Play Hunt at 9 or 14 and let DCE and Munster run the show and watch how good he goes
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Play Hunt at 9 or 14 and let DCE and Munster run the show and watch how good he goes
Munster is injured bro. let the goat run the show, from 9, 7, 6
Origin is 4 weeks away. Munster should be back b4 game 1Munster is injured bro. let the goat run the show, from 9, 7, 6
Hope you’re right. He could do with a confidence boost.
Kerr will benefit greatly under the coaching of Bennett during this SOO series even if he is not selected in the top 17. Hunt will be as hooker which says a lot about his aspirations to play halfback for the Dragons in 2021.
STATE OF ORIGIN
Kerr, Hunt named in Queensland Origin squad
Author
Michael Hillier QRL Media
Timestamp
Wed 7 Oct 2020, 05:04 PM
Queensland Rugby League is pleased to announce the first group of players selected in the Queensland Maroons squad for next month’s State of Origin series.
Maroons selectors have chosen 15 players from seven clubs who have completed their National Rugby League commitments in 2020.
The Gold Coast Titans have the greatest representation with four players – Jai Arrow, AJ Brimson, Moeaki Fotuaika and Phillip Sami.
They are joined by Kalyn Ponga, Edrick Lee and Hymel Hunt (Newcastle Knights), Valentine Holmes and Coen Hess (North Queensland Cowboys), Patrick Carrigan and Xavier Coates (Brisbane Broncos), and Ben Hunt and Josh Kerr (St George Illawarra Dragons); with Harry Grant (Wests Tigers / Melbourne Storm) and Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles) rounding out the initial 15.
Ponga will consult with a surgeon tomorrow before a final decision is made on his availability.
Additional players will be added to the squad as further teams are eliminated from the NRL finals series.
Nine players have yet to make their senior Queensland debuts, meaning the Maroons are poised to inject a fresh wave of talent into the Origin arena under the guidance of newly-appointed coach Wayne Bennett.
“We’ve got an exciting mix of both emerging and seasoned talent in the squad so far and we’re really pleased to be able to announce this group today after what has been a challenging period for the game,” Bennett said.
“The players named in this squad today will have a small window to freshen up before commencing work with our high performance team to ensure they are in peak condition for the series.”
Queensland selectors will confirm the squad of 27 players after the NRL grand final on October 25, the same day the Maroons will enter camp to formally begin preparations for the series opener at the Adelaide Oval on November 4.
Bennett also confirmed a new addition to his support team, with former Cowboys and Titans coach Neil Henry returning to work in camp Maroon as an assistant coach. He replaces Justin Hodges.
Queensland Maroons squad members
Jai Arrow - Gold Coast Titans
AJ Brimson - Gold Coast Titans
Moeaki Fotuaika - Gold Coast Titans
Phillip Sami - Gold Coast Titans
Valentine Holmes - North Queensland Cowboys
Coen Hess - North Queensland Cowboys
Xavier Coates - Brisbane Broncos
Patrick Carrigan - Brisbane Broncos
Edrick Lee - Newcastle Knights
Hymel Hunt - Newcastle Knights
Kalyn Ponga - Newcastle Knights
Ben Hunt - St George Illawarra Dragons
Josh Kerr - St George Illawarra Dragons
Harry Grant - Wests Tigers / Melbourne Storm
Daly Cherry-Evans - Manly Sea Eagles
* Additional players will be added following NRL finals matches
https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2020/10/07/kerr-hunt-named-in-queensland-origin-squad/
P.S congratulations to both Ben & josh on their selection.
What does it say?
Hunt is a better hooker and more suited to the hooker position than he is a halfback. As we have McInnes we don't need Hunt and indeed don't need Norman as well. Getting rid of thses two we will have up to 2m extra available to spend on marquee players.
Aitken wouldn't make the team if8 centres were selected
Alfie langer, Ricky Stuart, played hooker for the kangaroos, v great Britain, England test matches
When player managers and players learn that their future at a Club is likely to be limited to reserve grade, they soon scramble to find another club to avoid the devaluation of their market value.
The experience will do him wonders & by the looks of it he’s under no illusion whatsoever thinking he’ll be involved in any game. Seems like the sort of person who’ll listen to everything & take away what’s good for him.
STATE OF ORIGIN
Lomax's Origin call-up under Freddie five years in the making
Author
Troy Whittaker NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Tue 20 Oct 2020, 02:01 PM
Zac Lomax's relationship with Blues coach Brad Fittler stretches back to when he was playing under-16s.
Lomax, who is part of NSW's 27-man squad to face Queensland in November, made his junior State of Origin debut under the guidance of Danny Buderus and fellow Blues great Fittler in 2015.
The 21-year-old St George Illawarra Dragons centre recalled being "pretty gobsmacked" when he first met the pair.
He played off the bench in a 10-6 loss at ANZ Stadium before twice representing the Blues under-18s with Fittler at the helm.
"They're unbelievable coaches and unbelievable players as well," he told NRL.com on Monday morning before boarding a bus headed to NSW's camp at a Central Coast resort.
"But I think the best thing about them is they're such good people. I have so much time for them."
They clearly have a lot of time for him too. Fittler has long been a Lomax fan, famously dubbing him 'The Gifted One' prior to his NRL debut in 2018.
So it would be fitting if Fittler gave him his first senior Origin cap.
"I think Freddie's just shown confidence in me," Lomax said.
"Hopefully I can repay him by competing on everything and being the best teammate I can be for his team. That's all I'm looking to do."
Lomax said he's felt "no pressure at all" from having the coach championing his talent from such a young age.
"I think it's just Freddie being a good fella as he is. I'm sure he has pretty high opinions of a lot of players here," he said.
The bond he shares with Fittler was on display in an emotional video capturing the phone conversation advising him of his Blus selection.
"It was the best call ever to receive off Freddie. I can't wait to be like a sponge and come in and learn as much as I can off all these unbelievable players," he said.
"I was at home in my house in Wollongong. But I had my three best mates down there with me and obviously my partner, Jess [Sergis]. It was unreal to have all them four with me. It was the best feeling.
"I called my family straight away to let them know and it was the best feeling ever. So stoked."
With Tom Trbojevic unavailable due to injury and Campbell Graham initially being overlooked, Lomax is among the contenders to start in the centres at Adelaide Oval on November 4.
Fittler looks forward to Bennett's 'mind games'
Fittler looks forward to Bennett's 'mind games'
Dally M medal winner Jack Wighton is set to retain his spot while Clint Gutherson and potential squad inclusion Stephen Crichton have been touted for the vacant jumper.
Regardless of what eventuates, Lomax is already living out a dream being around the team.
"If I carry the bags and be the waterboy for the boys, that's what I'm looking to do. If I do get a game I'll be ready," he said.
https://www.dragons.com.au/news/202...ll-up-under-freddie-five-years-in-the-making/
Griffin will be a genius is he can lift the form of Norman and Hunt to a level that reflects their pay level. These to players alone are creating a huge blockage in our ability to fund good quality players.
Very much worth completely ignoring imo.
He better get ready though because an injury or two and he very well could find his way in the side at some stage. If there ends up being a dead rubber I could also see Freddy give a few blokes a run.
