BLUES PACK WORRIES BELCHER
MAROONS legend Gary Belcher has turned the heat up on Queensland’s forward pack after questioning whether they had the “grunt” to match NSW’s in- form engine room.
The Maroons will confront a record 11 debutants at the MCG tonight after Blues coach Brad Fittler overhauled NSW in an attempt to snap Queensland’s three- year winning streak.
Fittler has assembled a team of “Baby Blues” that are in sensational NRL form and out- performing Queensland throughout the crucial forward battle.
NSW’s forwards are amassing a combined 1020m a game in the NRL compared to Queensland’s 843m.
While he failed to recall veteran prop Matt Scott, Maroons coach Kevin Walters has shown faith in some underperforming forwards in the hope they fire tonight.
But 16- Origin Maroons legend Belcher said he feared Queensland could be blown away by the Blues’ big men.
“I am really worried about the Queensland team,” Belcher said.
“We have lost a fair bit of grunt around our forward pack. That worries me.”
Fittler has picked a pack of players registering big numbers this season. Prop David Klemmer is averaging 170m a game for the Bulldogs, and while fellow frontrower Reagan Campbell- Gillard ( 92m) isn’t as destructive, he has been selected for his defensive aggression.
Bench forwards Paul Vaughan ( 126m), Jake Trbojevic ( 118m) and Angus Crichton ( 120m) are all hard workers.
In contrast, Maroons starting props Dylan Napa ( 81m) and Jarrod Wallace ( 109m) have not had anywhere near the impact they had at the same time last season. Test lock Josh McGuire ( 123m) hasn’t played in six weeks due to an ankle injury and backrowers Felise Kaufusi ( 67m) and Gavin Cooper ( 68m) have struggled for form at their clubs.
Titans lock Jai Arrow ( 142m) is Queensland’s best performing forward, but he may see limited time from the bench on debut, while bench prop Josh Papalii ( 120m), found himself in reserve grade earlier this season.