And game one in Sydney on June 1 will see that grow to 18 when Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds makes his Origin debut alongside Cronulla playmaker James Maloney.
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Speaking to the new faces in the NSW side – Walker, Adam Reynolds, Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour and Tyson Frizell – and a common theme was how they would never have reached the game’s pinnacle without the support and sacrifices of their parents.
Despite missing the team’s bonding session on a private boat in Sydney harbour on Monday night, Tamou has been given the green light to play in the opening game of the series at ANZ Stadium on June 1, denying Fifita his shot at redemption after he was dumped for game two past year.
Queensland have won the State of Origin series in nine of the last 10 years and will officially name their squad for Game 1 on Tuesday.
“I learned from it and moving out has helped me to grow up”.
“I have played in a grand final, so I am used to the pressure”.
The Maroons clinched last year’s three-match series with an emphatic 52-6 victory in Brisbane in Meninga’s last match in charge.
BLUES skipper Paul Gallen admits he would’ve loved to have had the chance when he was a teenager to sit down for lunch with the NSW State of origin team. “There’s no excuses for going out there and not playing well so I’ll be preparing well either way”.
“I am assuming with the squad we have got, we will keep it nice and simple to start with and hopefully we will get better as the series goes on”.
“I come in knowing what to expect, knowing what lies ahead and that puts me in a better frame of mind”, he said.
Frizell was one of five debutants named in a 19-man NSW squad on Monday as coach Laurie Daley chose to keep fans, and perhaps the Queensland camp, guessing as to the make-up of his final 17 for game one.
“I wouldn’t have thought so”, Daley said.
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“I am feeling good and looking forward to preparing well for next Wednesday”. “But as we stand here I’m very happy with the picked squad”.
