Young guns ready to push Origin claims
QUEENSLAND’S
remarkable depth of State of Origin talent is reflected by the selection
of a current Test star in this year’s Emerging Origin squad.
Admittedly,
Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans is no ordinary case study – having soared all
the way through to an Australian Test jersey in last year’s Four
Nations in England after an incredible rookie season that also saw him
steer the Sea Eagles to the NRL premiership.
But his selection
among the other Origin rookies in the Emerging squad shows the depth
Queensland selectors and coach Mal Meninga will be blessed with when
this year’s Origin series gets underway.
Despite his incredible
season in 2011, Cherry-Evans is by no means guaranteed to make his
Origin debut, with his Kangaroo teammates Johnathan Thurston and Cooper
Cronk still rated as the favourites to form the new-look Maroons’
scrumbase pairing after the retirement of skipper Darren Lockyer.
Even
then, the inclusion of the electric Chris Sandow has given the Maroons
another option in the halves, with the former Rabbitoh looking for a big
year after his transfer to the Parramatta Eels.
Sandow in fact
will have the first chance to form a combination with Thurston, with the
pair to line-up together in the halves for the Indigenous All-Stars in
next month’s clash with the NRL All Stars at Robina’s Skilled Park.
FOGS
Executive Chairman Gene Miles – a Queensland selector – said there
would not be too many shock inclusions in this year’s squad, which would
be more about rewarding and developing Queensland’s terrific current
depth.
“Once again, Queensland is in the very fortunate position
of having some incredibly talented players coming through the system,
and that is why the Emerging Origin squad remains such an important part
of our Origin set-up,” Gene said.
“By introducing these young
guys to the system, they get a little taste of what to expect should Mal
Meninga need them to answer the call for the Maroons.”
Aside
from Cherry-Evans and Sandow, a number of members of the 14-man Emerging
Origin squad will be pushing for inclusion in the Maroons squad this
year, as Queensland aims for an incredible seventh-successive series
win.
Roosters prop Martin Kennedy came very close to selection
last year, and even became the centre of an eligibility tug-of-war when
NSW tried to claim him, and will be looking to break through this
season.
Similarly, the Broncos trio of Josh McGuire, Matt
Gillett and Ben Te’o will be itching for a start after a couple of years
on the selection fringe.
But breaking into the Maroons’ all-conquering squad will not be easy, with competition fierce across every position.
The
Emerging Origin squad will come together under Big Mal and Queensland
Academy of Sport head coach Wayne Bennett from January 20-22.
The 14-man Emerging Origin squad is:
Ben BARBA (Bulldogs)
Justin O’NEILL (Storm)
Maurice BLAIR (Storm)
Esi TONGA (Eels)
Dale COPLEY (Broncos)
Daly CHERRY-EVANS (Sea Eagles)
Chris SANDOW (Eels)
Martin KENNEDY (Roosters)
Jake FRIEND (Roosters)
Josh McGUIRE (Broncos)
Matt GILLETT (Broncos)
Lama TASI (Roosters)
Ben TE’O (Broncos)
Chris McQUEEN (Rabbitohs)
