Raging Rhino’s Origin charge

MAROONS forward legend Gary Larson says Coen Hess must be picked for Queensland, with the Cowboys hulk labelled the new-age Gorden Tallis.

Queensland coach Kevin Walters declared Hess was “doing everything right” to earn an Origin debut this season after his two-try demolition of the Titans on Saturday night.

Cowboys coach Paul Green and Maroons maestro Johnathan Thurston are tempering the hype surrounding Hess, insisting an Origin baptism this season would be premature.

But with the Maroons searching for fresh blood to combat the loss of key forwards Matt Scott (knee) and Corey Parker (retirement), Larson urged Walters to unleash the 114kg wrecking ball on the Blues.

“There’s one young kid I’d love to see in the Origin arena and that’s Coen Hess,” said Larson, the Maroons’ backrow ironman who played 24 consecutive Origin games.

“If he continues this form, I’d pick him for sure.

“I’d love to see him blooded on the bench this season. He was picked in the Emerging Origin squad just recently and he has a massive future in the game. He is one of the best young forward talents I’ve seen in the past 20 years.

“I know he’s only young and it would be a big ask, but some guys have that ability to handle any level and Coen would handle Origin for sure.”

Former Maroons centre Chris Walker says the 20-yearold, who has nine tries in just 13 NRL games, possesses the same raw power that made Tallis an Origin force.

“Kevvie can’t ignore him, he has to be in the Origin side this season,” Walker said.

“Hess reminds me of Gorden Tallis. Gordie was the Raging Bull of his time and now Hess is the Raging Rhino.

“For a 20-year-old to have that strength and be able to dominate NRL players physically is unbelievable, he’s a freakish talent.”

Walters has a huge opinion of Hess but is wary of catapulting him into the code’s toughest arena before his time.