Loyalty policy has its perils

QUEENSLAND Origin selectors are in danger of becoming hamstrung by their own values if they don’t force player turnover after an unprecedented decade of dominance.

Loyalty is a much-used word when it comes to the Queensland State of Origin team.

But what does it really mean?

Fans and rivals alike have pointed to the Maroons’ pickand-stick philosophy as one of the key reasons for their recent dominance. It’s true to a point. But it’s also part of Origin mythology.

Loyalty has been most important at times when Queensland struggled for depth and players that perhaps would not ordinarily have earnt a call-up were suddenly thrust into the toughest arena in the sport.

Time and again, Queenslanders have risen to the challenge – think of Fatty Vautin’s 1995 team, or Adam Mogg in 2006 – with their reward a Maroon jersey the following year, their tenure generally only in danger after a series loss.

But form is surely the most important criterion at the selection table.

The Maroons have lost just one series in the past 11 years and their loyalty has resulted in several young guns being left banging on the door as Kevin Walters names an ageing squad for the series opener.

Billy Slater is hardly a fresh face but his omission is staggering – not only because he is the best man for the job but because he seems to have been the only member of the old guard to have lost his spot.

Injury meant Slater was not a member of Walters’ team last year.

But the fact he has been left out when the Maroons have stuck with Nate Myles, Jacob Lillyman, Aidan Guerra, Justin O’Neill and Corey Oates and left out a proven matchwinner in Slater is baffling.

It’s hard to argue against Australian incumbent Darius Boyd – although the Maroons selectors opted against handing Kangaroos winger Valentine Holmes an Origin debut – but a Slater/Boyd combination, as well as Slater’s innate understanding of Melbourne teammates Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith would give the Blues nightmares.

Myles is a key player given the absence of forwards Matt Scott (injured) and Corey Parker (retired).

Lillyman and Guerra have done little wrong in the Origin arena over the past couple of years but whether they deserve to hold out Coen Hess and Jarrod Wallace is questionable.

Queensland have been tagged Dad’s Army plenty of times in the past and left the Blues red-faced after a dominant performance.

Hopefully they can again because making the hard decisions ahead of Game Two may be too little, too late.