The darkest hours are just before the dawn. And while Queensland may have endured some dark hours during this year’s State of Origin series, the first few rays of sunshine in the dawning of a new Maroons era finally broke through in Origin III. In the first Origin game played on the Gold Coast, the
Queensland are going “Hammer and Ponga” for the third State of Origin game, with Maroons coach Paul Green revamping his team as his battered troops rally to save pride from a disappointing campaign. Electric Cowboys centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been called in to make his Origin debut, while fullbacks Kalyn Ponga and AJ Brimson also
This year’s State of Origin series has devolved into a rugby league version of Elm Street – a nightmare within a nightmare from which desperate Queenslanders just cannot wake up. But instead of Freddie Krueger, it is Freddie Fittler and his seemingly unstoppable Blues tearing the Maroons to shreds. Following a worst-ever 50-6 loss in
Something old, something new. Return to Suncorp, and beat the Blues. Queensland coach Paul Green has unveiled his formula for a State of Origin revenge mission in Game II, overhauling his squad with a mix of new faces and tried-and-tested performers to try to square the series on Sunday night. Boom rookie Reece Walsh, cut
Queensland will need to call on every ounce of its fabled fighting spirit to salvage this year’s State of Origin series after imploding on the tarmac in the opening game in Townsville. The Maroons were battered 50-6 by the rampaging Blues, giving the Queenslanders their biggest Origin loss in Origin’s 41 years with a 44-point
Queensland has landed some significant wins in this year’s State of Origin series before Paul Green’s Maroons even take the field. Green on Monday announced a 20-man Maroons squad for his first game as Maroons coach, with Parramatta hooker Reed Mahoney and Cowboys premiership winger Kyle Feldt the new faces. While there are clouds over
REED Mahoney has received the ultimate Origin endorsement, with Queensland’s most-capped player Cameron Smith declaring the Eels hooker is ready for a Maroons debut. If anyone is qualified to assess a hooker’s Origin bona fides, it is Smith, the legendary rake who amassed a record 42 matches for Queensland with an iron-clad grip on the
QUEENSLAND skipper Daly Cherry-Evans says his ability to strike a strong relationship with new coach Paul Green will be crucial to the Maroons’ hopes of retaining the State of Origin shield this season. Despite having played in the NRL for 10 years and amassed 246 first-grade games in that time, Cherry-Evans has remarkably never crossed
QUEENSLAND’s two most recent coaches Wayne Bennett and Kevin Walters have paid tribute to Michael Morgan and Jake Friend in the wake of their sudden retirements from the NRL. The Queensland Origin family was rocked last week when Morgan and Friend drew the curtain on their glittering careers, just 48 hours apart, after both waged
MAROONS legend Cameron Smith will be groomed for a possible role as Queensland Origin coach after officially calling time on his glorious NRL career. The six-month guessing game surrounding Smith’s playing future was finally put to bed a fortnight ago when the Melbourne Storm icon formally announced his retirement after a decorated 18-year career. The
