Reece Walsh among star Broncos pushing case for State of Origin selection
Brisbane only have one representative in the Queensland side but that could soon change if three of their Maroons contenders can string two strong games together.
Only lock Pat Carrigan will play for the Maroons in the second match of the State of Origin series in Perth, but Reece Walsh, Jesse Arthars and Brendan Piakura could rocket into contention for game three, pending the Origin result on Wednesday night.
Utility Ben Hunt, still absent with a hamstring injury, won't be available for the clash with Cronulla at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday but the Broncos hope to have him back for the Warriors or Canterbury games in the weeks ahead.
Second-rower Jack Gosiewski is set to return from a broken arm against the Sharks off the bench.
Broncos prop Ben Te Kura had surgery on a syndesmosis injury and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
The Broncos are hoping to build on their 44-14 win over Gold Coast in round 14 before their bye.
Walsh, on return from a knee injury, had his best match of the season with two tries and an elite passing game to put him in the frame for a Maroons recall.
Winger Arthars was in Queensland's camp ahead of game one of the series, won 18-6 by NSW. He has been one of the Broncos best players the past three years and is highly regarded by Maroons coach Billy Slater.
Back-rower Piakura has had an up and down season but when on song he is an attacking and defensive threat, as he was against the Titans.
His issue has been consistency but Slater also brought the barnstorming forward into camp last year and gave him sage advice.
'The message was about making sure there's detail in the little things ... my positioning, both in attack and defence, and just working with my halfback,' Piakura said.
'If I just keep playing consistently and good footy, hopefully I will get that call-up.'
Arthars said he was hopeful his Origin dream would soon be realised.
'When I went into the camp I just wanted to soak it all in, and I think just the intensity of the training is what I took out of it,' he said
'I've tried to bring it back here for the boys. It's something I've been working on over the years, and to get the call from Bill was pretty special.
'To be considered and in the picture for Origin is something I've always wanted to be a part of and I really enjoyed the experience I had.'
Walsh, who played in the past two Origin series, is the most likely to come into the Maroons frame.
'Walshy went through a tough period with his knee, and he's another player we want to have out there as much as we can,' Arthars said.
'He works just as hard as anyone else at the club, so to have him back last week against the Titans was pretty nice. He brought that energy and everyone loves playing with him.'
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The Advertiser
9 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Slater says Maroons won't be dictated to on kick-off
A defiant Billy Slater has declared Queensland won't be pressured into kicking off to NSW firebrand Spencer Leniu in State of Origin II. As Maroons prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui said he was not scared of Leniu on Tuesday, Slater would not be drawn on whether the Maroons would kick to the Blues front-rower. Of the four long kick-offs from Queensland in their game one loss, none went to Leniu or Payne Haas, in what has since been labelled by some as a pre-determined plan. The situation left Leniu fuming, with the Sydney Roosters prop appearing to swear in frustration as the Maroons changed the direction of their kick to avoid him. Haas has largely stayed away from the debate over the past week, but on Monday said he would want the ball kicked off to Leniu if he was in the Queensland side, since he'd want the chance to take down a powerful rival. Former NSW front-rower Willie Mason has also accused the Maroons of being "s**t scared" of Leniu, while Braith Anasta labelled Queensland "weak". Slater dodged a question on Tuesday on whether Leniu would have the chance to take a hit-up from a kick-off at Optus Stadium. But the Maroons coach did defend his team's right to prioritise their own tactics over the entertainment factor. "We don't ask Nathan (Cleary) to kick to a specific corner. He does what he wants," Slater said of the Blues halfback. "He gets his game on. So, we'll be getting our game on. "I get all the dilemma about it, but at the end of the day, it's about building a game and a game plan that best suits you. "It's not about what (the media) want or anyone else wants." Asked about the issue, Maroons front-rower Fa'asuamaleaui rejected any suggestion Queensland's pack were scared of Leniu. "I'm not scared of anyone," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "I just want to do my job for Queensland and I'm not going to back down from anyone and that's our whole team. "We're just going to get out there, get our game on and do what we do best and play our game. "(We're) not backing down from anyone." Slater wouldn't say whether Queensland would make late changes to their pack, or if Kurt Mann could start at hooker in place of Harry Grant. The Maroons have won six of eight games when Grant has come off the bench, as opposed to a 0-4 record with him starting. NSW second-rower Angus Crichton had accused Queensland of mind games last week, refusing to believe Jeremiah Nanai and Pat Carrigan weren't starting. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has already let slip that he will move to the right wing at Optus Stadium, after playing left centre in the series-opening 18-6 loss in Brisbane. That defeat has piled the pressure on Slater, who has already axed captain Daly Cherry-Evans and replaced him with Tom Dearden in the halves. A defiant Billy Slater has declared Queensland won't be pressured into kicking off to NSW firebrand Spencer Leniu in State of Origin II. As Maroons prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui said he was not scared of Leniu on Tuesday, Slater would not be drawn on whether the Maroons would kick to the Blues front-rower. Of the four long kick-offs from Queensland in their game one loss, none went to Leniu or Payne Haas, in what has since been labelled by some as a pre-determined plan. The situation left Leniu fuming, with the Sydney Roosters prop appearing to swear in frustration as the Maroons changed the direction of their kick to avoid him. Haas has largely stayed away from the debate over the past week, but on Monday said he would want the ball kicked off to Leniu if he was in the Queensland side, since he'd want the chance to take down a powerful rival. Former NSW front-rower Willie Mason has also accused the Maroons of being "s**t scared" of Leniu, while Braith Anasta labelled Queensland "weak". Slater dodged a question on Tuesday on whether Leniu would have the chance to take a hit-up from a kick-off at Optus Stadium. But the Maroons coach did defend his team's right to prioritise their own tactics over the entertainment factor. "We don't ask Nathan (Cleary) to kick to a specific corner. He does what he wants," Slater said of the Blues halfback. "He gets his game on. So, we'll be getting our game on. "I get all the dilemma about it, but at the end of the day, it's about building a game and a game plan that best suits you. "It's not about what (the media) want or anyone else wants." Asked about the issue, Maroons front-rower Fa'asuamaleaui rejected any suggestion Queensland's pack were scared of Leniu. "I'm not scared of anyone," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "I just want to do my job for Queensland and I'm not going to back down from anyone and that's our whole team. "We're just going to get out there, get our game on and do what we do best and play our game. "(We're) not backing down from anyone." Slater wouldn't say whether Queensland would make late changes to their pack, or if Kurt Mann could start at hooker in place of Harry Grant. The Maroons have won six of eight games when Grant has come off the bench, as opposed to a 0-4 record with him starting. NSW second-rower Angus Crichton had accused Queensland of mind games last week, refusing to believe Jeremiah Nanai and Pat Carrigan weren't starting. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has already let slip that he will move to the right wing at Optus Stadium, after playing left centre in the series-opening 18-6 loss in Brisbane. That defeat has piled the pressure on Slater, who has already axed captain Daly Cherry-Evans and replaced him with Tom Dearden in the halves. A defiant Billy Slater has declared Queensland won't be pressured into kicking off to NSW firebrand Spencer Leniu in State of Origin II. As Maroons prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui said he was not scared of Leniu on Tuesday, Slater would not be drawn on whether the Maroons would kick to the Blues front-rower. Of the four long kick-offs from Queensland in their game one loss, none went to Leniu or Payne Haas, in what has since been labelled by some as a pre-determined plan. The situation left Leniu fuming, with the Sydney Roosters prop appearing to swear in frustration as the Maroons changed the direction of their kick to avoid him. Haas has largely stayed away from the debate over the past week, but on Monday said he would want the ball kicked off to Leniu if he was in the Queensland side, since he'd want the chance to take down a powerful rival. Former NSW front-rower Willie Mason has also accused the Maroons of being "s**t scared" of Leniu, while Braith Anasta labelled Queensland "weak". Slater dodged a question on Tuesday on whether Leniu would have the chance to take a hit-up from a kick-off at Optus Stadium. But the Maroons coach did defend his team's right to prioritise their own tactics over the entertainment factor. "We don't ask Nathan (Cleary) to kick to a specific corner. He does what he wants," Slater said of the Blues halfback. "He gets his game on. So, we'll be getting our game on. "I get all the dilemma about it, but at the end of the day, it's about building a game and a game plan that best suits you. "It's not about what (the media) want or anyone else wants." Asked about the issue, Maroons front-rower Fa'asuamaleaui rejected any suggestion Queensland's pack were scared of Leniu. "I'm not scared of anyone," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "I just want to do my job for Queensland and I'm not going to back down from anyone and that's our whole team. "We're just going to get out there, get our game on and do what we do best and play our game. "(We're) not backing down from anyone." Slater wouldn't say whether Queensland would make late changes to their pack, or if Kurt Mann could start at hooker in place of Harry Grant. The Maroons have won six of eight games when Grant has come off the bench, as opposed to a 0-4 record with him starting. NSW second-rower Angus Crichton had accused Queensland of mind games last week, refusing to believe Jeremiah Nanai and Pat Carrigan weren't starting. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has already let slip that he will move to the right wing at Optus Stadium, after playing left centre in the series-opening 18-6 loss in Brisbane. That defeat has piled the pressure on Slater, who has already axed captain Daly Cherry-Evans and replaced him with Tom Dearden in the halves.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Is trash talk in Origin dead?!
RLG: Following the lack of war of words between the two camps in the build up to the first two games of the Origin series, it's led to the debate as to whether trash talk is dead in Origin.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
An emotional Billy Slater tees off on Aaron Woods' ‘grub' comments
A visibly emotional Billy Slater has fired back at Aaron Woods and referenced the late Paul Green after the former NSW prop labelled the current Queensland coach a 'grub'. In an attempt to rile up Queenslanders ahead of Wednesday's must-win Origin clash in Perth, Woods took it upon himself to recreate the rivalry of last year's series. The Triple M radio host took pot shots at Slater over his move to axe Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans. When asked if he was surprised about the comments at a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Slater initially replied: 'Do you really want me to answer that?' When he was pushed for an answer, the former Storm fullback appeared to have carefully prepared his response, stating that he knows 34-year-old Woods personally and questioned his position in the media. 'When you hold a position in the media or in our game, I feel that's a privilege and with that privilege comes a responsibility,' the Channel 9 commentator began. 'I sit in that position most weeks and you amplify your voice to millions of people. You're not talking to your mates in the pub. 'Now, I know Aaron Woods. I actually ran into him about three or four weeks ago at a footy game and he didn't voice that opinion then. 'He actually brought his son over and introduced him to me. 'And I get the attention in our game. I get that. Our game creates attention, but there's a responsibility with that attention, all right? 'When you degrade someone personally in a derogatory manner, you probably don't deserve one of those privileged positions that you're all in, that we're all in.' The press conference was held in a public, outdoor forum and Slater's comments received some applause from the crowd. But the 41-year-old wasn't finished and gave some insights into his emotional response when he referenced former Maroons coach Green, who held the position for one year before Slater and tragically took his own life in 2022. 'I'm not done yet,' Slater continued. 'You don't know what people are going through and although I might be able to handle it, the next person mightn't be. 'Maybe our last coach (Green) didn't. 'I believe the character of a person is judged more on what they say about people and how they treat people than what an individual says to create attention about someone. 'There's your answer.' Slater received more applause from the crowd after his blistering, emotional response. Last week, Woods believed Slater had abandoned Queensland's renowned 'pick and stick' mentality following the Game 1 loss in Brisbane. 'To me that's p**s poor form from Billy Slater,' Woods said on Triple M. 'After Game 1 in your press conference you said it wasn't about the personnel, you said you didn't play too well. 'You've come out and axed your captain Daly Cherry-Evans. You've said it wasn't a scapegoat, but mate it's a scapegoat. 'It's so funny because you watch these blokes up north and they say we don't get Origin and they use this pick and stick mentality. Well Billy you've just turned on your skipper. 'I want to see the real Billy Slater come out – the grub that we know of. This is a bloke who kicked John Skandalis in the head and got a six-week suspension.' The developments were discussed on NRL 360 on Tuesday night, with panellists Paul Crawley and Dean Ritchie both questioning whether Slater had crossed a line by mentioning Green's name. They also queried whether the 'grub' comment was strong enough to push Slater to make his remarks. The Courier-Mail had a front-page headline of 'Smash this Blues grub' in reference to NSW enforcer Spencer Leniu prior to this year's Game 1. Journalist Peter Badel, who put the Woods question to Slater at the press conference, was asked about it all on the Fox League show. 'It was quite amazing,' he said. 'To be honest I expected him to dead bat the question as he tends to do. 'The response … I don't think any of us expected it. It was pretty dramatic, it was pretty cutting, it was a withering attack on Aaron Woods. 'He inferred that he was two-faced, suggested it was degrading and as a commentator he should consider his position moving forward. 'Then the bombshell moment, he didn't mention Paul Green personally but did mention Queensland's last coach. 'If he had his time again, maybe he doesn't mention Paul Green's name.' Back in 2021 Green lost his opening two matches in charge of Queensland, 50-6 and 26-0, before winning Game 3 20-18 during a series impacted by Covid. The former Queensland and NRL halfback then took his own life aged 49 in August the following year. Woods is now expected to respond to Slater's comments on his radio show on Wednesday. Queensland great Gorden Tallis also teed off on Woods' comments on Sunday, while the Maroons' new captain Cameron Munster was also asked about the incident at Tuesday's press conference. 'When you've got a guy like Billy Slater as your coach and what he's done in the game, it does hurt a little bit, especially the comments from someone in particular,' he said. 'At the end of the day, they're in the media and we've got a lot of pressure on us at the moment. He is copping a lot of slack, but he's doing everything he can. 'We need to stand up for him and we've got to do that tomorrow night.' Queensland need to win the second Origin game to keep the series alive and avoid a second straight series loss. Woods, who played 14 games for NSW between 2013 and 2017, was blasted by Tallis on Triple M's Sunday Sin Bin program. Tallis called out Woods' character during his time as a player compared to his career now in media. 'He got sacked from six clubs so he knows what it feels like and when Queensland start listening to a bloke that played his last six years in reserve grade, we've got problems,' Tallis said. 'He wasn't that brave when he was a player, he's braver on the mic. That's a good comeback, isn't it? 'He wouldn't have said that when he was playing, so that's my point.' Woods doubled down when explaining his comments, while sitting next to Tallis, on NRL 360 on Monday. 'It's been a real poor build up to Origin. Game 1 was pretty boring, I thought the standard, the intensity on the field, the referee blew the pea out of the whistle and the game just didn't live up to what I thought it was going to be,' Woods said. 'So I just thought someone needed to say something, ruffle up a few feathers.' But Woods believes Queensland shouldn't need a retired ex-player to ignite them for an Origin matchup. 'If they're relying on me to say some words and use that as motivation, I think that's pretty disappointing for a Queenslander,' Woods said.
