Mal Meninga recently announced a Kangaroos merit squad based on State of Origin performance. The squad has created a stir across social media, and for good reason.
You can't doubt the credentials of the Kangaroos boss and likely future rugby league immortal, but I do wonder if he was watching the same Origin series as the rest of us.
Below is the side I would have named:
Fullback: James Tedesco
The decision to award Billy Slater the Wally Lewis medal was met with plenty of raised eyebrows. Slater was named player of the series but I don't even think he was the best fullback in the series. Tedesco was the difference in game one and set up the series win. He scored two tries, made 19 more tackle breaks and 250 more metres than Slater. He was a big influence in the Shield returning south of the Tweed. An absolute no brainer he was the number one of the series.
Wing: Valentine Holmes
Holmes was incredibly overlooked despite being the best winger across the three games. Addo-Carr was huge in game two and had a good game one but I had to check the team lists to see if he played game three. Holmes was huge in every game across the series. He's literally always a threat as shown by two intercept tries. Probably Queensland's best.
Centre: Latrell Mitchell
Despite a very ordinary game three, the young Roosters centre was an enormous figure across the series. He bathed Will Chambers in games one and two and scored a match and series clinching try out of nowhere. The sky is the limit for this kid. He seriously made arguably the best centre in the game look a distant second across a huge 160 minutes when the series was live.
Centre: Greg Inglis
The Maroons skipper could hardy have done anything more to guide his side to victory in games one and two. He was enormous in both attack and defense. He was hugely vocal and lead by example. It was a huge shame to see him miss game three but he was on track to claim player of the series honours despite losing the series.
Wing: Tom Trbojevic
The Manly superstar had a mammoth series and won his battles out wide more often than not. In past series the Blues have lost the battle of the wingers by early knock out. This time they finally won the contest and won the series. He made an error or two in defense but in attack there was very few more damaging in attack. Put his hand up to take the hard runs out of trouble.
Five-Eighth: James Maloney
Jimmy had the most Maloney series ever. At times he was the best player on the park and could do no wrong. Other times he was throwing game changing intercepts and missing tackles I'd expect the under 6s to make. That is just the kind of player he is. Ultimately he was the dominant half across the series and all but decided the series result in Game two.
Halfback: Daly Cherry-Evans
This is a huge call based on his only playing one game, but across all three games he was the only number seven who dictated terms and had a big say on the result. Ben Hunt and Nathan Cleary had their moments but DCE bossed game three. His kicking game was head and shoulders above all others halves' and there is a genuine feeling that if he had played game one and two the result could have been very different.
Prop: David Klemmer
In a series that really lacked a dominant number 8 or 10, Klemmer was probably the best of the lot. He was big, powerful and aggressive. The decision to trip a defender in game three was a monumental brain snap that cost the Blues a chance to sweep the series, but when the series mattered he was the best run on prop.
Hooker: Damian Cook
If Tedesco wasn't player of the series than the Blues' number nine surely was. What a debut series for the new number one hooker in the rep arena. Cook was a constant threat in all three games and tore the Maroons middle apart at times. Based on stats Teddy was my pick, but in real time, Cook was the best player across all three games. Huge!
Prop: Josh Papalii
A controversial choice but the difference the Raiders big man made to the Maroons in game three was gigantic. As mentioned there really wasn't a dominant front rower in the series but QLD looked twice the side with Papalii in the middle from the get go. The foundation needs to be laid early in the Origin arena and the man who played NSW Cup just weeks ago stood tall.
Second Row: Boyd Cordner
There were genuine calls for the Blues captain to miss the series based on his form. They were justified after a slow start to 2018. That said, Cordner was the best forward across the series. He lead from the front in all three games and was the difference in game two. You simply cannot say enough about the efforts that came despite an injury cloud.
Second Row: Tyson Frizell
The Dragons back rower is a now a Blues legend. He has never had a bad game in sky blue. His rep legend continues to grow despite his young age. He had another huge series despite reduced minutes compared to his past efforts. His energy, speed and defensive efforts are a huge plus. Queensland didn't have a Frizell type after the injury to Gillett.
Lock: Jake Trbojevic
Jake edges his Blues teammate Jack de Belin for the starting 13 spot on the back of a huge game three. He was instrumental and among the Blues' best in all three games. For mine he has become the game's top number 13. He doesn't always have the stats that Jason Taumalolo produces but there is no more creative lock in the game right now. Huge series.
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