Maroons selector fears debutants ball
Queensland selectors' chairman Des Morris has good reason to fear a NSW side hopelessly outclassed in Origin experience.
After all, Morris was the man who authorised Queensland's biggest Origin overhaul when the Maroons blooded 10 rookies for the first game of 2001.
Usually loyal to their players, Queensland put the cleaners through the side after being humiliated 56-16 in the last game of 2000.
"It was probably more a changing of the guard, we had all these young players like Carl Webb, Lote Tuqiri and big Red (Brad Meyers) and a bloke named Civoniceva coming through," recalled Morris this week.
"I think NSW have done what we did back then and looked at these young guys and seen the potential.
"It's a three year plan you hope comes off in one.
"They've got some exciting young players and (Jamie) Lyons has been in very good form to help young (Michael) Jennings in the centres.
"A guy like (Michael) Weyman could be devastating off the bench if we allow him to be and they've got some genuine pace in Jennings.
"Nobody really knows until they're out there playing but we've been very fortunate to have this young crop of exciting players coming up to carry us through the next phase.
"Those (NSW) new guys may not have been part of sides that have lost the last three series but they've still got to step up to the mark.
"We got away with it in 2001, but they are still to prove themselves at this level."
This year's Queensland's side boasts 182 Origin caps compared to a NSW team with 57, including seven debutants.
Gorden Tallis led the band of Maroon rookies outclassed in experience in 2001.
They went on to capture the series 2-1, killing off talk NSW were ready to dominate Origin after their commanding series triumph 12 months earlier.
Tallis believes Blues selectors have made bold but wise decisions in picking first-timers James McManus, Michael Jennings, Terry Campese, Robbie Farah, Ben Creagh, Justin Poore and Michael Weyman.
"What they (rookies) don't have in experience they will make up for with enthusiasm," Tallis warned.
"It would be a real trap for Queensland to dismiss them as a threat because of their lack of experience, because I know in 2001 when we had 10 debutants the mentality we had made us very dangerous."
Morris agreed the danger facing Queensland after winning the last three series' straight was complacency.
"I'm like everyone else in the camp, concerned about complacency because everyone is talking us up," he said.
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