NSW Selection Blues: Is It Over Before It Began?
Since the retirement of Andrew Johns, Queensland has won a record four straight State of Origin Series. This, in part, has been due to the brilliant talent the Queensland team has sent out in every match.
Arguably there has been no better backline ever assembled than the Queensland one of the last four years with the Maroons sending out Johnathan Thurston, Darren Lockyer, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Israel Folau, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt and Brent Tate. Scott Prince has hardly been able to get a game. Cooper Cronk has never pulled on the maroon jersey.
Their forward pack is just as good. Led by the incomparable Cameron Smith, the Maroons send out a pack replete with talent and courage each and every time with names like Civoniceva, Price, Thaiday, Johnson and Hannant.