IF Mal Meninga’s all-conquering Maroons were craving Queensland’s traditional underdog status to help ignite their State of Origin campaign, they have certainly got their wish.
For the first time in Origin history, the injury-riddled Maroons have been unable to name a 17-man squad to take on NSW and have instead nominated a 22-man battalion for the must-win second game at ANZ Stadium on June 18. But in keeping with their disastrous run of luck this series, it only took half an hour for trouble to strike again – with backrow giant Josh Papalii injuring himself in the final match of the round between Canberra and Brisbane on Monday night and ruling himself out of Origin II.
It was symptomatic of this year’s Origin campaign. It hasn’t rained. It has poured.
Already with their backs to the wall after the narrow 12-8 loss in Origin I, the Maroons knew they would go to Sydney without their No.1 halfback Cooper Cronk, who broke his arm in the series opener at Suncorp Stadium. Classy fullback Billy Slater was another casualty, injuring his shoulder in Origin I and now racing the clock to be fit for the return match at ANZ Stadium. While both injuries were major setbacks, Maroons fan were at least breathing a little easier knowing that in Daly Cherry-Evans and Greg Inglis, the Maroons had truly world-class back-up in both positions. But what a difference a weekend can make.
On Friday night, Cherry-Evans was taken out in a late tackle after kicking the ball by Canterbury’s Sam Kasiano, DCE leaving the field and not returning after damaging the knee he injured in Origin I. Then on Saturday night, the seemingly indestructible Inglis hobbled from the field in Perth after damaging his ankle when Warriors giant Manu Vatuvei landed on his leg in a tackle. All of a sudden, Queensland’s tremendous playing depth started to look a little shaky.
Then – just when it looked like the worst of the injury storm was behind the Maroons – Papalii was taken from the field with an ankle injury rated as a three-week repair job. Underdogs? Yeah, it’s fair to say Queensland has won back that title.
To give the coaching staff time to assess injuries and to give players as much chance as they can to prove their fitness, the Maroons therefore named a 22-man squad for Origin II. That has now been reduced to 21 with the withdrawal of Papalii, and will be whittled down to a final 17 before kick-off.
It was an interesting squad, stacked with enough back-up plans and insurance policies to give the Maroons options should their run of bad luck continue. Slater, Inglis and Cherry-Evans were all named – with DCE’s club Manly giving their star half a clean bill of health to wear the Maroon No.7 for the first time. Just in case, Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt – having a breakout season for the Broncos – was named in the Queensland squad for the first time to give the Maroons cover in case Cherry-Evans fails to come up in time. And with Slater and Inglis still under a cloud, there is plenty of back-up in the backline stocks as well.
Veteran Parramatta centre Willie Tonga has been recalled for Maroons duty, coming in alongside rookies Will Chambers (Melbourne) and Anthony Milford (Canberra) – giving Meninga options at centre, wing and fullback. Up front, Sam Thaiday returns from a calf strain that kept him out of Origin I, while the always reliable Jacob Lillyman returns to the squad after impressing with the resurgent Warriors to add depth to the pack down on size after the withdrawal of Papalii.
QUEENSLAND SQUAD: Darius BOYD, Will CHAMBERS, Daly CHERRY-EVANS, Matt GILLETT, Aidan GUERRA, Justin HODGES, Ben HUNT, Greg INGLIS, Jacob LILLYMAN, Chris MCQUEEN, Anthony MILFORD, Nate MYLES, Corey PARKER, Matt SCOTT, Billy SLATER, Cameron SMITH, Brent TATE, Ben TE’O, Sam THAIDAY, Johnathan THURSTON, Willie TONGA (NOTE: Josh PAPALII was originally named in the squad, but withdrew on Monday night with injury).
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