An embarrassment of riches, or a grave mistake?
Only time will tell, but that is the question being asked of Queensland selectors who have overlooked Cronulla Sharks star Valentine Holmes and veteran Billy Slater for Origin I in Brisbane next Wednesday night.
Holmes, an incumbent Australian Test winger and premiership-winning hero for Cronulla, was not named by Maroons coach Kevin Walters on Monday afternoon. Queensland have stuck with Brisbane’s Corey Oates and Newcastle’s Dane Gagai as their wingers.
Queensland have also not picked champion fullback Slater, with Brisbane’s Darius Boyd retaining his place in the side.
Another Bronco, Anthony Milford, has been named to make his debut at five-eighth with Johnathan Thurston named 18th man as he battles to overcome a torn rotator-cuff in his shoulder that ruled him out of North Queensland’s loss to Cronulla on Thursday night.
It will be a new-look Queensland side. As well as the absence of Slater and Thurston, the Maroons will be without Greg Inglis and Matt Scott through injury.
No Cronulla or St George Illawarra players were chosen for Queensland.
NSW will announce their team at 6.40pm on Monday night. Cronulla’s Wade Graham, James Maloney, Andrew Fifita and Jack Bird are expected to be named alongside St George Illawarra’s Josh Dugan and Tyson Frizell.
Queensland squad: Darius Boyd, Corey Oates, Will Chambers, Justin O'Neill, Dane Gagai, Anthony Milford, Cooper Cronk, Dylan Napa, Cameron Smith ©, Nate Myles, Josh Papalii, Matt Gillett, Josh McGuire, Michael Morgan, Sam Thaiday, Aidan Guerra, Jacob Lillyman, 18th man Johnathan Thurston
