It hasn’t garnered too much attention as yet, but Queensland’s lack of form among their State of Origin players would be generating headlines, fear and loathing south of the Tweed if the shoe was on the Blues’ foot.
No one does panic like NSW in the weeks leading up to Origin, whereas the Maroons take everything in their stride, even if all signs point to a tough road ahead.
After surrendering the Origin shield last year, Queensland’s players have, for the most part, been in a collective form slump in the opening rounds of the NRL season.
Their skipper, Daly Cherry Evans, is at loggerheads with his club over his abrupt exit at season’s end, and key players like Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jeremiah Nanai and Reece Walsh have been well below their best in 2025.
None of this will prompt coach Billy Slater to show anything resembling concern publicly.
The Maroons have a history of their players putting aside middling club form to grow the proverbial extra arm and a leg come Origin time.
At certain times over the years this has been known as the Wally Fullerton-Smith/Mike McLean/John Buttigieg/Tim Glasby and in more recent years, Dane Gagai effect.
Some of their genuine stars, like five-eighth Cameron Munster, who missed last year’s series, are near peak form.
Looking at the team that lost the Origin III series decider 14-4 to NSW in Brisbane last year, there are a fair few concerns right across the park.
Walsh had his best game of a bad bunch for the year in Brisbane’s win over the Wests Tigers last Saturday. He has been prone to making too many errors while taking too many wrong options at the back, the kind of flaws which can be inconspicuous at club level but stand out like a sore thumb in Origin.
Selwyn Cobbo and Dane Gagai from last year’s team would be at long odds on current form to retain their spots, while Tabuai-Fidow has been largely ineffective for the Dolphins and Valentine Holmes has been serviceable but not necessarily outstanding since making the switch to St George Illawarra.
Slater does have a few more than handy replacements at the ready.
He can call upon Knights star Kalyn Ponga if he thinks Walsh does not deserve to retain the No.1 jersey, while Storm winger Xavier Coates teammate Jack Howarth are options to boost their strike power out wide.
“Jack’s a wonderful player and a good person,” Slater said on his podcast this week.
“He’s always had that X-factor that would suit representative football. He’s a big lad, he can play back-row or in the centres. He is doing a wonderful job and I thought he had a breakout season last year in that run to the grand final.
Jack Howarth is tackled. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
“He’s still learning a lot about the game, but playing outside Cameron Munster certainly helps, both with the footy and defensively. It’s certainly not beyond him [to get into the Queensland team].”
Cherry-Evans is still a top-line halfback, even though he is the NRL’s oldest player at 36 and his future at club level is uncertain following his messy split from the Sea Eagles.
Tom Dearden excelled at five-eighth last season to claim his first Australian jersey at the Pacific Championships, but Munster is a proven big-game player, so if he stays on the field and maintains his current form, the Cowboys co-captain will have to settle for a bench role at best.
In the pack, Lindsay Collins is unlikely to be ready for Origin I on May 28 in Brisbane after suffering medial ligament damage in the Roosters’ loss to Souths last week.
Nanai was dropped to Queensland Cup by Cowboys coach Todd Payten early in the season, and while he has responded by getting a spot in the game-day 17 back, he is still not at his best.
The edge forward is the kind of X-factor player that the Maroons need, probably as an interchange option to cause uncertainty in the Blues’ defensive line.
Veteran duo Felise Kaufusi and Kurt Capewell are unlikely to keep their spots as Slater looks to bring in some new blood such as Eels forward J’maine Hopgood and Dolphins captain Tom Gilbert while also making room for the sizeable presence of Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
His absence in the middle of the ruck was a contributing factor in their downfall last year.
Zac Lomax. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Blues suffered a setback on Wednesday with news that Zac Lomax would be sidelined for the next six weeks due to a foot injury, while lock Cameron Murray’s season-ending Achilles tear is their only other player from last year’s successful side who definitely won’t be in action this time around.
Mitchell Moses, who played the game of his life to guide the Blues to victory in game three, is due back a few weeks before the teams are announced, but with Nathan Cleary working his way back to his brilliant best at the Panthers, returning coach Laurie Daley should have an embarrassment of riches when it comes time to settle on his halves with Jarome Luai and Matt Burton also dynamic playmaking options.
Even the absence of Manly star Tom Trbojevic due to his knee injury is a body blow that the Blues can absorb with Stephen Crichton guaranteed of one centre berth and Newcastle behemoth Bradman Best dominating the Maroons in his two outings thus far.
Daley has already indicated Jake Trbojevic may not return as captain despite leading the Blues to their 2-1 triumph in 2024.
After leading the Kangaroos to the Pacific crown late last year, Isaiah Yeo should get the nod as skipper ahead of Cleary.
A lot can happen and plenty is likely to occur between now and when the teams are selected in a little over a month’s time but with Howarth being tossed up as a Maroons bolter and Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz and Dolphins young gun Jack Bostock mentioned as a potential Blues debutant to replace Lomax, the Origin selection silly season has officially begun.
