Source :- THE AGE NEWS
It’s a favourite of TV panel shows, talkback radio and the click-hungry right across the rugby league landscape – what would a post-Origin Kangaroos side look like?
But if you were doing Mal Meninga’s job for him on Sunday afternoon, based on the NSW and Queensland squads filtering through, the Roos were distinctly sky-blue.
Picking a merit Australian side right here, right now, based on 2025 form lines (as Meninga used to do after each series a few years ago), a fair argument could be made for an 11-6 split in favour of NSW.
Especially considering the NRL’s two form fullbacks – James Tedesco and Ryan Papenhuyzen – won’t feature for the Blues, though most accept Dylan Edwards’ incumbency and four-straight titles for Penrith as a sound selection basis.
Edwards, Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo have not been quite at their five-star best as the Panthers have struggled. But the trio are still comfortably ahead of Maroons opposites Kalyn Ponga, Daly Cherry-Evans and Pat Carrigan on form this year.
NSW centres Latrell Mitchell and Stephen Crichton have Roosters rookie Rob Toia and Dolphin Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow covered so far in 2025.
Zac Lomax picking up right where he left off before a broken foot wins him one wing spot alongside Storm flyer Xavier Coates.
Payne Haas, Mitch Barnett, Hudson Young and ignored Tigers prop Terrell May would rank among the NRL’s top five forwards on form.
Of the Maroons lining up opposite, only Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui challenges them, albeit with clubmate Beau Fermor not too far behind.
From 1-17, Coates, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Jeremiah Nanai and Tom Dearden are the Queenslanders demanding selection alongside Fa’asuamaleaui if an Australian side had to be picked tomorrow.
Which is of course, just how the Maroons like it. Written off. Dismissed. They don’t have the luxury to be leaving out a Tom Trbojevic, Terrell or Tedesco.
“Poor old Queenslanders,” was Billy Slater’s quip on Nine’sWide World of Sports on Sunday morning.
Right on cue, drama. Stephen Crichton’s groin niggle that has limited his training at Canterbury emerged.
The NRL’s best front-rower is in doubt for Origin I.Credit: Getty Images
Haas played his heart out in the Broncos’ galling loss to St George Illawarra and was last man standing at fulltime. He had also done damage to his quad, putting the Blues best front-rower under an injury cloud with 10 days until the series opener.
Queensland of course, have worn their share of blows too. First Murray Taulagi with a calf injury, then Selwyn Cobbo with a potentially fractured wrist.
Pat Carrigan visited a plastic surgeon on his way into Maroons camp to fix a lip that belongs in a Picasso portrait.
As one of Origin’s most experienced players and coaches, Laurie Daley knows Queensland have also made an art form of tossing out the form guide for 45 years and counting.
Origin’s entire mythology is built on it, and the likes of Cherry-Evans, Ponga, Reuben Cotter and Lindsay Collins (a week back from injury) are well-versed in it.
Roosters rookie Rob Toia is just the latest in line for a crash course in what Slater actually meant with his immortal “we’re still Queenslanders” line, even if the coach still can’t quite articulate it.
Toia has played 10 games of first grade. He should have played a lot more by now, but the 20-year-old’s progression has been waylaid by two ACL ruptures and a broken jaw in three seasons.
Never mind for Slater. Unless he plans to shift Toia from his usual right edge, he will line up opposite Mitchell, Angus Crichton and Mitchell Moses.
A switch-up does hold appeal, for the rookie’s sake if nothing else. Until you consider Stephen Crichton, Cleary and Liam Martin roam the Blues right edge.
Never mind, Queensland has played their cards, with a faith only quite found on one side of the Tweed. NSW has the form.
But when has that counted for much in Origin?
