Play it again Sam, says Origin great
SAM Thaiday has bolted back into Origin contention after Maroons coach Kevin Walters was urged to recall the sacked Queensland forward.
Thaiday’s Origin career appeared over after Walters axed the 29-game veteran following Queensland’s Game One loss last year.
Thaiday was one of seven players punted after Origin I and at 32, he seemed unlikely to earn a selection reprieve this year.
However Queensland is suffering a forwards crisis with Test stars Matt Gillett (broken neck) and Josh McGuire (ankle) set to miss the series opener at the MCG on June 6.
Storm incumbent Tim Glasby (broken thumb) is also injured while Titans tearaway Jai Arrow has been sidelined with a rib injury, hurting his prospects of an Origin debut.
Maroons legend Gorden Tallis said he spoke to Walters and urged him to consider recalling Thaiday to beef-up Queensland’s inexperienced forward pack.
Although “The Raging Bull” admitted the 115kg veteran had to shed some weight to get back to his best.
“It’s up to him (to earn selection),” Tallis said at a promotion for Saturday’s NRL double-header at Suncorp Stadium.
“I’d be saying to Sam ‘over the next three weeks, pump out 60-70 quality minutes and Queensland grabs you’.”
Limited buy-one-get-onefree tickets will go on sale at 10am today as part of a special Mother’s Day promotion.
The Gold Coast and Melbourne will clash in the first game on the double-header card.