Maroons coach Billy Slater says Queensland is in a “good position now” with several young stars emerging in the Origin selection frame.
Slater noted the Broncos in particular had thrown up some exciting new options for representative duties. Winger Selwyn Cobbo and forwards Patrick Carrigan and Tom Flegler are all thriving as part of a new-look side that’s firming to break its dreaded run of back-to-back seasons without finals football.
The Broncos sit in seventh spot with six wins from 10 games.
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Cobbo, who’s just 19 years old, had former Queensland coach Paul Vautin calling for his Origin selection after starring in just his 17th first-grade game on Friday night, scoring a hat-trick as Brisbane thrashed Manly 38-0.
Slater conceded Cobbo, who has never featured in any junior Maroons side, was starting to enter the selection frame.
“He’s making some noise and consistent actions,” Slater told Wide World of Sports’ Billy’s Breakdown.
“He’s starting to put consistent performances together. Only young, but his actions are certainly saying a different story.”
But also keeping Slater’s mind open is Cobbo’s opposite winger Corey Oates, as well as forwards Carrigan and Flegler.
“I think Corey Oates is having a fantastic season as well on the other wing,” Slater added.
“Patrick Carrigan and Tom Flegler in that middle of the field – they’re combining really well and they’re setting the tone along with Payne Haas.
“Their names are certainly being thrown up.”
Host Mat Thompson also queried Slater on several other Queensland forwards, including Gold Coast’s Moeaki Fotuaika and North Queensland’s Jeremiah Nanai and Reuben Cotter.
“We’re in a good position now and it’s important that we don’t fix ourselves on 17 players,” Slater responded.
“We’ve got to look at the whole category, it’s going to take more than that. These players put pressure on each other as well.
“[There are] plenty of Queenslanders making noise and telling me that they want to be part of this State of Origin series and play for Queensland, which is good signs for us.”
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