The old adage is that things are darkest just before the dawn. Now the darkness of last year’s crushing series defeat has been illuminated by the brilliant dawn of a new Queensland era, with Billy Slater’s heroic Maroons delivering a breathtaking 16-10 win over NSW in the State of Origin series opener in Sydney. After

SCINTILLATING starts to the season by the Broncos and Cowboys have seen Queensland’s top-four clubs rewarded at the State of Origin selection table, with new coach Billy Slater unveiling an impressive new-look team to begin his tenure as Maroons boss. Cowboys Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai and Broncos Selwyn Cobbo and Patrick Carrigan will join

NEW Queensland coach Billy Slater has fired his first salvo at the Blues, warning the Maroons are building the depth of talent to shock NSW and engineer another Origin boilover this season. Slater will pick his inaugural Maroons side in two weeks, and the rookie mentor is increasingly confident of Queensland’s revenge mission to reclaim

FOR the past three years, Queensland selectors have had too many sleepless nights searching for quality centres. But Cowboys speed demon Valentine Holmes has ensured new Queensland coach Billy Slater will rest a little easier as he prepares for his maiden series in charge of the Maroons. The retirement of the legendary Greg Inglis at

DALY Cherry-Evans believes he can play State of Origin until 2025 as the Maroons skipper vowed to stave off the next generation of playmaking young guns to retain the Maroons’ No.7 jumper. Cherry-Evans may have just turned 33, but Manly's recent decision to hand their captain a two-year extension is evidence ‘DCE’ is confident he

Newly appointed Queensland assistant coach Cameron Smith has put New South Wales on notice, warning the Maroons will hit back in 2022 following last year’s record series loss to the Blues. After months of speculation, Smith is back in Camp Maroon, with the NRL Immortal-in-waiting agreeing to join new Origin mentor Billy Slater and his

TWO of rugby league’s greatest playmakers, Queensland legend Cooper Cronk and Wests Tigers icon Benji Marshall, insist Sam Walker will not succumb to second-year syndrome and believe it’s only a matter of time before the Maroons’ under-18s whiz-kid plays State of Origin. Walker lit up the Telstra Premiership last season, with the Ipswich sensation winning

MANY NRL players are never the same after undergoing a knee reconstruction. Queensland Origin hopeful Pat Carrigan is determined to be the exception to the rule. Named in Queensland’s extended squad for the Covid-affected series in 2020, Carrigan was eyeing an Origin breakthrough last season when his dreams were shattered – the Broncos lock snapping

CAMERON Smith believes rookie Queensland coach Billy Slater can spearhead a Mal Meninga-style Origin dynasty as the retired NRL legend prepares to join forces with his great mate to lead a Maroons fightback. The Queensland Rugby League is in the advanced stages of negotiations with Smith, who declared he is ready to return to Camp

Reece Walsh will spend the off-season preparing for a season of redemption in 2022 after getting an all-too-close look at how quickly dreams and opportunity can evaporate in rugby league. Walsh enjoyed a stellar breakout season in 2021 after being given a release by the Broncos to chase an opportunity to play first grade with