Lockyer hits back at NSW's 'pick and stick' scorn

1 year ago 118

Maroons greats Darren Lockyer and Wally Lewis person rejected claims from southbound of the Queensland borderline that selectors person torn up the playbook that has built the state's Origin occurrence and turned their backmost connected the famed "pick and stick" mantra.

Queensland raised eyebrows by making 7 changes to past year's series-winning team, including the omissions of prima duo Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai.

Gagai successful peculiar has been a mainstay and has a bequest to lucifer the champion of Queensland's extracurricular backs from the past decade.

While the Maroons person been criticised by some, including Blues large Paul Gallen, for their departure from the accepted "pick and stick" method, Lockyer explained wherefore it's a bully motion for Queensland.

"Either broadside of the borderline likes to effort and find ways to niggle," helium told Wide World of Sports' QLDER.

Billy reveals 'tough telephone calls' earlier naming Maroons

"I deliberation it's conscionable a reflection connected the information that our extent successful the squad is precise good.

"Yes there's a mates of players who person done a batch for the Queensland team, and by nary means is their vocation done successful the Queensland jersey, but there's bully options determination that travel successful to regenerate those guys. They're successful signifier and they bring thing to the team.

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"We've got a fewer much options than we erstwhile did. There was a play wherever we were astir apt constricted with immoderate of our positions, but present we're getting aggregate options successful antithetic positions."

Lockyer was backed by Lewis, who baulked astatine suggestions that this year's Maroons squad volition beryllium bereft of confidence, with the inclusions who ousted Ponga and Gagai - Reece Walsh and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow respectively - successful sizzling form.

"There's suggestions from Sydney that not a batch of assurance volition beryllium successful the Queensland team, I don't spot however that's going to beryllium possible," helium told QLDER.

Dane Gagai was 1 of the Maroons' mainstays who was near retired of this year's squad (Getty Images)

"We've got immoderate of the champion names successful rugby league past (Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston) giving proposal to players that person enactment unneurotic a fantastic run to gain enactment for Queensland.

"If they're moving unneurotic arsenic successfully arsenic they person been successful the past mates of years, determination volition beryllium a just spot of religion successful their ain quality and besides successful their teammates' ability.

"When determination (are) options available, the 2 oregon 3 players that are desperately chasing that presumption play a batch amended to effort and support a clasp of that position. So the much accidental they get to beryllium to everybody they merit to person that position, the stronger that squad is going to be."

The 2023 State of Origin bid volition get underway connected May 31 with crippled 1 to beryllium played astatine the Adelaide Oval.

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