Rising stars emerging from legends’ shadows
RUGBY LEAGUE: Queensland is preparing for life without the playmakers from the golden generation with Kalyn Ponga, Ash Taylor and Corey Norman named in a streamlined Maroons Senior Emerging Origin squad.
The smaller squad of 11 NRL players will assemble on the Gold Coast next month as part of the annual camp when Maroons-in-waiting are indoctrinated into the Queensland system, which has triumphed in 11 of the past 12 interstate series.
With Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk retiring from representative football and fullback Billy Slater committed to just one more campaign for Queensland, the Maroons need to find their next batch of superstars for the spine.
Michael Morgan, Cameron Munster and Anthony Milford lead the race for the vacant halves spots while Darius Boyd will be a natural fit at fullback when Slater hangs up his Origin boots.
But the depth in the critical positions has been showcased by the inclusion of Taylor, Ponga and Norman in the pared-back squad.
“With the smaller numbers, it lets the Origin team staff spend more time with the individuals and the players can also spend more time with each other,” coach Kevin Walters said.
“Corey Norman is a player who has been on our horizon for some years and we feel the time is right to bring him in. He gained a lot of maturity with his football this past season.”
Newcastle recruit Ponga was heavily pursued by New Zealand but the former Cowboys prodigy has declared his commitment to the Maroons.
“I have spoken to Kalyn and he has indicated that he wants to be part of the Queensland pathways, which is very exciting for Kalyn and very exciting for the Queensland Rugby League,” Walters said.
Also named in the squad were Cowboys duo Kyle Feldt and Ethan Lowe, Gold Coast recruits Jai Arrow and Brenko Lee, the Storm’s Christian Welch and Felise Kaufusi, Knights centre Tautau Moga and Manly prop Lloyd Perrett.