Queensland great Petero Civoniceva says he’d hit NSW’s power pack with a Matt Scott-Dave Shillington front-row combination in next month’s opening State of Origin match in Sydney.
Settling on a replacement for the 33-game Origin prop who retired last year on the back of Queensland’s seventh successive series win is an issue for selectors before they reveal their 17-man squad on Monday night.
Shillington will get a great opportunity 48 hours earlier to convince selectors Des Morris, Gene Miles and Alan Smith of his worth when Canberra take on Manly’s aggressive pack.
There’s been whispers Queensland selectors are toying with the idea of pushing Gold Coast forward Nate Myles into the front-row and leaving the 114kg Shillington – who has seven Origins on his resume – to charge into the game off the bench.
But Civoniceva – the rock on which Queensland built their record-breaking streak since 2006 – is an advocate for a traditional front-rower to absorb the pressure and brutality that the opening 15 or 20 minutes of Origin delivers.
“I think Shillo would be right to start, he’s a big match player,” Civoniceva told AAP on Friday.
“I knows he’s missed a bit of football but he is a real professional and he would have kept himself in great shape.
“Those early exchanges are very tough.
“Matt (Scott) and Shillo are a proven front-row partnership, they’ve already done it at that level and also at Test level.
“They’ve both got huge work rates and when you’re talking about Origin you need that right from the kick off.”
Civoniceva said NSW had the potential to name a giant pack with Wests Tigers prop Aaron Woods (109kg, 194cm) Cronulla brute Andrew Fifita (114kg, 196cm) and Penrith’s Tim Grant (112kg, 194cm) joining Paul Gallen in the Blues’ engine room.
“They have the players to put together a monster pack if Laurie Daley wants,” said Civoniceva.
“But in game two (2012) they had success pushing Gal (Gallen) into the front row and going for a quicker pack in the middle third.
“That’s another option but I think Laurie would have to consider the form of Fifita and Woods for sure.
“The make-up of their pack might come down to the halves they go with and the style Laurie wants them to play.”
Civoniceva, still running around in the Queensland Cup for Redcliffe at aged 37, said one rumour he could hit on the head was Queensland selectors recalling him for Origin I on June 5.
“I heard that and had a bit of a laugh,” said the big Fijian.
“Trust me, my Origin days are well and truly over.
“I’m enjoying life without all the pressure of knowing there is an Origin series coming up.”