but the Cowboys’ indifferent start won’t help his chances.
Which brings us to the NSW Blues. Based on what we saw at Magic Round there is really only one player that all Queensland supporters would love to see running out in a Blues jersey this series, and that’s Tom Trbojevic – but only if he plays like he did against the Broncos.