Maroons great benches star in Origin team reveal

1 year ago 110

Queensland large Paul Vautin has sprung a fig of surprises successful his Maroons State of Origin team, picking a debutant successful the starting broadside portion benching 1 of the game's biggest names.

Vautin, who famously coached the Maroons to a 3-0 upset triumph successful 1995, opted for Broncos superstar Reece Walsh astatine fullback up of Kalyn Ponga who starred for the Knights connected Sunday.

The premiership victor explained Walsh's lawsuit for enactment was simply excessively irresistible.

"Controversy is the fig 1 consecutive up, I'm going for Reece Walsh, I deliberation he's played his mode into the Queensland team," helium said connected Nine's 100% Footy.

Reece Walsh volition commencement Origin successful the No.1 jersey for Queensland if Paul Vautin has his mode (Bradley Kanaris via Getty Images)

"Kalyn Ponga's evidently been retired ... played good for Newcastle (on Sunday) but I deliberation Reece Walsh has added a magnitude to the Brisbane squad and helium tin bash the aforesaid to Queensland.

"He's stone solid, helium was successful the campy past twelvemonth truthful helium knows a spot astir it."

Vautin kept a akin backline to past twelvemonth with Selwyn Cobbo, Valentine Holmes, Dane Gagai and Xavier Coates each featuring.

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Cameron Munster volition instrumentality to five-eighth successful his broadside aft Tom Dearden stepped successful for Game III portion the prima was ruled retired with COVID-19. Daly Cherry-Evans is halfback and skipper with Vautin stating the 34-year-old "is astir carrying Manly connected his back".

There is nary spot successful Vautin's starting lineup for Kalyn Ponga contempt his outstanding showing astatine the play (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The guardant battalion remains virtually the aforesaid from Game I past twelvemonth with Patrick Carrigan astatine lock.

On the bench, Vautin brought Thomas Flegler backmost into the broadside - who hasn't played since 2021 - on with Harry Grant, Lindsay Collins and a astonishment inclusion.

"This is simply a small spot antithetic but I would prime Kalyn Ponga on the seat arsenic a utility, I'm definite astatine the backmost extremity of each fractional if helium came connected and played successful the forwards, oregon somewhere, helium tin marque a difference," helium said.

"Forwards triumph Origins, we cognize that, but I deliberation I'd premix it up."

Jai Arrow was selected arsenic 18th man.

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With the Maroons spoilt for extent successful the mediate of the park, Melbourne skipper Christian Welch and Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh person recovered themselves without a spot successful Vautin's squad on with workhorses Tom Gilbert and Reuben Cotter.

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Many judge David Fifita - who has turned his signifier astir importantly this play - is simply a beardown accidental to play Origin this twelvemonth excessively but Vautin couldn't find a spot for him either.

Paul 'Fatty' Vautin's State of Origin side:

1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Dane Gagai 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 9. Ben Hunt 10. Josh Papali'i 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Felise Kaufusi 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Harry Grant 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Thomas Flegler 17. Kalyn Ponga (18th man) Jai Arrow

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