Titanic mistake made
Tallis: NSW should be using James
MAROONS legend Gorden Tallis has taken a swipe at NSW selectors, saying, as a Queenslander, he is glad Ryan James has not been picked for the Blues.
James has come agonisingly close to making his State of Origin debut this series, coming into the squad for game two before being named as 18th man for next week’s clash at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, although he is still a chance to play if Blues skipper Boyd Cornder cannot prove his fitness.
While Titans ambassador Tallis admitted to being disappointed for the Gold Coast captain, he was happy James would not be able to make an impact for the Blues.
“I’m glad they don’t pick him,” Tallis said.
“On two counts – one because I’m a Titan and two because I’m a Queenslander.
“They think that we’re joking when we say it, but he would have played a lot of games for Queensland already. He’s a big body, plays big minutes, is aggressive, has been fantastic for the Titans and super consistent.
“As a Queenslander, I’m happy, as a Titan, I’m happy, but I’m really disappointed for him personally.”
Ironically, it was the Blues’ depth that led them to pick the wrong players, Tallis insisted.
“The Maroons don’t have the amount of talent to pick from,” he said.
“So picking a Queensland team, it’s the best 17 players available. Picking a NSW team is somebody’s opinion of who’s the best 17 because of the amount of talent that they have.”
Tallis said James, 26, still had a chance though and could take inspiration from 31-year-old Matt Prior’s debut in Origin II.
“I suppose what he can look at is Matt Prior and how Matt got his start and what age he got his start,” Tallis said.
The silver lining to James’s Origin omission is that he will be available for the Titans’ crucial clash with the Broncos on Sunday – a match Gold Coast must win to make the finals.
Fellow Titans forwards Jai Arrow and Jarrod Wallace are on Origin duty with the Maroons.
Many believe the eight is set already, with the eighth-placed Broncos holding a six-point buffer over their nearest rivals, including the Titans.
But Tallis believes there could be movement yet.
“The season’s not done and dusted. Sides go on runs, sides get in some little holes after Origin,” he said.
“If the Cowboys go and knock off some of those top sides and the Titans win this weekend and Brisbane lose, it just closes the bridge.”