Maroons hopeful Jarrod Wallace has been charged with a grade one shoulder charge, resulting in a one-match suspension, shattering the prop’s chance of a Game II Origin berth. Unless Kevvie Walters uses a loophole, that is.
New South Wales faced a similar dilemma to Wallace’s in the lead up to Game III, 2015. Robbie Farah had been struggling with a shoulder injury for a long period of time, ruling him out of taking part in the series decided.
Problem was, natural replacement Michael Ennis had been charged by the judiciary in the round before Origin III.
Ennis plead guilty to the charge, handing the fiery hooker a one-match suspension.
So Laurie Daley used a loophole.
Daley named his Blues side with Farah at hooker and Ennis as 18th man, despite knowing that Farah was no chance of playing.
But due to the rulebook, any player named outside the initial 17 players in each team is free to play for their club the weekend before State of Origin.
With Ennis being 18th man, it meant he was free to play club footy against Manly the weekend before Origin. Ennis’ one game suspension was served that round, freeing the hooker to play in the Origin decider at Suncorp.
Nate Myles picked up an elbow injury during Origin I this year, ruling the Queensland veteran out for 4-6 weeks. But if Walters plays it smart, he’ll name Myles.
Naming Myles at prop and Wallace at 18th man means Wallace can plead guilty to the shoulder charge, and cop a one-game suspension.
He’d serve the suspension in this Friday’s match-up between Gold Coast and the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium, and earn himself a well-earned Origin debut just five days later.
So it’s up to Kevvie and his team to use the loophole and hand one of the form props of the competition a maiden Maroons jersey.
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