Billy Slater is just days away from asserting his Maroons squad for one of the vital anticipated Origin sequence in rugby league historical past.
The NRL 2023 season has dished up a number of the most entertaining soccer in years and Queensland have purple sizzling choice battles throughout the park.
Whether or not it’s the fullback battle between incumbent Kalyn Ponga and rising star Reece Walsh or the entrance row rotation — spots are up for grabs.
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Foxsports.com.au has damaged down the contenders in every prediction, predicting who will put on the Maroons jersey in 2023!
Here’s our Maroons facet forward of the sequence opener in Adelaide on May 31.
FULLBACK
Incumbent: Kalyn Ponga
Contenders: Kalyn Ponga, Reece Walsh and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Predicted 2023 fullback: Kalyn Ponga
Analysis: Knights celebrity Kalyn Ponga goes to a different stage when he pulls on a Maroons jersey and final 12 months delivered a man-of-the-match efficiency within the sequence decider. Ponga was the distinction as he scored a attempt, ran for 247 metres and produced 15 deal with breaks. A fourth concussion in 10 months in Round 2 threatened to derail his 2023 season however Ponga returned to his blistering greatest within the No. 6 jersey towards the Titans final weekend. The efficiency spells dangerous news for sensation Reece Walsh who has been lighting it up for the Broncos. Walsh was picked to change into Queensland’s youngest participant in 26 years, as an 18-year-old in 2021, however a hamstring harm simply days earlier than Game II dominated him out. Walsh has been in elegant contact in Brisbane’s sturdy begin to the season. Dolphins fullback Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who scored a attempt enjoying within the centres for Queensland within the 2021 decider, can be in stellar type and will drive his manner into the facet within the exterior backs.
WINGERS
Incumbents: Selwyn Cobbo, Xavier Coates (Game I), Murray Taulagi (Game II) and Corey Oates (Game III)
Contenders: Selwyn Cobbo, Xavier Coates and Murray Taulagi
Unavailable: Corey Oates
Predicted 2023 wingers: Selwyn Cobbo and Xavier Coates
Analysis: Broncos flyer Selwyn Cobbo loved a robust debut sequence final 12 months earlier than he suffered an unpleasant head knock within the opening minutes of Game III. The Broncos are flying which suggests he’ll be the primary winger picked this 12 months. It took simply 28 minutes for Xavier Coates’ 2022 Origin marketing campaign to be over with the Storm winger struggling a excessive ankle sprain in Game I. Cowboys gun Murray Taulagi slotted into his place over then-teammate Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, earlier than he was dominated out of Game III with Covid. Corey Oates got here in for the decider however after a robust 2022 membership marketing campaign which noticed him bag 20 tries, he broke his jaw in Brisbane’s first sport of the 2023 after which injured his knee in Round 8. Taulagi has solely scored two tries in 9 video games this season, which opens the door for Storm winger Coates to return.
CENTRES
Incumbents: Valentine Holmes and Dane Gagai
Contenders: Valentine Holmes, Dane Gagai and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Predicted 2023 centres: Valentine Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Analysis: Queensland traditionally picks and sticks however this 12 months issues might be totally different with Knights veteran Dane Gagai going through the axe for Dolphins flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow. There was loads of chatter round Knights veteran Dane Gagai’s place within the workforce heading into the sequence decider final 12 months after some poor defensive work within the first two video games. But Slater caught stable and Gagai repaid the religion with a robust displaying within the decider. The 32-year-old has performed 21 video games for Queensland since debuting in 2015 and can line up for the Maroons once more this 12 months. Cowboys star Valentine Holmes is among the NRL’s greatest exterior backs and began for Australia on the wing within the World Cup last final November, being a sharpshooter off the tee. Holmes performed a key function in North Queensland’s resurgence as premiership contenders in 2022 and is one other computerized choice for Slater.
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FIVE-EIGHTH
Incumbent: Cameron Munster (Game I and II), Tom Dearden (Game III)
Predicted 2023 five-eighth: Cameron Munster
Analysis: Covid scratched Storm star Cameron Munster from the 2022 decider and Cowboys younger gun Tom Dearden stepped in with aplomb. Dearden arrange the primary attempt of Game III and greater than held his personal within the Origin strain cooker. But the Queensland No. 6 jersey belongs to Munster for so long as he needs it. The 28-year-old could be close to unattainable to defend at instances along with his capacity to create one thing out of nothing and a working sport that’s second to none.
HALFBACK
Incumbent: Daly Cherry-Evans
Predicted 2023 halfback: Daly Cherry-Evans
Analysis: Sea Eagles veteran Daly Cherry-Evans is displaying no indicators of slowing down regardless of being simply 5 years youthful than Maroons coach Billy Slater. The 34-year-old has 19 Origins to his title and was one in all Queensland’s greatest in 2022 and pulled the strings within the decider with over 600 kick metres.
LOCK
Incumbents: Reuben Cotter (Game I), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Game II), Patrick Carrigan (Game III)
Contenders: Reuben Cotter, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Patrick Carrigan, Corey Horsburgh, Tom Gilbert
Predicted 2023 lock: Patrick Carrigan
Analysis: Broncos star Pat Carrigan was awarded the Wally Lewis Medal for Queensland’s participant of the sequence in 2022, even after ranging from the bench in Game I and Game II. Billy later finally picked him within the No.13 for the sequence decider and delivered, incomes him the beginning lock function as soon as once more. The 25-year-old was additionally chosen in Australia’s World Cup profitable facet off the bench within the last towards Samoa. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Reuben Cotter are locks within the 17, being picked within the entrance row and bench respectively. Meanwhile, Tom Gilbert has solely a singular Origin look to his title however might be the subsequent man in line to fit onto the bench. Corey Horsburgh has additionally been sturdy for the Raiders this season taking on the No.13 jersey and with one or two accidents, he might earn himself an Origin debut.
SECOND ROWERS
Incumbents: Kurt Capewell, Felise Kaufusi (Game I and II), Jeremiah Nanai (Game III)
Contenders: Kurt Capewell, Felise Kaufusi, Jeremiah Nanai, David Fifita
Predicted 2023 second rowers: Kurt Capewell, Felise Kaufusi
Analysis: Queensland’s backrow pairing of Kurt Capewell and Felise Kaufusi have delivered lately. Capewell hasn’t missed a sport within the final three sequence, taking dwelling the trophy in 2020 and 2022. Meanwhile, Kaufusi had featured in each sport since making his debut in 2018 till final 12 months’s sequence decider. The 30-year-old travelled to the United States to spend time along with his unwell father. Jeremiah Nanai, throughout his breakout 12 months in 2022, additionally performed off the bench twice and began in Kaufusi’s absence. However in 2023, the Dally M Rookie of the Year hasn’t been at his greatest and can possible miss out on the squad all collectively. That opens a door for Titans star David Fifita to make an Origin return, possible enjoying off the bench with Capewell and Kaufusi as soon as once more taking their place within the run-on facet. Fifita has been glorious underneath Justin Holbrook, scoring tries and establishing his exterior backs in harmful style, dwelling as much as his hefty price ticket.
SOO picks: Ponga v Walsh, Luai v Hynes | 06:18
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HOOKER
Incumbent: Ben Hunt
Contenders: Ben Hunt, Harry Grant, Reed Mahoney
Predicted 2023 hooker: Ben Hunt
Analysis: Ben Hunt was a shock choice to begin at hooker for Billy Slater’s Maroons in Game I final season. But by the tip of the sequence, the choice was confirmed a masterstroke. The Dragons star was spectacular within the No.9 and can virtually actually win the spot once more in 2023. Meanwhile, the one-two punch with Harry Grant on the bench can be a lock and Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga additionally utilised the Queensland dummy-half duo in Australia’s World Cup last victory over Samoa.
PROPS
Incumbents: Josh Papalii, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Game I), Lindsay Collins (Game II and III)
Contenders: Christian Welch, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Lindsay Collins, Jai Arrow, Tom Flegler
Retired: Josh Papalii
Predicted 2023 props: Christian Welch and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Analysis: Josh Papalii introduced his shock retirement on Thursday. Papalii, Lindsay Collins and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui made up the Maroons’ entrance row rotation final season. Fa’asuamaleaui shifted into the lock function in Game II and performed off the bench in Game III, with Collins packing a punch from kick-off alongside Papalii. Papalii missed solely seven video games since making his debut in 2013, enjoying each Origin between 2017 to 2020, and only one sport prior to now two years. Christian Welch, who would have been one of many first picked final 12 months earlier than an Achilles tear, will exchange him within the beginning facet. Roosters star Lindsay Collins and Cowboys robust man Reuben Cotter ought to earn spots on the bench which suggests Rabbitohs gun Jai Arrow and Broncos gun Tom Flegler will possible miss out regardless of their sturdy membership type.
Predicted Queensland workforce:
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Selwyn Cobbo
3. Valentine Holmes
4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5. Xavier Coates
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
9. Ben Hunt
10. Christian Welch
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kurt Capewell
13. Pat Carrigan
14. Harry Grant
15. Reuben Cotter
16. Lindsay Collins
17. David Fifita
18. Tom Gilbert
19. Jai Arrow
20. Reece Walsh
21. Corey Horsburgh
Source: www.foxsports.com.au