Maroons could be a Broncos-free zone
THE Broncos are facing a Maroons blackout with Brisbane in danger of not having any players in the Queensland State of Origin team.
The only time the Broncos have not had an Origin player in the club’s 30-year history was in 1997 when Super League-contracted players were banned from selection.
Injuries to Josh McGuire (ankle) and Matt Gillett (broken neck) have robbed the Broncos of their only certain Maroons players for the series opener on June 6 at the MCG.
McGuire was yesterday ruled out for up to six weeks and will need to make an early recovery to play Origin I.
Darius Boyd, a veteran of 28 Origin games, is fighting to earn a recall, Sam Thaiday was axed during last year’s series and five-eighth Anthony Milford is seemingly not in contention to replace the retired Johnathan Thurston.
Winger Corey Oates has produced form worthy of an Origin recall, however, he is vying for a super-competitive position with Test stars Valentine Holmes and Dane Gagai.
Maroons selector Darren Lockyer, who played 355 games for the Broncos, said Brisbane’s Origin dominance had eased over the years.
“There was one year where we had 11 Broncos in the team,” Lockyer said.
“Over time, as the competition has evened out, there has been a more even spread.
“It is a bit of a surprise, but it’s not like Josh McGuire and Matt Gillett wouldn’t have been there if they were fit.”
At the height of Brisbane’s Origin dominance, the Broncos had 12 players feature in the 1998 and 2002 series.
Nine Broncos played in Queensland’s drought-breaking
2006 series win which kickstarted the state’s dominance and there were seven Brisbane players in last year’s series.
Like XXXX beer, the Broncos are synonymous with the Queensland Origin side and it would be remarkable for the club to not be represented in the Maroons even with injuries ruling out Gillett and McGuire.
Ironically, Brisbane’s Origin players this year may be wearing blue if NSW blood James “The Jet” Roberts and retain Jack Bird.
Former halfback Ben Hunt, now at the Dragons, is the frontrunner to snare the Maroons’ No.7 jersey.
Legendary Broncos and Queensland prop Shane Webcke said Brisbane’s impending poor Origin representation could actually help the club given it had traditionally struggled to win games during the taxing period.
“The Broncos have traditionally had to navigate the annual grind that is State of Origin,” he said. “They probably won’t have as many players this year in the Queensland side, so that can help them.
“Wayne (Bennett) can just focus on winning games without losing his best players to Origin duties.”