Warriors rookie Walsh falls to injury as Maroons brace for war
A fresh injury twist has ensured Reece Walsh remained the centre of attention on State of Origin eve, but Queensland coach Paul Green has made it clear it’s not the rookie fullback’s job to turn the tables on New South Wales.
The 18-year-old, seven-game Warriors NRL bolter has been the focal point of the build-up to the Maroons’ must-win league game tonight at Suncorp Stadium.
He appeared fit at the beginning of yesterday’s captain’s run but, after media were escorted from the stadium, reportedly failed to finish the session because of a leg injury.
Late last night, reports from the other side of the Ditch had him ruled out of his debut. Winger and 19th man Ronaldo Mulitalo is on standby for an Origin debut, while Valentine Holmes was to play fullback as a replacement for Walsh.
Green, though, has called on his forwards to set the tone, happy to hear returning pack leader Josh Papalii had vowed to ‘‘take it personally’’ after suspension meant he was a helpless bystander in the opening game rout. Blues centres Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic were at their best thanks to the platform laid by their bigger men and Green knows that must change in Brisbane.
‘‘We’re not going to stop him [Trbojevic] doing that [roaming on both sides of the field] – it’s what he does well but being a bit more physical through the
middle will help us handle those guys,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s an area, the middle part of the field, where it’s fair to say we were beaten in game one, so one we need to tighten up.
‘‘It’s about controlling the play-the-ball better and if Josh said that, that’s a good thing for us.
‘‘It depends what you mean by [mongrel], but he wants to make
sure our forwards are in the contest.’’
Papalii will reunite with Christian Welch, who was an early casualty in Townsville thanks to a head knock.
Jai Arrow and Felise Kaufusi will start on the edges, with David Fifita moved to the bench in a switch Green hopes will provide defensive starch early and offensive punch late. Frank Molo will also make his Queensland debut under his former North Queensland coach, while Ben Hunt, another change, is a proven performer in the tricky No 14 role.
Five-eighth Cameron Munster should also be a greater threat after a foot injury muddied his preparation for game one.
Munster sealed an unlikely series win for Queensland the last time he stepped onto Suncorp Stadium in maroon.
‘‘A lot’s been said about his game one but we all know what he can do and I’m confident he can do it,’’ Green said.
■ State of Origin III, as well as a number of NRL games due to be held in Sydney, are in doubt after the NSW government enacted a two-week lockdown in parts of the state yesterday, including Central Coast where the NZ Warriors are based.
Origin III, to be held at Stadium Australia on July 14, may now be moved, with the game scheduled just five days after lockdown ends, while other NRL games may be moved.