Key Broncos need form bounce to crack Maroons side
Brisbane trio Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam and Ben Hunt are all in contention for Queensland’s State of Origin side ahead of the team being named.
Brisbaneâs big guns in the spine have one final chance to play themselves in or out of a Queensland jersey.
Fullback Reece Walsh, five-eighth Ezra Mam and utility Ben Hunt will all play for the Broncos on Sunday against the Warriors, just hours before Maroons selectors meet to choose their 19-man squad for the State of Origin series opener on May 27 in Sydney.
Brisbaneâs poor displays in the last fortnight have not assisted the trio. 36-year-old Hunt played just one of those games, last weekâs 32-4 loss to Manly, after returning from a knee injury.
Maroons legend Cameron Smith did not name any of the trio in his Queensland team listed on the Nine Networkâs 100% Footy on Monday night.
Smith preferred Newcastleâs Kalyn Ponga to Walsh at fullback in a surprise selection.
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Walsh is the current Test fullback but missed the opening two matches of last yearâs Origin series with injury, before returning as 18th man in the decider.
The new six-man bench for Origin opens up more options for the likes of Mam and Hunt to be selected.
Mam was in the Maroons extended squad last year but is yet to make his Origin debut, while veteran Hunt has played 20 games for Queensland, the last in game three of 2024.
The ankle injury to half Tom Dearden has opened up a vacancy in the halves, but Hunt and Mamâs best chance of selection is on the bench.
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Neither played well against the Sea Eagles but both have runs on the board. Mam was outstanding in the 2025 grand final when he came off the bench to add real impact for the Broncos, while Hunt is a proven Origin performer.
âYouâre always hopeful.â Hunt said.
âIâve been out for a while and had a pretty ordinary game on the weekend so Iâve got to get back and play some good footy for the Broncs.
âEvery time you get picked to play in that Maroons side you pinch yourself. If that happened again Iâd be very grateful.â
Deardenâs replacement could be Sam Walker or his Sydney Roosters halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans.
Former Maroons captain Cherry-Evans was dropped last year by Slater after game one, but is a proven campaigner. Hunt said Walker was ready for an Origin debut.
âI donât see why not. Heâs playing some really good footy for the Roosters, him and Chez both,â Hunt said.
âItâs like Tommy (Dearden) last year. A lot of people didnât think he was up for it, and he got the opportunity and was our best player. Sammyâs a good little player and if he got the opportunity, I think heâd stand up.â
-with AAP
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