{"id":88383,"date":"2021-06-21T03:13:17","date_gmt":"2021-06-21T03:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=88383"},"modified":"2021-06-21T03:59:10","modified_gmt":"2021-06-21T03:59:10","slug":"why-head-should-roll-over-teens-origin-pick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=88383","title":{"rendered":"Why head should roll over teen's Origin pick"},"content":{"rendered":"

NRL great PAUL GALLEN will appear on Nine's 100% FOOTY on Monday night, debating rugby league's hottest topics alongside Phil Gould and James Bracey. Tune in from 10.20pm AEST, following all the action of Round 15 plus State of Origin II team selections!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Imagine being a Broncos fan, watching Reece Walsh switch clubs and play just seven games before getting picked for Queensland<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It just goes to show where Brisbane are at. The Broncos never used to lose any player they wanted to keep.<\/p>\n

To lose an 18-year-old who's already a State of Origin<\/a> player, Brisbane fans must be saying, 'Why? How? And who should have to pay for this?' <\/p>\n

It's a big question.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What an effort by Reece – 18 years of age and picked for Origin in his first NRL season. It's an amazing rise.<\/p>\n

It just goes to show the talent that he has; although it also shows the injuries that Queensland are carrying, with Kalyn Ponga and AJ Brimson both out. The Maroons didn't have many options, yet moving Valentine Holmes from fullback to the wing is probably a bit of a slap in the face for him. <\/p>\n

I've always said that Val's best position is on the wing. He's the best winger in the competition. People might think I'm picking on him but that's his best spot and Queensland must have realised that as well. <\/p>\n

Reece Walsh is a gun fullback. It's a big ask for a teenager to come in for a must-win Origin game, playing in a key position for a team that's just been pumped by 50 points.<\/p>\n

But if you're good enough, you're old enough.<\/p>\n

Attacking-wise, fullback is probably the most important position on the field these days. Your halves steer the team around the park, while you're No.1 is instrumental in setting up and scoring tries.<\/p>\n

In such a big game, that's a lot to put on 18-year-old shoulders. But I must say, Walsh looks the part.<\/p>\n

He's been dangerous in every game that he's played for the Warriors. Maybe playing Origin at such a young age is just what he was destined to do.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Andrew McCullough was another forced team change, with an injury to Harry Grant and also Reed Mahoney. You can't bag McCullough, he's a player who's been there before and done a job.<\/p>\n

He'll be solid. He'll pass well, tackle well, do all the little things well. But he's not Harry Grant – he doesn't have that silky skill or speed out of dummy-half. Grant is a huge loss for the Maroons.<\/p>\n

Ben Hunt has found decent form and he's a good pick on the bench. Having AJ Brimson there in game one – Brimson's an out-and-out fullback. Putting him on the field as a No.14, he was just lost, the poor bloke. He couldn't do it.<\/p>\n

I was shocked that Hunt wasn't there in game one. He's always performed for Queensland, that's one thing you've got to give him credit for. Whenever, he's come on as a No.14 and played that hooker role, he's always been pretty dangerous.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Frankie Molo is another good selection, a big body off the bench who's going well for the Cowboys. Whether he keeps up with the pace of the game and can have an impact remains to be seen; he's got a chance, now it's up to him.<\/p>\n

Josh Papali'i is a huge inclusion in the Queensland front-row. He's such a leader in that Maroons team, with his experience and quality.<\/p>\n

His form for the Raiders has really bounced back. He's been pretty good after some well-documented issues earlier in the season, so Queensland will hope he carries that form into Origin.<\/p>\n

Kurt Capewell had a tough night in Origin I, playing in the centres, but he was a match-winner there for Queensland in game one of last year's series.<\/p>\n

Marking Tom Trbojevic right now is a big job. He's been so good this year, the best player in the competition by far since he's come back from injury. He's flying at the moment. Untouchable.<\/p>\n

There will come a time when the question will be, when does he take James Tedesco's spot at fullback? He's been that good; although Tedesco is the NSW captain and is still playing brilliantly. It's a question for another day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Capewell, as a bigger body, might have a slightly better chance of containing 'Turbo' and he'll do his job in game two. Having said that, I might have given Will Chambers a recall in the centres. <\/p>\n

One thing that Queensland lacked in Origin I was passion and heart. That's something that they've never lacked, ever.<\/p>\n

At 20, 30 points down, they never had anyone really try to change the game. No one came out of the line to put a shot on. Nothing. They were just ambling by and they had 50 points put on them.<\/p>\n

Will Chambers, whether it's through his mouth or his actions, would have tried to change the game. He would do something different.<\/p>\n

He's only played a handful of games back in rugby league but he and the Sharkies have found some form, winning four in a row. Chambers and Ronaldo Mulitalo would have made a good club combination on the left wide.<\/p>\n

It's a big call to leave him out but that's their decision. It was good to see Ronaldo get a nod as 19th man at least; he's an outstanding player and he'll be in the side one day. I've always thought so.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It's a must-win game for Queensland, being played at the home of Origin. Forget the first game, I think it will be tight.<\/p>\n

That first game was the smallest Queensland crowd NSW will ever play in front of. They had to make the most of it and did. It wasn't at Suncorp Stadium, where Queensland have that extra player, so to speak; the aura of playing at Origin's spiritual home, their turf.<\/p>\n

That will be there in game two. I think NSW will get it done in a far closer game.<\/p>\n

We know that the Maroons weren't great in game one. Let's hope the Blues can play the same sort of way but there's no doubt that Queensland will be far better than they showed in Townsville.<\/p>\n

They'll be desperate. They'll have debutants like Reece Walsh and Frankie Molo playing their hearts out, as will the guys who have been there before.<\/p>\n

But the Blues have fresh inclusions in their squad too – Angus Crichton and Dale Finucane will be desperate to get a crack after missing out on game one.<\/p>\n

NSW should be too good again – but this time, only just.<\/p>\n

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NRL great PAUL GALLEN will appear on Nine's 100% FOOTY on Monday night, debating rugby league's hottest topics alongside Phil Gould and James Bracey. Tune […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88383"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=88383"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88383\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88385,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88383\/revisions\/88385"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=88383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=88383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=88383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}