QUEENSLAND’S NEXT BIG THING
HULKING COWBOY IN ORIGIN FRAME
COEN Hess’s rapid rise from under- 20s tearaway to Maroons X- factor will be complete today with Queensland poised to hand a debut to the boom forward.
The 20- year- old is seen as the poster boy for a regeneration of the Queensland side and Maroons coach Kevin Walters looks set to name the Bundaberg- born rising star to make his Origin debut in game two at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on Wednesday week.
The 114kg second- rower has played just 22 NRL games, but clinched his maiden Maroons jumper with his 10th try of the season in North Queensland’s 32- 6 rout of the Eels on Saturday night in Darwin.
Billy Slater will also make a return to the Queensland team after being controversially overlooked for Origin I, with Cowboys centre Justin O’Neill set to be axed to make way for the Melbourne Storm legend.
Gavin Cooper is also an outside chance to earn an Origin recall, with selectors agonising over whether he should replace incumbent second- rower and Broncos veteran Sam Thaiday.
COWBOYS coach Paul Green has declared Coen Hess will be a 10- year Origin player as Queensland prepare to unleash the new- age Gorden Tallis on NSW in Game Two.
Hess is the poster boy for a regeneration of the Queensland side with the 20- year- old hulk to be named today for his Origin debut in the return bout at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium on Wednesday week.
The 114kg wrecking ball has played just 22 NRL games, but clinched his maiden Maroons jumper with his 10th try of the sea- son in North Queensland’s 32- 6 rout of the Eels on Saturday night in Darwin.
His club coach Green has come under fire for claiming Hess’s baptism would be premature, with Maroons legend Tallis telling the Cowboys mentor to butt out of Origin selection matters.
But Green insists he will not stand in the way of Maroons coach Kevin Walters picking Hess, saying the Cowboys backrower will spearhead Queensland’s pack for the next decade.
“If you want to know the truth, I believe Hessy will be a 10- year Origin player,” Green said. “I’m not just saying that because of the criti- cism I’ve copped … I have felt that way about Coen right from the start.
“Hessy would not let Queensland down.
“Physically, Coen would handle it, have a look at the size of him. He is a quality person as well.
“For me, it ( Coen’s selection for Origin II) would be more about the position he plays.
“Look at how much he has played in the NRL as an edge backrower. Then look at how much he has played in the middle ( of the field as a tight forward).
“That would be the only concern … where Queensland would play him.”
Hess has been wreaking carnage for some time. As a six- year- old, he was given $ 5 pocket money by his dad to smash down a chicken pen and the boy from Bundaberg is now destroying rival NRL defences.
Former Queensland utility Ben Ikin, Origin’s youngest ever debutant at 18 years and 83 days, has no doubt Hess is ready, likening his raw physicality to former Maroons skipper Tallis.
Hess ran for 99m in a 46minute cameo against the Eels and now has 10 tries in 13 games.
The former Junior Kangaroo says he would relish just being part of an ex- tended Queensland squad, but Walters has bigger plans for Hess in Origin II.
“I don’t expect to be in the starting side,” he said.
“I would probably be lucky to jag 18th man, but whatever happens, I’m just happy to play good football for the Cowboys.”
Cowboys teammate and Queensland centre Justin O’Neill believes the Origin arena will suit Hess’s aggressive style.
“He is definitely up to the physical side of it,” O’Neill said.
“Origin is based on the physical side of things and a player like Hessy can turn games.”