Loyalty could be a thing of the past after Queensland controversially dropped two of its best players for the opening Origin clash.
NRL: Brad Fittler has confirmed his NSW squad for the Origin series opener, naming 3 debutants in the side.
The Maroons have often criticised NSW for dropping players who they say would never get the same treatment north of the border, but their loyalty has been tested with Kalyn Ponga and veteran Dane Gagai not included in the squad for game one.
The decision to drop the Knights pair has stunned Newcastle teammate Tyson Frizell, who won back his spot in the back row for the Blues.
Kalyn Ponga has suffered several concerning head knocks this year but showed against the Titans that his best is still good enough to warrant selection. Picture: Mark Kolbe / Getty Images
Ponga was man of the match in game three last year, while Gagai has played 22 games in a row since he made his debut, claiming the Wally Lewis Medal in 2017 as the player of the series.
Reece Walsh will replace Ponga, who hasn’t played fullback this year and has dealt with head knocks, which resulted in him travelling to Canada to meet with specialists.
“I am a bit surprised,” Frizell said.
“That’s their decision and how they want to go, and it doesn’t really matter who they pick, but it was surprising not seeing those two boys in there.
“They decided to go a different way. I’m not too sure of their reasoning behind it, but he (Ponga) has done a great job in the past. You saw in game three last year how much havoc he can create against us.
“It will probably be difficult for him but it’s their issue.”
The decision to drop Gagai is a baffling one, given Queensland legends like him are usually allowed to go out on their own terms.
The decision to drop Dane Gagai has left people stunned, given he always rises to a new level when he represents Queensland. Picture: Mark Kolbe / Getty Images
“I guess they’ll miss that experience,” Frizell said.
“Gags has been there every single game since his debut. He’s been one of their best and was player of the series in his early days. He’s done a great job ever since he’s been there.
“I guess they pick guys who they think can do the job, and we’re no different.”
Blues skipper James Tedesco was expecting another battle with his long-time sparring partner, but can see why Queensland picked Walsh over Ponga.
“Walsh has been playing some really good footy, so it would be hard to leave him out,” he said.
“Kalyn has had an up and down year with head knocks and he’s been playing five-eighth, plus it’d be so hard to leave Walsh out.
“I thought Kalyn was going to be in the team somewhere because he’s a great player. He’s probably in the same boat as a few others, where being in a great team would bring out his best footy.”
Tyson Frizell is ready to make up for lost time after he earned a recall into the NSW side. Picture: Mark Kolbe / Getty Images
As for Frizell, he returns to Origin for the first time since the Blues were stunned in the 2020 series.
The 31-year-old played 14 games straight before he suffered an ankle injury on the eve of the 2021 series, which cost him his spot.
“I never thought it was over, but it probably did cross my mind,” he replied when asked if he thought his Origin career was finished.
“There was always hope that if I played some good footy, then I might get an opportunity. You never go into a season thinking ‘I need to play Origin’. It’s about playing well and then putting yourself into the frame.”
Frizell found out about his selection on Saturday night when he saw he had a missed call from Blues coach Brad Fittler when he got back to Newcastle after playing in Coffs Harbour earlier that day.
Frizell hasn’t played Origin since 2020, but coach Brad Fittler says he was always on his radar. Picture: AAP / Dan Himbrechts
“I didn’t know (what it was about),” he said.
“I was hopeful that it was good news, but it could have gone another way and he might have said that I was in the frame but they went the other way. I wasn’t getting my hopes up at all. It was a nice surprise.
“There’s a lot of hunger there because I’ve missed out for a few years because of a few different reasons, so it’s good to be back.
“It was difficult to watch because I’m a big fan of NSW and I want them to do well. I get the opportunity now to hopefully influence the result in some sort of way.”