Queensland’s Selection Headache

Well, we’re not far away from game one of the State of Origin series and that usually means that in the build-up to the first selection, many fans are discussing who they want in certain key positions for their team.

The biggest headache would have to be who Kevin Walters wants to use for the QLD fullback position in game one.

The Blues have their own worries, but this position is vital and with Billy Slater and Darius Boyd playing fantastic footy, it’s going to be interesting to see who Walters picks.

Slater hasn’t played the whole year due to an ongoing injury which left Boyd as the obvious choice for the position.

No one in their right mind could have guessed that Slater would turn it on like he has since his return to the NRL.

In the last few weeks it’s almost as if he has wound back the clock to his “Billy the Kid” days.

Boyd has been as consistent as you would like for the Broncos, playing safety first footy at the back and you know you can always rely on him.

He was the fullback in the Australian team for their last test against New Zealand, but does that mean he deserves to play in that position for Origin as well?

There’s no denying that both Boyd and Slater could play fullback comfortably without letting their team down but it’s the dynamics of the team that Walters and the selectors have to worry about.

They will both be in the team no matter what, but with both Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk in the Queensland team, it only makes sense to put Billy at fullback and leave the “Big Three” Melbourne duo together in their preferred positions.

Boyd will slide in nicely on the wing which is another reason as to why Queensland is so dominant, as players can literally play anywhere and still make an impact.

The other worrying sign for Queensland is if Johnathan Thurston is still unfit and unable to play.

A champion player of the calibre of 'JT' will definitely be missed if he can’t take the field, but that opens up the position for players such as Anthony Milford, Michael Morgan and Daly Cherry-Evans to hopefully take their place in the starting side.

One bolter who we might even see picked could be Cameron Munster.

He would fit the criteria to the tee with his sharp running game, although he might not be the best ball player.

He's played with Smith, Slater and Cronk in that number six position and has done so without any worry.

If only NSW had the same depth Queensland has…