MAROONS hopeful Josh McGuire believes the return of Wayne Bennett to the Broncos can be the X-factor that catapults him into a maiden Queensland Origin jumper in 2015. McGuire went within striking distance of a Maroons debut in 2014 when the rising Brisbane bookend was added to Queenslandâs extended squad for the
THIS year they will be rivals for the Queensland No.7 jersey, but Ben Hunt has turned to Cooper Cronk for career advice as the battle for the Maroonsâ No.7 jumper intensifies. Cronk may not realise it, but Queenslandâs pre-eminent halfback has become more a help than a hindrance in Huntâs quest to
IT was the ultimate âClaytonâsâ Queensland grand final win â an NRL premiership Queenslanders could savour when they couldnât have a Queensland team win the premiership. South Sydneyâs amazing and historic grand final win was an elixir for rugby league after a tough season where the game has taken blow and blow
HE has yet to achieve his boyhood dream of playing State of Origin, but Brenton Lawrence at least has one claim to fame. The Manly prop is the grand old daddy of Queenslandâs Emerging Origin program. While the annual pre-season camp looks to educate the bright new wave of Maroons talent, such
TREVOR Gillmeister is not one to have ever been accused of talking the talk without walking the walk. The former Maroons captain never took a backward step on the football field, and Gilly will now use his trademark grit and determination for his greatest challenge yet â a 1400km fundraising walk from
THE chance to wear the Queensland jumper once donned by his boyhood idol has convinced Josh McGuire to spurn a Test guernsey with New Zealand. Queenslandâs injury crisis during this yearâs failed Origin campaign had a silver lining. The spate of casualties prompted Maroons hierarchy to prepare for the future by adding
QUEENSLAND, it has been one hell of a ride. Maroonsâ stranglehold on the State of Origin series, it will in no way diminish one of the most extraordinary performances in Australian sporting history â Queenslandâs remarkable eight successive Origin crowns.
IF Mal Meningaâs all-conquering Maroons were craving Queenslandâs traditional underdog status to help ignite their State of Origin campaign, they have certainly got their wish. For the first time in Origin history, the injury-riddled Maroons have been unable to name a 17-man squad to take on NSW and have instead nominated a
THE Maroons will need to conjure all of their fabled Queensland fighting spirit to keep their State of Origin series winning streak alive after NSW scored a shock 12-8 win in Game I at Suncorp Stadium. The match was a celebration of Originâs 100 games, and also a tribute to the late,
BACKROWER Chris McQueen will carry a heavy slab of history on his shoulders when he lines up for Queensland in this yearâs first State of Origin game, at Suncorp Stadium, on May 28. McQueen was named to start in the second row for the Maroons in Originâs 100th anniversary match, in what
