Origin Watch: Queensland – lack of ‘pick me’ form a worry

Queensland almost always find a way when it comes to inflicting Origin heartbreak on their southern neighbours.

Down by four with little time to go? No worries. Twenty passes later, under the sticks.

Future immortal fullback retiring, pftt no stress, here's a young kid ready to dominate for ten years.

I'm sure NSW fans, over the age of say one, won't need reminding of what these blokes can do as soon as that Maroon fabric hits the skin.

2019 shapes up as defining for the next era of Origin.

QLD are without Cronk, Thurston, Slater, Inglis and Smith (and others) the very five who were largely responsible for a decade of pain for those south of the Tweed.

NSW have two young halves in Keary and Cleary ready to lead well into the 2020s.

If QLD can clinch a series win in 2019 it will absolutely gut the blues who are hoping they're about to embark on a long over due payback run of series success.

The nucleus of the future QLD Origin team is strong but there is a real lack of 'pick me' form coming from fringe squad members.

QLD are looking for a refresh of sorts but there just haven't been those back to back to back performances that DEMAND selection.

It's not all bad though, Cam Munster is leading the Dally M count, DCE and Ben Hunt are leading their clubs resurgences, and Jai Arrows effort against the Sharks was Taumalolo-esque.

There have been brilliant games here and there but outside the three aforementioned halves, QLDers are hardly bashing down the selection doors.

All three QLD based sides are sitting in the bottom four spots.

It's not as though the Broncos have 80% of the Origin side anymore but it is worrying that the majority of the side will come from out of form sides.

Whereas NSW have the likes of Croker, Cotric, Leilua, Ferguson and James Roberts waging a red hot battle for two Origin jumpers, who is the man most likely to replace the retired Greg Inglis at centre?

Michael Morgan. A half who is hardly breathing fire form wise.

Don't get me wrong re Morgan, he'd make any side in the world somewhere, but outside of him and Will Chambers, who is in the running for a QLD centre spot?

Copley? Mbye? Sami? Hampton? Bring O'Neill back?

What about up front should Dylan Napa fail to recover in time for game one?

McGuire and Papalii are in decent form but I'm taking Klemmer/Vaughan and Jurbo every day of the week.

Gillett will walk back into the side but Cooper, Hess, Welch, Wallace and Glasby couldn't kick up a storm should they be overlooked. They won't be, but that's the problem.

Outside of an injured Bukuya and a benched Ryhse Martin where is the forward pressure coming from?

There's the young Broncos forwards but they hardly need an Origin distraction right now. Fifita will grab a bench spot you'd imagine.

I'm sure I've missed some names but if you're looking for players demanding selection for Origin, they're all coming in sky blue.

Keary, Ferguson, Cotric, Campbell Graham. King Gutherson won't go close despite ruling for Parra. He'd ho close to making that QLD side right now.

Again, I'm sure I'm missing some players but you don't easily overlook players in red hot form.

QLD need a huge month from the likes of a Phillip Sami, a Jaydn Su'A or a Lindsay Collins.

This will surely end in proverbial egg on my face after a young QLDer finds Dally M form over the next four to five weeks but as it stands I just don't know where the next break out star comes from.

The poor run of results by the three QLD based sides is very obviously having an affect on Origin hopefuls ... Or is that Origin hopefuls lack of combined form is costing their sides?

Big month coming up for the fringe squad members and those hoping to debut in 2019 in Maroon.