Queensland have rejected concerns that selecting the bulk of their State of Origin side from NRL clubs struggling for form will play into NSW’s hands for the opening match in Sydney.
Weekend losers Melbourne (Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk), Brisbane (Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker) and North Queensland (Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott, Brent Tate) could conceivably supply 10 of Mal Meninga’s 17-man squad for the June 5 clash at ANZ Stadium.
Queensland’s player stocks took a hit at the weekend with Broncos prop Ben Hannant sustaining a calf injury in their 19-18 loss to Parramatta, ruling him out of Origin I selection contention.
The Broncos continued their mixed form in the surprise defeat while the Cowboys were outclassed by Souths and Melbourne dropped their second game in a row to the lowly placed Penrith.
But Maroons chief selector Des Morris brushed aside the form factor of the individual clubs declaring most individuals were actually in good touch.
“Obviously you’d love them (the clubs) all to be flying like GI (Greg Inglis at Souths) but they can’t be up all the time – it’s a long season,” Morris said.
“There were two pretty close losses with Brisbane and Melbourne.”
He said that while Storm coach Craig Bellamy would be far from impressed with his side’s form, things were not as gloomy from a state perspective.
“Billy Slater’s form is pretty good, as is Cameron’s and Cooper’s, so we’re not worried by results,” he said.
“You know how professional those guys are when they go into camp.”
NSW, under rookie coach Laurie Daley, are desperate to avoid an eighth straight interstate series loss, but have the advantage of hosting the first and third games, knowing a first-up win could set them up to break the drought.
Queensland will have 10 days in camp under coach Mal Meninga to prepare for the clash, Morris believing it would be more than enough time to get the Maroon combinations in order.
And Inglis’ stunning form for the Rabbitohs aside, there have been some other highlights for would-be Maroons.
Dave Shillington’s impressive return from a rib injury in Canberra’s 44-14 comeback win over Newcastle at the weekend was timely given the loss of Hannant.
Shillington is in line for a starting call-up following the retirement of long-serving Petero Civoniceva and his 160-metre haul against the Knights was exactly what the selectors would have been hoping for.
Brisbane forward Josh McGuire’s Origin won’t be derailed by a a grade-one striking charge on Monday arising from a 48th-minute brawl in the loss to Parramatta on Friday night.
It has however earned him a “tread carefully” warning from Morris.
“We need aggressive guys but they have to control that aggression – that’s the issue for Josh,” he said.