Walters: Felt need for change3:49
State of Origin: Queensland Maroons coach Kevin Walters says there was a need for change in the squad going into Game 2.
Queensland State of Origin team announcement. Queensland selector Gene Miles, Queensland coach Kevin Walters and QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher. Pic Tim Marsden
QUEENSLAND chairman of selectors Gene Miles has rejected claims that the Maroons did not add sufficient new blood quickly enough for a winning State of Origin regeneration.
The selection of four Origin newcomers — Valentine Holmes, Coen Hess, Tim Glasby and Jarrod Wallace — means that since the start of the 2015 series the Maroons have given debut games to 12 players, the same number as NSW during that time.
Six have been blooded this year, including Anthony Milford and Dylan Napa.
The other six Maroons were blended in among series-winning sides — Michael Morgan, Josh McGuire and Dane Gagai, all in 2015 and Justin O’Neill, Corey Oates and Gavin Cooper in 2016.
ANALYSIS: Why Thaiday paid price in Maroons overhaul
JUDICIARY: Wallace to fight charge for Origin debut
SHOCK SELECTION: Maroons turn to Glasby
“It’s been a gradual process,’’ Miles said.
“It’s been transition time. This day was always coming and it’s not a pleasant day for those two or three players who have been such a big part of a decade of dominance.’’
The omission of forwards Nate Myles (32 Origin matches), Sam Thaiday (29), Jacob Lillyman (14) and Aidan Guerra (10) strips 85 games of experience out of the Queensland forward rotation. Lillyman is the shadow player if Wallace is suspended at the judiciary.
“First and foremost those guys who had got us to where we are today had first crack (in the May 31 loss to NSW) and they deserved the chance,’’ Miles said.
“They knew the finger would be pointed at them if we didn’t get success. They (NSW) got a lot more out of their bench than we did out of ours. They upped the ante.
“That’s the reality of it. They have been there a long time and they’ve been great servants.’’
The 188cm, 105kg Glasby is a like-for-like replacement for Thaiday in the Maroons middle, Miles said.
“He plays in the middle for the Storm and we have to limit (Andrew) Fifita’s time … get up and cut him down,’’ he said.
Gene Miles and Kevin Walters address the media in Brisbane. Pic Tim MarsdenSource:News Corp Australia
Mindful of how hard it is to debut a number of players in a series opener, the selectors have concluded they had to do it anyway in a must-win match in Sydney.
Thaiday needed one more Origin match only to reach the 30-game career landmark, which sees the recipient presented with the Statesman award from the Former Origin Greats organisation, of which Miles is CEO.
For Game One, the Queensland team bus also had painted on its front panel a list of nine names to have played 30 or more Origin matches.
“It was an extremely tough phone call to make to Sam — he was coming up for his 30th game,’’ Walters said.
“It’s a very elite club, but we felt we needed to bring some new legs into the side. Our forwards didn’t aim up. Sam, while bitterly disappointed, was aware that’s what the team needed.’’
Originally published as The cull that we had to have
Sport | news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site
