RISE OF THE ROOKIES
Veteran coach set to unleash nine debutants in Origin opener
NEW Maroons coach Wayne Bennett will blood four Gold Coast Titans in the State of Origin arena as he prepares to name up to nine debutants in Game One of the series.
AJ Brimson, new recruit Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Moeaki Fotuaika and Jai Arrow look poised to be given the nod by Bennett for the 21-man squad, set to be named on Thursday.
NEW Maroons coach Wayne Bennett will dust off a 20year-old selection playbook by naming up to nine debutants in Game One as he looks to replicate one of the most famous series wins in State of Origin history.
Bennett blooded a record 10 rookies for Origin I in 2001 and, almost two decades later, the veteran Maroons mentor will again usher in a new generation of Queenslanders for the series opener at Adelaide Oval next Wednesday.
Bennett has been tightlipped about the composition of his team but the Bulletin understands he is considering handing out nine new caps in
the wake of Queensland’s injury crisis. The 70-year-old Bennett will unveil a 21-man squad on Thursday and a raft of changes:
• Roosters veteran Jake Friend is set to edge out Ben Hunt for the No.9 jumper, making his Origin debut after 263 NRL games;
• Four new faces will appear in the backline, with AJ Brimson to clinch the fullback spot following the loss of injured Kalyn Ponga;
• Bennett is considering boom Broncos winger Xavier Coates for his debut at age 19 after just 15 first-grade games;
• Souths’ Jaydn Su‘A will start in the back row – 12 months after being axed by the Broncos;
• Newly crowned Storm premiership-winner Brenko Lee, who briefly quit the NRL a year ago, is poised for a stunning debut at right centre; and
• Three rookie props will be unleashed as Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Lindsay Collins and Moe Fotuaika get their first taste of Origin football.
In 2001, Queensland conjured an epic 34-16 win in Origin I after Bennett rolled the dice with Lote Tuqiri, Daniel Wagon, Kevin Campion, John Buttigieg, Petero Civoniceva, Brad Meyers, Chris Walker, Chris Beattie, Carl Webb and John Doyle.
They went on to secure the series 2-1 after Allan Langer’s fairytale return from England to win the decider. Now, with NSW raging favourites for a third consecutive series win, Queensland are banking on “The Bennett Nine” to inspire another Blues boilover.
“There’s no doubt these young guys can handle the occasion,” veteran Maroons prop Josh Papalii said.
“Wayne’s smart enough to not pick players that can’t handle it.”
Bennett’s biggest headache is getting the right mix in his three-quarters. Penrith utility Kurt Capewell is a leftcentre option to partner Lee, while either Coates or Edrick Lee are being considered to replace the suspended Valentine Holmes in Adelaide.
Fa’asuamaleaui, who will join the Titans from the Storm next season, is the frontrunner for the No.13 jumper ahead of Jai Arrow.
Incumbent hooker Hunt shapes as the No.14 utility, with Roosters tearaway Collins and Titans sensation Fotuaika to debut off the bench.
Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans scoffed at suggestions the Blues could thrash “Bennett’s Babes” 3-0 in a lopsided 2020 series.
“I play at a club in Sydney where we have a backsagainst-the-wall mentality. Manly is the team everyone loves to hate,” he said.
“Our young guys will be fine. I don’t think the outside noise will concern anyone, particularly the young fellas.”