Granty
10-05-2006, 07:20 AM
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19082780-10389,00.html
A pack of kids
Mike Colman
May 10, 2006
QUEENSLAND State of Origin selectors may be forced to start a series with the most inexperienced back row for 15 years when they pick their squad on Sunday night.
Gorden Tallis, who captained the 2001 side which earned the nickname "Bennett's Babes", said yesterday the current selectors would have little choice but to turn to youth as their predecessors did five years ago.
That side, which included 10 players making their Origin debuts, beat NSW 34-16 and went on to win the series 2-1.
With at least four experienced back-rowers unavailable for selection, Tallis says it will be a case of "sink or swim" for their young replacements.
The loss of Mick Crocker because of suspension could result in Queensland fielding a back row with just nine Origin games between them for the series opener in Sydney on May 24.
The only back-rowers with Origin experience available to Maroons coach Mal Meninga are Cowboy Carl Webb (5), Bronco Corey Parker (3) and Roosters lock Ashley Harrison, who played 27 minutes of Game Three last year.
The only one of the trio to have started in a match was Webb last year.
If the selectors go for that three, it would be the most inexperienced Queensland back row to start a series since 1991 when Andrew Gee, with one Origin match behind him, was joined by Michael McLean and Gary Larson, both on debut.
Storm forward Crocker, who has played in seven Origin matches, yesterday entered an early guilty plea to a dangerous-throw charge and copped a nine-week suspension, ruling him out of the Origin series.
He joins retired Cowboy Travis Norton (5), injured Bronco Dane Carlaw (12) and Rooster Chris Flannery (8) on the sidelines.
Broncos pair Tonie Carroll (14 Origin matches) and Brad Thorn (11) are available but are believed to be out of favour with the selectors, leaving Parker, Webb and Harrison the only players with Origin experience on the selectors' radar.
Others expected to come into calculations on Sunday night are Brisbane tackling machine David Stagg and his teammate Sam Thaiday, Melbourne lock Dallas Johnson, Rooster David Shillington and Bulldogs utility forward Nate Myles.
Tallis said he had no doubt the players would be up to the physical rigours of Origin.
"You look at a bloke like Sam Thaiday, I reckon he'd jump at the chance," he said.
"And that Dallas Johnson, he's another Trevor Gillmeister the way he tackles.
"Physically they are all up to it. It is mentally that it can get to you; when you start getting all the media attention and you have to back up for your club a few days later.
"Can they handle it? There's only one way to find out – pick 'em.
"Look, there's always a question mark over the older guys too, whether they've gone one year too many. That's what makes it even better. It's about blokes proving themselves in the toughest games there are.
"Everyone handles pressure differently. We saw what happened when Billy Slater and Matt Bowen came into Origin – they took it to the next level.
"That's what it is all about, new blokes coming along and having a go.
"(The 2001 side) had no pressure on us because no one expected us to win.
"We were playing for pride after getting thrashed the year before."
A pack of kids
Mike Colman
May 10, 2006
QUEENSLAND State of Origin selectors may be forced to start a series with the most inexperienced back row for 15 years when they pick their squad on Sunday night.
Gorden Tallis, who captained the 2001 side which earned the nickname "Bennett's Babes", said yesterday the current selectors would have little choice but to turn to youth as their predecessors did five years ago.
That side, which included 10 players making their Origin debuts, beat NSW 34-16 and went on to win the series 2-1.
With at least four experienced back-rowers unavailable for selection, Tallis says it will be a case of "sink or swim" for their young replacements.
The loss of Mick Crocker because of suspension could result in Queensland fielding a back row with just nine Origin games between them for the series opener in Sydney on May 24.
The only back-rowers with Origin experience available to Maroons coach Mal Meninga are Cowboy Carl Webb (5), Bronco Corey Parker (3) and Roosters lock Ashley Harrison, who played 27 minutes of Game Three last year.
The only one of the trio to have started in a match was Webb last year.
If the selectors go for that three, it would be the most inexperienced Queensland back row to start a series since 1991 when Andrew Gee, with one Origin match behind him, was joined by Michael McLean and Gary Larson, both on debut.
Storm forward Crocker, who has played in seven Origin matches, yesterday entered an early guilty plea to a dangerous-throw charge and copped a nine-week suspension, ruling him out of the Origin series.
He joins retired Cowboy Travis Norton (5), injured Bronco Dane Carlaw (12) and Rooster Chris Flannery (8) on the sidelines.
Broncos pair Tonie Carroll (14 Origin matches) and Brad Thorn (11) are available but are believed to be out of favour with the selectors, leaving Parker, Webb and Harrison the only players with Origin experience on the selectors' radar.
Others expected to come into calculations on Sunday night are Brisbane tackling machine David Stagg and his teammate Sam Thaiday, Melbourne lock Dallas Johnson, Rooster David Shillington and Bulldogs utility forward Nate Myles.
Tallis said he had no doubt the players would be up to the physical rigours of Origin.
"You look at a bloke like Sam Thaiday, I reckon he'd jump at the chance," he said.
"And that Dallas Johnson, he's another Trevor Gillmeister the way he tackles.
"Physically they are all up to it. It is mentally that it can get to you; when you start getting all the media attention and you have to back up for your club a few days later.
"Can they handle it? There's only one way to find out – pick 'em.
"Look, there's always a question mark over the older guys too, whether they've gone one year too many. That's what makes it even better. It's about blokes proving themselves in the toughest games there are.
"Everyone handles pressure differently. We saw what happened when Billy Slater and Matt Bowen came into Origin – they took it to the next level.
"That's what it is all about, new blokes coming along and having a go.
"(The 2001 side) had no pressure on us because no one expected us to win.
"We were playing for pride after getting thrashed the year before."