CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
For the first time since Joey Johns was terrorising the border in the early 2000s, it seems that Queenslanders are genuinely concerned about their prospects of winning the 2023 NRL State Of Origin series.
After a grinding win over NSW in the 2023 game 1 at Adelaide Oval, the Queensland squad have once again shaken off the annual skepticism of their selections and game plans that they cop every year from the Southern media elites.
However, while Queensland coach Billy Slater is confident that he is putting forward the best team possible for Game 2 of the three game series, there are growing concerns that New South Wales might have upped their game too.
Rugby league bookmakers and pundits from both sides of the Tweed are today rapidly adjusting their odds and predictions, after some very good oil leaked from the Blues camp earlier today.
After two weeks of speculation and criticism around Brad Fittler’s selection, it seems that the embattled NSW Coach may have made one good call: Alex Twal.
The 26-year-old try-scoring-machine from Wests Tigers is believed to be up in Queensland today and already training with the boys, with some high-profile NRL figures speculating that the reign of Maroon might end once and for all this Wednesday night.
Having previously played under Fittler as Lebanon international, pundits may move him from his usual front row position to fill a Latrell-Mitchell-sized hole in the backline.
The rumours of Twal’s selection come after a stellar afternoon of NRL football saw him scoring almost every single point for his beloved West Tigers in Saturday’s gruelling match against the Melbourne Storm at Campbelltown.
“Finally. Now we are talking” tweeted NSW great Gus Gould this morning.
“Twal is one of those players that makes the difference, as we all saw at Campbelltown yesterday”
The inclusion of Alex Twal in the Blues squad has also been celebrated by the likes of former greats Nathan Hindmarsh, Luke Ricketson, Braith Anasta and Anthony Mundine.
In fact, the news is so exciting for the long-suffering blues that Both Joey and Matty Johns reportedly ended their brotherly feud to release a joint statement endorsing the selection.
“The NSW dynasty starts now” it reads.
