Slater says inexperience no excuse for Origin rookies
MAROONS selector Billy Slater has challenged their crop of young guns to step up for Origin, with more than half the group yet to represent their state.
Queensland coach Wayne Bennett on Sunday confirmed his 27-man squad, 17 of whom are yet to experience the brutal Origin arena. It will mean at least seven players will make debut for Queensland in the series opener at Adelaide Oval, in what has sparked comparisons to the Maroons’ miracle 1995 series. Slater — who was involved in eight Origin series wins — said despite the inexperience, the high expectations of Queensland representatives was no different this year.
“We’ve had a few injuries and we’ve had to deal with them; it’s quite an inexperienced squad,” Slater said. “Seventeen of our squad have yet to taste any sort of Origin in that arena.
“It’s going to be an inexperienced side but we are certainly going to lean on the experienced guys like Daly Cherry-Evans, Josh Papalii and Cameron Munster.”
The 1995 series saw Matt Sing and Ben Ikin make their Queensland debuts before going on to achieve stellar careers.
Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans said this year’s squad was similar in cultivating the next wave of Origin talent.
“There is a lot of inexperience coming into the side but they’re certainly not lacking talent,” Cherry-Evans said. “We’re excited with what we’ve got. We’re excited with the players that have been here before and what they’ve shown at Origin level.
“The opportunity is there for the next wave of people to come through.”