The State of Origin series opener is just over two months away, so why not have a go at picking a way too early Queensland outfit?
Billy Slater’s Maroons have been hampered by with several brutal injuries already, with both Tom Gilbert and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui being rubbed out for the year.
Coen Hess has also been sidelined for the season and was a chance to join the squad, while Jai Arrow is battling a shoulder injury and it remains to be seen when he will be fit.
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But still, Queensland have a plethora of superstars to pick from and Slater will undoubtedly field a team ready to compete.
The Maroons also have a chance to win three series in a row in 2024, having last recorded a three-peat between 2015 and 2017.
So how could Queensland line up ahead of this year’s heavily anticipated series?
Read below for our way too early Queensland Maroons team!
FULLBACK
Incumbents: Reece Walsh (Game I and Game II), AJ Brimson (Game III)
Contenders: Kalyn Ponga, Reece Walsh
Analysis: It’s a battle for the ages, and Kalyn Ponga and Reece Walsh are set to go toe-to-toe for the fullback position in 2024. Ponga won the Dally M Medal last season after one of the best runs of form the NRL has ever seen, leading the Knights to 10 straight victories and a place in the finals. He made himself unavailable for last year’s Origin series after repeated concussions saw his 2023 campaign hanging by a thread. Speaking in November last year when asked about Origin he said “I want to play in that arena for sure”. But there’s one man blocking his path back into the team. What’s going for Walsh is he was a key figure in the Maroons’ series victory in 2023, playing the first two games which saw Queensland lift the trophy. He also played a huge part in the Broncos coming desperately close to winning the NRL premiership, ultimately falling short to 20 minutes of Nathan Cleary brilliance. Billy Slater threw Queensland loyalty out the window last year with a number of selection headaches, but he could stick solid with this one. What’s going against Walsh is he’s out for s short period with a fractured eye socket, however after avoiding surgery, he’s eyeing a return in Round 6. Slater could employ an interesting tactic and play Ponga off the bench, however Ben Hunt and Harry Grant have locked up the No.9 and No.14 jerseys. It looks unlikely the Maroons will give up running a third bench forward, and for that reason Walsh is the man who could get the nod here.
Selection: Reece Walsh
WINGERS
Incumbents: Murray Taulagi, Selwyn Cobbo (Game I), Xavier Coates (Game II and Game III)
Contenders: Murray Taulagi, Xavier Coates, Selwyn Cobbo, Phillip Sami
Analysis: The wing spot is set to be hotly contested in 2024. Selwyn Cobbo, Xavier Coates and Murray Taulagi all featured last series, with Cobbo’s campaign being cut short due to a hip injury suffered during Game I. Coates was called in as his replacement and was solid in his pair of games. This season, the Storm flyer has arguably been one of the competition’s best outside backs and scored a ridiculous try to snatch victory from the Warriors in Round 2. Craig Bellamy also claimed he had the best pre-season of any player he’s seen in years. He looks set to start on one wing, with Daly Cherry-Evans likely targeting him with his pinpoint kicking game. Meanwhile, the ever reliable Taulagi is set to get the nod on the other side and his performances, especially defensively, were very strong in the 2023 Origin series. Cobbo looks the odd one out in this equation, however one injury will see him catapulted straight into the side.
Selection: Xavier Coates and Murray Taulagi
CENTRES
Incumbents: Valentine Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Contenders: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Valentine Holmes, Selwyn Cobbo, Dane Gagai
Analysis: The centres is one position that as it stands, picks itself. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Valentine Holmes were excellent for the Maroons in 2023 and both players, have shown how dangerous they can be only three rounds into the 2024 NRL campaign. Tabuai-Fidow defensively was immense for the Maroons, and showed his attacking flair in Game 1 when he scored the game-winning try when Queensland had only 12 men on the park. Cobbo is an outside chance to be selected in the centres, having filled the role for the Broncos this year, if the Maroons are struck with injury, but Dane Gagai has once again been solid to start the year for the Knights and could be the next centre in line should Holmes or Tabuai-Fidow be unavailable.
Selection: Valentine Holmes and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
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FIVE-EIGHTH
Incumbent: Cameron Munster
Contenders: Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden, Ezra Mam
Analysis: When fit, Cameron Munster is an automatic selection in the No.6 for Queensland. He lives for the big moment and thrives in the representative arena when the pressure is on. However, following a leaked audio clip surfacing of Cameron Smith on SEN where he had claimed the Storm have “no idea” when he’ll be good to go. “He’s not even f***ing running yet. The last I heard was before last week’s game, they (were) just like mate it is a day by day thing,” he said. However, Melbourne have since announced he is set to take the field in Round 6 if he gets through a week of training unscathed. While Munster will likely be ready to go, Slater will no doubts be planning for the worst should he reinjure his groin. Ezra Mam was excellent to close out the 2023 season for the Broncos but Tom Dearden is the frontrunner to replace Munster if called upon. The 23-year-old replaced Munster after he was ruled out due to Covid in the 2022 series decider, delivering on debut and lifting the trophy. He’s begun his 2024 season with a bang too and has arguably been the in-form No.6 of the competition, running the ball with vigour and scoring three tries in as many games.
Selection: Cameron Munster
HALFBACK
Incumbent: Daly Cherry-Evans
Contenders: Daly Cherry-Evans, Ben Hunt, Sam Walker
Analysis: Another obvious pick here. For as long as Daly Cherry-Evans is willing to play for Queensland, he’s going to be picked in the No.7. He’s one of the best competitors the NRL has ever seen, epitomised by an outrageous effort to run down Stephen Crichton who looked a certainty to score in Game II of the 2023 series. When asked by foxsports.com.au last year if he was considering hanging up the boots in the Origin arena, he admitted it had crossed his mind. “As I get older the thought of retirement definitely starts to float through your head, but then I go in to camp and I get around the boys and I play,” he said. “I just love it so much, I just don’t know if I can let it go just yet. But I don’t want to hang on too long.” If he makes the shock decision to step aside, Ben Hunt looks the likely man to wear the No.7 while Sam Walker would be an outside option.
Selection: Daly Cherry-Evans
PROPS
Incumbents: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Reuben Cotter (Game I and Game III), Tom Flegler (Game II)
Contenders: Tom Flegler, Reuben Cotter, Lindsay Collins, Moeaki Fotuaika, Corey Horsburgh
Analysis: It’s a huge blow, but the Maroons will be without Titans superstar Tino Fa’asuamaleaui this series after he suffered a ruptured ACL in Round 3. He has featured in the last 12 consecutive Origin games and was a shoe-in to be picked on the bench or in the front row in this team. That leaves the front row wide open and three players are almost a certainty to be picked in the starting side or the bench. Reuben Cotter will be named at prop, having played two games in the position in 2023 and one in the backrow. The Cowboys gun won the Wally Lewis Medal for player of the series last year and will be one of the first names on the team sheet. Tom Flegler and Lindsay Collins will fight it out for the remaining spot, with either player able to provide spark at the start of a game or impact off the bench. Slater could opt for Flegler to take the sting out of the clash. Flegler featured off the bench and then in the run on side before he was rubbed out of Game III last year due to a Lisfranc injury. Meanwhile, Collins was in fine form during last year’s series and arguably delivered one of the highlights of Queensland’s campaign when he outjumped Roosters teammate James Tedesco to reel in a kick before offloading to Cameron Munster to score in the series opener. Moeaki Fotuaika and Corey Horsburgh will get a mention later in this analysis.
Selection: Tom Flegler and Reuben Cotter
HOOKER
Incumbents: Ben Hunt (Game I and Game II), Harry Grant (Game III)
Contenders: Harry Grant, Ben Hunt
Analysis: Billy Slater has utilised both Harry Grant and Ben Hunt in the No.9 and No.14 jerseys over the course of his two year tenure. Hunt, who plays as a halfback for the Dragons at club level, has been the preferred option to start and has been in the run on side in five of six games Slater has been in charge. However, to close out the 2023 series, Grant was the man to wear the No.9 and looks set to remain in that spot ahead of the 2024 series. Outside of this pairing, Reed Mahoney is an option, but wouldn’t be called upon unless either of these players suffered an injury. Even still, Slater could look to use Ponga or Walsh as a utility dependent on which player he picks.
Selection: Harry Grant
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BACKROWERS
Incumbents: David Fifita, Tom Gilbart (Game I), Reuben Cotter (Game II), Jeremiah Nanai (Game III)
Contenders: David Fifita, Jeremiah Nanai, Beau Fermor, Heilum Luki, Kurt Capewell
Analysis: David Fifita passed with flying colours in his Origin return in 2023, having not featured for Queensland since 2021. He was impressive on an edge and despite having been sidelined to start the 2024 season with a pectoral tear, he will be picked to feature in Slater’s team this year if he’s fit. Partnering him, Jeremiah Nanai is in the box seat, having played off the bench in Game II and starting in Game III last year. At only 21 years of age, Nanai has already played five Origin games and his form for the Cowboys this year has once again been impressive, scoring twice in only three games. Outside of that pairing, Beau Fermor is an outside chance, although he may fall victim to the Titans’ poor start to the season. The 25-year-old was selected in the Game II squad in 2022 and was also named in the 34-man squad that trained as a part of a Queensland pre-season camp earlier this year. Kurt Capewell is also an experienced option and has been solid for the Warriors, while Heilum Luki has been sidelined with a syndesmosis injury but was also included in Slater’s pre-season squad.
Selection: David Fifita and Jeremiah Nanai
LOCK
Incumbent: Pat Carrigan
Contenders: Pat Carrigan, Reuben Cotter, J’maine Hopgood
Analysis: Pat Carrigan will almost certainly wear the No.13 for Queensland in 2024. The Broncos gun was an integral cog in Queensland’s success last year and started every game after proving his worth off the bench in 2022 before he was promoted in Game III. He’s played six Origin games to date and has won four of these, having only ever tasted Maroons series victory during his Queensland career. Reuben Cotter is the replacement option should Carrigan be sidelined, which will also see a front row reshuffle. Meanwhile, Eels rising star J’maine Hopgood is also an outside chance for a bench spot, with his form putting him in this equation on merit and also earning him a spot in the Queensland squad for Game III. He’s an Origin player of the future and expect him to be included in Slater’s extended squad this year.
Selection: Pat Carrigan
BENCH
Incumbents: Harry Grant (Game I and Game II), Lindsay Collins (Game I and Game III), Tom Flegler (Game I), Jai Arrow (Game I), Moeaki Fotuaika (Game II and Game III), Jeremiah Nanai (Game II), Ben Hunt (Game III), Corey Horsburgh (Game III)
Contenders: Ben Hunt, Lindsay Collins, Moeaki Fotuaika, Corey Horsburgh, Kurt Capewell, Kalyn Ponga, J’maine Hopgood
Analysis: Slater looks set to once again select his tried and tested hooker pairing, and Hunt looks the likely man to play off the bench this year due to his versatility. He also wore the No.14 in Game III last year. That leaves three more spots for forwards and Lindsay Collins is a lock on this bench and could easily be a starter in the front row. With two spots left, it remains to be seen who will take them, however Raiders gun Corey Horsburgh could be in line to play his second game. The 26-year-old made his debut off the bench in Game III, earning a representative cap after a breakout season in the nation’s capital. While he’s one of the frontrunners, his season has been stalled so far in 2024. He sat out at the start of the year due to suspensions and has been named on the extended bench in Round 4 for the Raiders. It remains to be seen if he can rediscover his form, but if he can string several strong performances together over the next two months he’s a strong chance of winning a bench spot. Meanwhile, Moeaki Fotuaika is a chance of earning a spot on the pine despite the Titans’ dismal form. He played two games during Queensland’s series win last year, adding to the four appearances he tallied across 2020 and 2021. With Fa’asuamaleaui sidelined he will also likely have to play more minutes, only adding to his selection credentials if he can deliver. Hopgood could also force his way onto the bench and has been delivering tireless performances for the Eels in the middle of the park. He’s the exact sort of no fuss player Queensland love, so he’s a smokey for the bench considering the injuries the Maroons have suffered.
Selection: Ben Hunt, Lindsay Collins, Corey Horsburgh, Moeaki Fotuaika
PREDICTED TEAM
1. Reece Walsh
2. Murray Taulagi
3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
4. Valentine Holmes
5. Xavier Coates
6. Cameron Munster
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Tom Flegler
9. Harry Grant
10. Reuben Cotter
11. David Fifita
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Pat Carrigan
14. Ben Hunt
15. Lindsay Collins
16. Moeaki Fotuaika
17. Corey Horsburgh
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