Wallace charge a blow for Maroons

KEVIN Walters will complete his Origin backflip today by picking Billy Slater but the Queensland coach was last night hit with a fresh selection nightmare.

Slater will be unveiled as Maroons fullback, ahead of Origin I custodian Darius Boyd, despite a tearful Walters declaring before the series that he didn’t want to place too much pressure on the Melbourne No.1.

But Queensland’s hopes of saving the series next Wednesday were dealt a blow yesterday when prop Jarrod Wallace was hit with a grade-one shoulder charge from the Gold Coast’s 34-12 loss to the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday.

Wallace and North Queensland’s Coen Hess were set to be the new faces on the Maroons’ bench, despite the young Cowboy’s contention that he wasn’t ready for Origin.

Queensland’s three-man panel of Walters, Gene Miles and Darren Lockyer were last night agonising over several positions after the NRL matchreview committee booked Wallace.

But after omitting him from Origin I, the trio have no qualms picking Slater, who has fought back from two years of injury hell to chalk up his 28th game for Queensland.

Queensland centre Justin O’Neill has been axed after his below-par display marking Jarryd Hayne in Origin I.

Boyd has played 23 of his 27 Origin games on the left wing, but playing him at left centre would partner Boyd with his Broncos teammate Corey Oates.

Oates will be retained on the left wing or dropped completely. Walters is weighing up a Will Chambers-Dane Gagai alliance or moving Gagai infield to right centre, which would bring Valentine Holmes on to the flank for his Origin debut.

Johnathan Thurston will return to the No. 6 jumper after missing game one with a shoulder injury.