The Maroons enter the 2024 Origin series apparently working hard to reclaim their beloved status as 'pre-series underdogs,' with confirmed and speculated omissions dominating the build up to the June 5 Origin Opener.
Injuries have struck in key positions - as they continue to do this year - but the increased volume of the casualty ward in 2024 SHOULD see the Queenslanders take a bit of versatile backline cover onto their bench. In this list of probables, possibles and contingencies, a veteran gets a reprieve, a super young backline comes together to tease a glorious future, and a couple of hard heads are backed to find full fitness in time.
Fullback - Reece Walsh
Wins the race in Bradbury'esque fashion after Kalyn Ponga and AJ Brimson went down, and despite ridiculous displays from Selwyn Cobbo and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in the No.1. Would've won it anyway to be fair. Now the question is whether the injury that ruled the 21 year old out of Magic Round is more serious than first thought. That would result in the extension of a backline crisis, and will see Billy Slater juggling two options. Does Cobbo revert to fullback despite minimal game time there at club level, allowing the team to retain its incumbent wing pairing? Or does Tabuai-Fidow revert to his club spot and open the door for Val Holmes to retain his jersey despite a disappointing season for the Cowboys? This team list assumes Walsh will be fit, and salivates at the prospect of him, Cobbo and Tabuai-Fidow in the same backline.
Walsh has been electric for the Broncos in a season punctuated by dented cheekbones and sore knees. The sweeping shift Walsh has mastered is the evolution of Broncos pet plays of years past, and selectors will be frothing at the chance to have the likes Tabuai-Fidow dropping inside when he does it. It's predictable but impossible to defend most of the time. He's also the games most marketable player - not that Origin really needs any extra hype. And remember how he ended his last Origin appearance before missing last year's decider? Giving it to the Blues with all the attitude and belief of a guy who thinks he owns the arena. Bring it on.
Wing - Murray Taulagi
An impeccable 2023 series and solid enough start in a hot and cold Cowboys side gets him back in there. His seven appearances in 2024 have delivered consistent run metres and busts, but he's been guilty of a few poor reads defensively. Backing Taulagi to get out and lift for the arena, and with the quality of service he should receive at the ultra-elite level of the game. Also - at 25 - is comfortably the youngest in this Maroons back five, and the old age = wisdom thing is never worth discounting.
Centre - Selwyn Cobbo
His shift to centres has been very good for Brisbane, and the massive injury toll to outside backs means we might be able to take it to Origin level. Val Holmes' incumbency means plenty, and in this team will see him as essential backline cover on the bench. Because why wouldn't you start Cobbo when he's in terrific form, and Holmes has been struggling? Cobbo hasn't set the world on fire on the Maroons wing, so wont displace Taulagi or Coates, but nor should he. The aggression and strike that's seen him rack up 62 tackle breaks is a massive plus, and his existing combination with Walsh and Ezra Mam is the ringing endorsement.
Centre - Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
If he stays fit, it'll be hammer time for the Blues and this guy will be licking his lips. An epic return in a scrappy Magic Round win was enough to remind everyone just how big a deal this guy is. The effortless grace of his running style seems to bewitch defenders, who are frequently thwarted by his acceleration. Can strike from anywhere, ball play, and pop up in support like the great outside backs should.
Wing - Xavier Coates
An ever present threat on the end of an incredible Storm backline, Coates has been combining with Reimis Smith beautifully in club land. Shades of Israel Folau in the air make this 23 year old a must pick most years, and this year is especially the case. Kick disruptor interpretations have seen tries from kicks rise significantly in 2024, and Coates can usually reel them in even if he is being heavily opposed in the air.
Five-eighth - Ezra Mam
Winner of the race to replace Cameron Munster, despite Tom Dearden deputising brilliantly in the 2022 decider. This speculative team has gone with the form player who scored a hat trick in the grand final and can disappear through a gap of any size, over the player who's been trying his guts out in a poorly performing side. Long term, Dearden and Mam look like Queensland's future. For now, Mam is highly familiar with the games of Walsh and Cobbo and a proven big occasion game breaker. His running style also complements Daly Cherry-Evans brilliantly, while his short kicking game is constantly improving. Whispers abound that he's been the guy in Billy Slater's mind for a while, with doubt around Munster swirling long before Magic Round.
Halfback: Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
Watch him continue a marvellous late-career run of Queensland leadership. For three nights every year DCE's job has more focus and scrutiny around the state than that of the Premier, and based on his performances in maroon since 2020 - he'd likely take out the state election if he threw his hat into that ring as well. Has been leading a patchy Manly well, controlling games as he does and doing his thing to influence the result without overplaying things. Carry this approach into the Origin arena, around the games ultra-elite, and Queensland footy fans will be at peace.
Prop: Lindsay Collins
Walk up start for the burly enforcer from Brisbane's Northside. Has been an exclamation mark on the resurgent Roosters season, and has a proven CV of exploding into big games. This guy believes he can do anything in maroon; even outjump James Tedesco. His average metres aren't as sky high as a Payne Haas or James Fisher-Harris, but he doesn't miss many tackles and his aggression is worth bottling.
Hooker: Harry Grant
Grant's second half in Melbourne's Magic Round dismantling of Parramatta gets him the starting gig in this side. An incredibly influential display on both sides of the ball, not at all uncommon for this guy but extra significant coming after the exit of Munster. His craftiness and instinctive attack is a huge plus for any side; and if he's not the one making the break his presence is the one distracting the Blues nonetheless. Leads the NRL for dummy half runs and will never die wondering if the Blues are a step behind in and around the ruck.
Prop: Reuben Cotter
This unofficial selector had Tom Flegler forming one of the more intimidating front rows in recent memory alongside Collins. But alas, the pride of Tully - while a chance of getting a game in before the teams are made official - is unlikely to feature, with Wayne Bennett repeatedly alluding to the fact his shoulder problems might be more serious than many realised. Instead, Reuben Cotter moves from the backrow, keeping Mo Fotuaika as the bench battering ram. Queensland lose nothing bringing Cotter into the starting side; if anything it gives their back row even more menace, while offering an 80 minute workhorse in the middle. Not as big as the biggest of boppers but punches out at least 100 metres and gets through at least 40 tackles at 95% effectiveness every single week. Sits third in the NRL tackle count, and has that quality to find another gear in maroon. Easily the most deserving of that coveted 'Origin player' tag.
Second row: David Fifita
80 Magic Round minutes on the back of his Roosters backflip, and big Dave didn't seem the least bit distracted. The stats that matter for the edgiest of all edge backrowers aren't always metres and tackles. They are offloads and assists, and big Dave produces these for fun when he's on. The Blues will likely be forced to field a few untested combinations on the edges and this guy will be ready to break them apart; with the likes of Walsh and Mam right behind him for the offload. Part of a Titans side who've discovered some genuine grit in recent weeks, and will be the beneficiary of six months working under the hard-nosed Des Hasler.
Second row: Jaydn Su'a
Pips Jeremiah Nanai for a starting berth on the back of a career best season at the Dragons. Another form call here - Su'a has been good enough to re-emerge from the Origin wilderness, having been exiled after the Maroons got bashed 50-6 in Townsville in 2021. Numbers are excellent across the board, coupled with a genuine mongrel factor, handy offload and first class hole running.
Lock: Patrick Carrigan
Future Queensland captain and as quick to be included as Cherry-Evans. Carrigan is the forward leader and has been defying even his own ridiculous standards so far this year. Leads the league in post contact metres and has that beautiful controlled aggressive streak coveted by any Origin coach.
Bench
Interchange - Ben Hunt
Fifteen try assists for the season so far, in a side with more hot and cold rushes than the showers at a backpacker hostel. Part two of one of the more devastating one-two punch combinations in Origin history. Could well start.
Interchange - Moeaki Fotuaika
Gets that 'Origin player' tag in the workmanlike sense, and would be starting if not for Cotter's tone setting quality, and the desire for genuine grunt off the bench.
Interchange - Valentine Holmes
This unofficial selection has dropped this veteran as a starter, both through form and necessity. Val has been poor in many games this year. Defensively he's been hesitant and made a number of incorrect reads in crucial moments. His attack is always threatening, but he hasn't been as sharp, silky handed, nor gone looking as much as he has in the past. Still a proven performer at this level over a long period of time however, and fits perfectly into a fixit role. The necessity side comes from Queensland's injury crisis, and the injury volume across the NRL, surely prompting the need for some versatile backline cover. Val can cover wing, centre, fullback and slot into the halves at a pinch. Big reveal: If AJ Brimson was fit, he would be the bench backline cover and Val would be dropped. If selectors opt to go without the backline cover - expect the likes of Hopgood to debut or Christian Welch to return.
Interchange - Jeremiah Nanai
Backrow is the position Queensland has acres of options in, and one of the luxuries of having multiple 80 minute players in the starting pack is the ability to bring another one of them in. Nanai pips J'maine Hopgood and Corey Horsburgh, based primarily on proven impact at this level, and staying good in a struggling Cowboys team. Any one of these three tyros would be satisfactory from a Maroons perspective. Josh Kerr was the other consideration. It's Nanai here, with his proven ability to score tries (eight this year for the Cowboys), somehow find himself on the end of kicks, free his arms, and miss very few tackles.