MAROONS selector Billy Slater has challenged Queensland’s young guns to step up as Wayne Bennett’s ‘Babes’ face one of the most daunting assignments in State of Origin history. Origin celebrates its 40th anniversary with a November series, and it will be a baptism of fire for the Maroons, who have named a batch of new

QUEENSLAND powerbroker Darren Lockyer has backed Wayne Bennett to dust off his 2001 Origin heroics to lead the embattled Maroons to another Blues boilover this season. The Queensland Rugby League has turned to the Origin experience of Bennett to answer an SOS for this year’s historic November series following the forced departure of Maroons coach

QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters has dismissed concerns Maroons stars could withdraw from the November Origin series following revelations the code’s elite stars face representative pay-cuts because of the COVID crisis. NSW and Queensland players traditionally receive match fees of $30,000 each per Origin game, but that figure could be slashed to $10,000 this season for

REIGNING Queensland player of the year Ben Hunt admits he is under siege to retain his place in this year’s Origin side in the face of competition from a wave of hungry Maroons hooking aspirants. Hunt was one of the Maroons’ shining lights in last year’s 2-1 series loss to the Blues, starting in all

Forget partying like it’s 1999. Scott Sattler believes Queensland selectors should be picking this year’s Maroons team like it’s 2001. Like everything else in a post-Covid world, State or Origin is in for the biggest shake-up in its 40-year history this year with the entire series to be played in November after the completion of

QUEENSLAND Origin coach Kevin Walters says the state’s forward stocks are growing, with young tearaways Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Lindsay Collins in the frame for Maroons debuts this season. The retirement of Maroons hardheads Matt Scott, Nate Myles and Petero Civoniceva in the past eight years has triggered concerns over the depth of Queensland’s options in

QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters has vowed to bring the Origin shield back to the Sunshine State after clinching a contract upgrade with the mighty Maroons. The Queensland Rugby League last week handed Walters, FOG No.63, a 12-month extension until the end of 2021 in recognition of his work bringing through the next generation of Maroons

HE was omitted from Queensland’s 33-man extended squad but Broncos young gun Pat Carrigan is determined to win over Maroons coach Kevin Walters with a bumper 2020 campaign. Despite having captained the Queensland under-20s side two years ago, Carrigan was a surprise omission from the Maroons’ preliminary squad for a revamped pre-season camp last December.

DALY Cherry-Evans says he is in the best shape of his career as the Queensland skipper sets his sights on plotting a revenge mission on the Blues in this year's State of Origin series. Cherry-Evans may be turning 32 next February, but the Queensland halfback insists he is not on the wane and has vowed

DANE Gagai has ditched fast food and said bye-bye to burgers as the Queensland Origin flyer looks to stave off a challenge for his beloved Maroons jumper this season. Gagai’s focus is representative of the entire Maroons playing group, who now have a definite target to zero-in on following the announcement that this year’s State