ORIGIN BOLTER

COWBOYS WORKHORSE AN ORIGIN ROUGHIE

COWBOYS veteran Scott Bolton could be just the man the Maroons need to get this year’s State of Origin campaign back on track. A statistical analysis shows the fan favourite ( left) has outperformed stars both in the Maroons squad and in contention for a call- up.

COWBOYS veteran Scott Bolton says he has given up on ever playing State of Origin, but that may be premature, with stats showing he could be the forward the Maroons desperately need.

The forgotten man of the Queensland front- row debate, Bolton ( right) has been in career- best form this season and is outplaying nearly all of his fellow Maroons contenders.

Bolton’s running game has been his strength, with the enforcer averaging 132m a match, which is more than the likes of present Queensland forwards Nate Myles ( 75m), Dylan Napa ( 99m) and Jacob Lillyman ( 119m).

He has also shown his worth in defence, making an average of 31.1 tackles a game.

However, despite this im- pressive form, the 30- year- old believes his age works against him for an Origin call- up ever happening.

“I’m pretty much well and truly past that time,” Bolton said.

“We’re in a changeover period now and there’s some good young forwards going through, ( Coen) Hessy especially,’’ Bolton said.

“( Jarrod) Wallace will probably get an opportunity in the next Origin, I would imagine. It doesn’t bother me too much at the moment.

“I’m a bit older and to put me in, it’s only going to be for a year or two.

“They need to look forward a couple of years and blood a couple of young players while they have so much experience around them.”

While there has been a call for new blood in the team, Bolton could fill Matt Scott’s boots for the Maroons in the same way he has for the Cowboys.

Even if the workhorse only played for one or two series, he could help guide players like Napa and Wallace.

He is now averaging more metres than both the young forwards. He also averages more minutes than most of his fellow Queensland contenders and makes more tackles a game. The only player who is in front of him in both areas is Titans prop Wallace, who averages 60 minutes and make 32.8 tackles a game.

His Cowboys teammate Gavin Cooper also made his Maroons debut last year at the age of 30 and Bolton admitted this does show the door could always be open for him.

“It can never be over, I suppose,” Bolton said.