Emerging Squad camp

MAROONS coach Kevin Walters says Queensland’s next era of Origin players know the consequences of misbehaving at this week’s development camp.

Eleven of the state’s most promising NRL players will gather on the Gold Coast on Friday for Queensland’s annual three-day Emerging Origin camp.

The camp was created in 2001 by Broncos and former Maroons coach Wayne Bennett and has helped usher some of Queensland’s greatest players into the Origin arena.

But it was the centre of controversy two years ago when eight players were handed one-year bans by coach Kevin Walters after breaking a camp curfew.

Cameron Munster, Anthony Milford, Ben Hunt, Jarrod Wallace, Dylan Napa and Valentine Holmes made their Origin debuts last year after being suspended for the 2016 series.

Walters’ hard line stance ensured last year’s camp was squeaky clean and the third-year coach expects the same this weekend.

Kalyn Ponga will take part in the Maroons development camp. Picture. Phil Hillyard
“I hope so — if not, they know what the consequences are,” he said.

“I don’t expect anything (like that to happen again). It has been the case from when the camps begun — if you cross the line then you wipe yourself out of Origin for that year. That’s happened since before my time as well.

“Six of those guys ended up playing Origin last year. They learnt their lessons and got on with what their job is.”

After including 20 players in last year’s camp, of which eight went on to play in the series, Walters has named an 11-man squad for the 2018 instalment.

Teenager Kalyn Ponga will attend his first camp alongside Newcastle teammate Tautau Moga while Titans trio Ashley Taylor, Brenko Lee and Jai Arrow have received call-ups.

Cowboys premiership duo Ethan Lowe and Kyle Feldt will return along with Melbourne’s Christian Welch and Felise Kaufusi.

Manly’s Lloyd Perrett and Parramatta’s Corey Norman are the only Sydney-based players included in the camp.

Ash Taylor has been named in the Maroons development squad. Picture: Jerad Williams
Kaufusi and Lowe were in the mix for Origin debuts last year while Taylor and Norman are contenders for the playmaking spots vacated by Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston, who have both retired from representative footy. Walters said it was certain at least one player from the emerging camp would crack the Origin arena this year.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen in five months’ time when Origin hits us,” he said.

“There is always at least one player that is involved in the emerging camp and then plays Origin. Each of those 11 players are a chance.

“We are pretty confident that of the 11 we’ve picked, given the right opportunity they could do the job.

“We don’t know what will happen with form, injuries and suspension.”

Maroons selector Darren Lockyer said Walters’ decision to ban eight players in 2016 showed the regard he had for the Queensland jersey.

“The guys that made a mistake paid a price,” he said. “You would hope that is a lesson learnt for not only those guys but everyone involved. There is a great culture in that top squad and you would think with Kevvie making that call, he would put everyone on notice and they will respect the position they are in.”

Click to expand...

Queensland coach Kevin Walters defends small attendance at Emerging Maroons camp
www.couriermail.com.au
2 mins read
MAROONS coach Kevin Walters has denied Queensland is running out of State of Origin players.

This year’s crop of potential Queensland stars assembled on the Gold Coast on Friday for the annual Emerging Origin camp.

The group of 11 is one of the smallest in the concept’s 17-year history, raising concerns about the depth of Queensland’s playing stocks.

Walters had 20 attend the camps in 2016 and 2017, while 18 were at former coach Mal Meninga’s final camp in 2015.

But Walters said the smaller group was a result of eight players making their Origin debuts for Queensland last year.

Queensland used a large number of debutants in the victorious 2017 series.
The Maroons made a raft of changes to their team last year due to injury and poor form following NSW’s big Game One victory.

Queensland pulled off a remarkable comeback to win the series, continuing the state’s Origin dominance with their 11th victory in the past 12 years.

Walters said a smaller group with genuine Origin credentials had been selected for the 2018 camp.

“We’ve dropped our numbers off this year,” he said.

“We’re looking for these 11 guys to spend some time together and get to know each other because there are some new ones coming in.

“We blooded eight last year. I wanted there to be some reality with our Emerging camps and they are genuine chances of playing Origin.

TOGETHER: Why fun is key for family club

INJURIES: Inglis could miss Round 1

“That’s always been our theory.”

Walters handed Origin debuts to Valentine Holmes, Anthony Milford, Dylan Napa, Jarrod Wallace, Coen Hess, Tim Glasby, Ben Hunt and Cameron Munster last year, meaning they were not considered for this year’s camp.

Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga and Tautau Moga, Parramatta’s Corey Norman and Gold Coast duo Brenko Lee and Jai Arrow are attending their first camp.

Returning players include Cowboys duo Ethan Lowe and Kyle Feldt along with Melbourne’s Felise Kaufusi and Christian Welch, Titans halfback Ashley Taylor and Manly prop Lloyd Perrett.

Is the next generation of Maroons too top heavy?
Queensland had 26 players attend its under-20s emerging camp earlier this month and Origin selector Darren Lockyer said a small group had been targeted for the senior camp.

“It’s a more streamlined approach,” he said.

“It’s about picking the guys that are genuinely in line for a jersey in the next year or two.

“We don’t want to have big squads in there and waste people’s time. It’s about getting those guys who are earmarked to be the next in line.”

Apart from some on-field training, Walters will speak to the Emerging squad players about the expectations of being a Maroon.

“We can get some better work done with a smaller group,” he said.

“We’ll do some work around Origin and what is expected of them.

“We’ve got Mick Martin, our sports psychologist, coming in and we will get to know a bit about them and they can learn about us.”

The camp concludes tomorrow.

Click to expand...