Kevvie calls on future leaders

STATE OF ORIGIN

QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters has made the candid admission the Maroons’ dynasty will come crashing down if several stars fail to step up as leaders in Origin I.

Walters has personally challenged Matt Gillett, Josh Papalii, Will Chambers and Michael Morgan to become dominant figures in the series opener on Wednesday night.

“If those guys don’t want more leadership, we’re stuffed – we’re going to lose,” Walters admitted.

The Maroons enter Game One rocked by a 107-game leadership void.

Injuries to Johnathan Thurston (36 games), Greg Inglis (30) and Matt Scott (22) and the retirement of Corey Parker (19) has left Walters searching for a new quartet to play more senior roles.

Cameron Smith believes Origin I will be his biggest test as captain and Walters yesterday appealed for a new wave of leaders to stand up.

The Maroons coach, hellbent on delivering an 11th Origin title in 12 years in his second year in charge, conceded Queensland’s record reign was on the line.

“What we need in this game is some guys to step up and be leaders in this team,” he said.

“Cameron is our captain, but every successful team has a leadership pyramid and there’s several guys underneath Cam who need to rise up.

“If other guys in our team like Gillett, Papalii, Chambers and Morgan don’t step up and really bring it on Wednesday night, we’re gone.”

The quartet identified by Walters will play crucial individual roles on Wednesday.

Chambers, who turned 29 on Thursday, will fill the void left by Inglis at left centre.

Papalii, 25, is the hit-man tasked with protecting debutant Anthony Milford in defence, while the 28-year-old Gillett will wage an enthralling back-row duel with NSW skipper Boyd Cordner.

Morgan, 25, is entering his prime years as a representative star and is under pressure to provide spark off interchange after a injury-hit Origin campaign last year.

“I’ve spoken to the guys about the experience we have lost and it’s their turn to pick up the slack,” Walters said. “They are aware of it. ‘‘It’s critical for us moving forward that it happens.

“I am confident we have players ready to deliver.”