FORMER Maroons skipper Darren Lockyer has hailed Kalyn Ponga a 10-year Origin player and believes the fullback whizkid has the potential to captain Queensland. Ponga was a walk up start for the Maroons team named for Origin II, with injury the only factor to force changes in Kevin Walters’ squad as they look to wrap
They believed, and then they delivered. Queensland’s magnificent Maroons have one hand on the State of Origin shield after a breathtaking 18-14 win over the Blues at Suncorp Stadium in Game One of the series. In an Origin game for the ages, the Maroons’ new breed proved they understand what it means to wear that
WALTERS UNVEILS NEW WAVE FOR MIGHTY MAROONS A new era has begun for Queensland, with the Maroons unveiling new faces, a new captain and new combinations with the team named to take on the Blues in State of Origin I at Suncorp Stadium on June 5. Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has been crowed as Queensland’s
QUEENSLAND selector Darren Lockyer has emerged as a pivotal figure in Anthony Milford’s form burst which has put the Broncos five-eighth in the frame for a State of Origin recall. With the injury-hit Maroons having lost Andrew McCullough for Origin I and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans (ankle) racing the clock to prove his fitness, Milford has
COEN Hess admits he needs to adopt an Origin-style mentality to keep his Queensland jumper as the Cowboys hulk faces a Maroons threat from back-row rivals Felise Kaufusi and Matt Gillett. Hess has played five consecutive games for the Maroons, but North Queensland’s spluttering early-season form has turned up the heat on the Cowboys back-rower
FORMER Queensland Origin lock Scott Sattler believes Daly Cherry-Evans is tailor-made to lead the Maroons into a new era following the premature retirement of NRL champion Greg Inglis. Queensland coach Kevin Walters was banking on Inglis to play a key leadership role in this year’s State of Origin series after the South Sydney superstar played
MICHAEL Morgan has turned up the heat in the battle for Queensland scrumbase spots, with the Cowboys ace outlining his desire to finally wear Maroon in the halves. It is a measure of Morgan’s ability and value to the Maroons that the Cowboys skipper has played three different positions from nine appearances across four Origin
HE is a reluctant five-eighth, but Queensland star Cameron Munster admits Melbourne’s decision to keep him at pivot has enhanced his prospects of retaining the decorated Maroons’ No.6 jumper this season. As a teenager, Munster was groomed by Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy to be the fullback successor to Billy Slater. So when the Maroons and
QUEENSLAND’S most successful coach Mal Meninga insists Darius Boyd has more to offer the Maroons and has urged the Broncos skipper to consider making a State of Origin comeback this season. With the Maroons’ backline stocks taking a hit following the retirement of Billy Slater and Valentine Holmes’ defection to American Football, Meninga believes Boyd’s
HE was a shock appointment as Wests Tigers captain, and now Queenslander Moses Mbye is eyeing another special honour by breaking into the Maroons Origin side. With the Queensland No.1 jumper lying vacant following the retirement of champion Billy Slater, Mbye is keen to throw down the challenge to Kalyn Ponga – the Newcastle young
