State of Origin: Mal Meninga says Queensland has huge talent bank

[Jethro]

Depth is looking so good for eight-time defending State of Origin champions Queensland that coach Mal Meninga reckons even inspirational skipper Cameron Smith can be replaced.


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[Jethro]

Depth is looking so good for eight-time defending State of Origin champions Queensland that coach Mal Meninga reckons even inspirational skipper Cameron Smith can be replaced.

Eyebrows w

ere raised when the man expected to slot in for recovering Maroons veteran Justin Hodges (Achilles) for the bulk of this year's series - Newcastle centre Dane Gagai - had a line put through his name after a discipline breach at the recent Emerging Origin squad camp.

But Meninga is confident about Queensland's back-up ranks, saying the Maroons even have a ready replacement for former Golden Boot winner Smith- Sydney Roosters hooker Jake Friend.

''Most pleasing is the depth of talent that we now have at our disposal across all positions, thanks to the development work that has been done as part of our future planning,'' Meninga said.

''Even someone as irreplaceable to our team as our captain Cameron Smith, if the worst was to happen and he was not available through injury, we have a guy like Jake Friend waiting in the wings who, to me, looks tailor-made for Origin footy.

''And behind Jake, we had [Penrith's] James Segeyaro in the Emerging Origin program as well, so that gives you an idea of the quality of depth we are talking about. There is that quality across all of the positions, and we have a number of players ready to establish themselves as Queensland Origin players for the next five to 10 years.''

Melbourne's Justin O'Neill and Will Chambers - who have both served as 18th man for the Maroons - are expected to get the jump on Gagai, who Meninga said would have to serve a ''penance'' for his breach before being considered again.

Meninga admitted a changing of the guard in his experienced squad loomed but moves were already in place to ease into that transition.

''We are now getting to the stage where we will have to start making some tough calls,'' he said. ''[But] we had two players from the Emerging squad step up to make their Origin debuts in Daly Cherry-Evans and Josh Papalii, and there is no reason to think guys from this year's program could not follow the same path.''

AAP - Laine Clark

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/state-of-origin-mal-meninga-says-queensland-has-huge-talent-bank-20140130-31pnv.html

 

[Chip and Chase]

Looks like Matty Ballin has fallen off the QLD radar according to Mal.

 

[mozgrame]

And how many are from CQ ?

Travis WADDELL Proserpine
Ben HUNT Dingo
Josh HOFFMAN Mackay
Daly CHERRY-EVANS Mackay
Dave Taylor Mackay
Ben BARBA Mackay
Brett SEYMOUR Mackay
Luke CAPEWELL Charleville
Jharal YOW YEH Yeppoon
Ben RIDGE Yeppoon/Roma
Matt SCOTT Ilfracombe
Dane NIELSEN Mackay
Antonio KAUFUSI Bundaberg
Maurice BLAIR Maryborough
Neville COSTIGAN Mackay
Nick EMMETT Hervey Bay
Gavin COOPER Murgon
Chris SANDOW Cherbourg
Willie TONGA Cherbourg
Matt BALLIN Kingaroy
Jacob LILLYMAN Richmond
Jamie SIMPSON Rockhampton
Chris MCQUEEN Kingaroy
Dane GAGAI Mackay
Tom HUMBLE Blackwater
Corey OATES Baralaba
Javarn WHITE Rockhampton
Rhyse MARTIN Proserpine
Corey Parker Mackay

I'm sure I've missed a few.

And what about the old CQ Guard?

Gary Larson Gladstone
Jason Hetherington Baralaba
PJ Marsh Blackwater
Clinton Schifcofske Moranbah
Mal Meninga Monto
Sid Domic Rockhampton
Rhys Wesser Rockhampton
Rod Reddy Rockhampton
Dale Shearer Sarina
Martin Bella Sarina
Alan McIndoe Emerald
Steve Jackson Mackay
Steve Renouf Murgon
Brett Dallas Mackay
Julian O’Neill Yeppoon
Trevor Gillmeister Gladstone
Adrian Vowles Charleville
Matt Sing Dysart
Kevin Campion Sarina
Wendell Sailor Sarina
Steven Bell Emerald
Josh Hannay Moranbah
Travis Norton Moranbah
John Doyle Yeppoon
Stuart Kelly Taroom
Jamie Goddard Mt Isa
Owen Cunningham Mackay
Darren Fritz Rockhampton
Les Kiss Bundaberg
Brad Tessmann Kingaroy
Paul Bowman Proserpine, Yeppoon
Russell Bawden Mt. Isa
Carl Webb Mt. Isa

Again, I bet I've missed some.

Bloody hell...give us a team already!! The CQ region demands a team to call their own! I demand a team for CQ!!!


Then I can at least once a year drive 5 mins into town to watch the greatest team to ever pull on a jersey. MANLY!!!!

 

[Lord Eagleton]

Lol please tell me you are joking, there is a town called Dingo in this country?

 

[mozgrame]

We also have an Emu Park. lol

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Dingo is a small town in outback Queensland.
"Dingo holds the annual World Championship Dingo Trap Throwing and Picnic Races in July. For more information, just ask at the 24 hour service station on the Highway."
Can't understand how you've never heard of it :s

 

[Shoe1]

How's Yeppoon? Nice spot?

 

[mozgrame]

Dingo would be described as "Outback" only by someone who has never been in the bush. Bloody hell...it's about 2 hours from the coast. LOL

 

[globaleagle]

We also have an Emu Park. lol

That's just up the road from Eagle rock!

 

[mozgrame]

How's Yeppoon? Nice spot?

Not at the moment. 100km wind gusts, pissing down rain. On the upside, it's not Bowen. Last week people were praying for a little rain lol. Oh well, it's all part of the price we pay for living in paradise.

I think Evil Eddie summed it up best in his song - Queensland.

NOW LET ME
WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE BLEACH SANDS OF QUEENSLAND STINKING HOT DAYS COLD BEERS AND CHEAP LAND
BIKINI CLAD BACKPACKERS AND WEED PLANTS
CALIFORNIA BEACH TANS BUT INSTEAD OF STREET GANGS
AND GOLD BLING OR GETTING CAPPED ON YOUR STEPS
HERE YOU CAN PAT A STINGRAY AND MAYBE GET A STAB IN THE CHEST FROM WHAT INHABITS THE DEPTHS OF THE REEF
CAUSE EVERY CREATURE IN OUR HABITAT HAS VENOM OR TEETH
IN BRIEF WE GOT FLYS THE SIZE OF ZIPPO LIGHTERS
MOSQUITOS BITING US RIFE WITH HEPATITIS
NO LIE WE GOT THE HIGHEST COUNT OF VENOMOUS SNAKES
AND POISONOUS ARACHNOIDS THAN ANY OTHER PLACE
WE GOT WEATHER EXTREMES IN EVERY SENSE IT CAN MEAN
FAMINES AND BUSHFIRES DEATH AND DISEASE
WE GOT COWS WE GOT MUD WE GOT DROUGHTS WE GOT FLOOD
WE GOT CYCLONES RIPPING UP OUR HOUSES AND PUBS
STILL THERE’S OUNCES OF BUD THAT LOCAL OUTLAWS
GIVE HUGE AMOUNTS OF LOVE GROWIN’ OUTDOORS
SO THIS IS GOING OUT YALL ON MY NEW LP
TO EVERY CORNER OF THE SAUNA CALLED THE QLD

CAUSE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE WHERE FUN TIMES AWAIT
AND THE COPS DON’T GET NO DUMBER
EVEN YA BIG CITY STREETS THAT ARE BRINGING THE HEAT
HAVE GOT NOTHING ON A QUEENSLAND SUMMER

THIS IS QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA
LET ME HER IT IF YOUR OUT THERE ‘HO’
FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH SAY ‘HO’
QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA
LET ME HER IT IF YOUR OUT THERE ‘HO’
FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH SAY ‘HO’

SHOW YOUR BACK TO US SHAKE THAT GLUTIOUS MAXIMUS HEY
SHOW YOUR BACK TO US SHAKE THAT GLUTIOUS MAXIMUS HEY
SHOW YOUR BACK TO US SHAKE THAT GLUTIOUS MAXIMUS HEY
SHOW YOUR BACK TO US SHAKE THAT GLUTIOUS MAXIMUS HEY


SO NOW THAT WE’RE THE STATE YA SCHOOLIES COME FOR HOLIDAYS
TO GET DEBAUCHED LIKE GEORGE BUSH’S COLLEGE DAYS
WE GOT THE GIRLS AND THE SUN AND SURF AND THERE’S
NO OTHER PLACE ON EARTH I’D RATHER CALL MY HOME TURF
SINCE BIRTH I BEEN IN BRISSY WORLD’S MOST LIVEABLE CITY
WE’RE CALLING POTS WHAT SYDNEY CALLS A MIDI
IT’S HARDLY ANY DRAMA THOUGH WE ONLY ORDER SCHOONERS
AND GROW BANANAS LIKE CHERNOBYL’S GROWING TUMOURS
YA HEARD SO MANY RUMOURS GROWING UP ABOUT THE DROP BEARS LIKE THE SCOTT’S DO THE MONSTER IN THE LOCH NESS
THAT WHEN A CROC TEARS PEOPLE TO SHREDS
YA DON’T FLINCH EVEN IF IT’S EATIN’ EACH OF YA LEGS
THE POLICE ARE IN BED WITH ALL THE CRIMINAL TYPES
AND LET EM DO WHATEVER WITH MINIMAL HYPE
POLITICIANS TO CRIME ARE LIKE PENISES TO FOETUSES
WHEN PEOPLE VOTE YOUR LEADERS IN LIKE JOH BJELKE PETERSON
BUT EVEN WITH NO REASONING I’D GIVE IT UP
TO THE PLACE I LIVE IT UP AND STATE I GIVE A ****
SO MATE FROM WYNNUM UP TO CAPE YORK PENINSULA
I’M BIGGIN UP THE WHOLE FRIGGIN STATE WHEN I RIP IT UP

CAUSE IN THE SUNSHINE STATE WHERE FUN TIMES AWAIT
AND THE COPS DON’T GET NO DUMBER
EVEN YA BIG CITY STREETS THAT ARE BRINGING THE HEAT
HAVE GOT NOTHING ON A QUEENSLAND SUMMER

THIS IS QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA
LET ME HER IT IF YOUR OUT THERE ‘HO’
FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH SAY ‘HO’
QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA
LET ME HER IT IF YOUR OUT THERE ‘HO’
FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH SAY ‘HO’

SHOW YOUR BACK TO US SHAKE THAT GLUTIOUS MAXIMUS HEY
SHOW YOUR BACK TO US SHAKE THAT GLUTIOUS MAXIMUS HEY
SHOW YOUR BACK TO US SHAKE THAT GLUTIOUS MAXIMUS HEY
SHOW YOUR BACK TO US SHAKE THAT GLUTIOUS MAXIMUS HEY

 

[COMMANDER]

Dingo.

That's in Queensland!