MAROONS SELECTORS READY TO BRING BACK BILLY FOR ORIGIN II
Slater set to return but judiciary may rule out Jarrod Wallace
BILLY Slater is the type of player capable of making things happen at a game’s most crucial time.
Mission Beach banana grower Steve Lizzio said it was a “no brainer” to Bring Back Billy for the State of Origin’s second clash.
“I always remember that famous try he scored against New South Wales in one of his first Origin games,” he said.
“Billy can produce one of those moments that Queensland needs. Not having him in, you feel like you lose that.”
The team selection will be announced today and the indications are that Slater will be back in the mix.
Mr Lizzio said having Billy on the team would give Queensland more hope and was the best chance at levelling the series.
“He could possibly go down as one of the great comebacks in rugby league in this day and age,” he said. “We know all the hard work he’s put in to come back to this level.”
He and a few mates got together and had “Beers for Billy” to support the Bring Back Billy campaign.
“Being the ambassador for Australian Bananas, Billy typifies everything that our industry is about. He’s been through all the ups and downs and he’s been very resilient,” Mr Lizzio said. “He continues to come back from injuries and all the adversity… and it just relates so much to our industry.”
STORM champion Billy Slater’s fairytale Queensland comeback is complete but Maroons coach Kevin Walters was last night hit with a fresh selection nightmare for Origin II.
Slater will today be unveiled as Maroons fullback ahead of Origin I custodian Darius Boyd as Queensland selectors go back to the future in a bid to save the series on Wednesday week.
But the Maroons’ hopes of hitting back at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium were dealt a blow yesterday when prop Jarrod Wallace was charged for an incident in the Titans’ 34-12 loss to the Warriors on Saturday.
Wallace and Cowboys wrecking ball Coen Hess were set to be the new faces on Queensland’s bench.
Queensland’s three-man panel – comprising Walters, Gene Miles and Darren Lockyer – were last night agonising over several positions after the NRL match-review committee booked Wallace.
The trio have no qualms resurrecting the Origin career of Slater, who has bravely fought back from two years of injury hell to chalk-up his 28th game for Queensland.
Slater was controversially overlooked for the series opener in a decision but the Maroons coach can no longer ignore his sizzling club form.
Slater’s return has implications for Boyd and centre Justin O’Neill, who has been axed after his belowpar display marking Jarryd Hayne in Origin I. Selection panel Walters, Gene Miles and Darren Lockyer were last night debating what to do with Boyd. The Maroons ace has played 23 of his 27 Origin games on the left wing, but playing him at left centre would partner Boyd with his Broncos teammate Corey Oates.
Walters is weighing up a Will Chambers-Gagai alliance or moving Gagai in-field to right centre, which would bring Valentine Holmes onto the flank for his Origin debut.
Johnathan Thurston will return to the No.6 jumper after missing Game One with a shoulder injury.