http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...t/news-story/9c75709341808d18e9d82dcc3ead4b8bKorbin Sims, Dylan Napa are in a duel for Matt Scott’s Maroons spot
KORBIN Sims and Dylan Napa are in a duel for Matt Scott’s Maroons jersey as Queensland faces a changing of the guard in the front row.
Scott is awaiting scans to confirm his season is over after suffering a knee injury in North Queensland’s golden-point win against the Broncos on Friday night.
Scott’s injury is not only a huge blow to the Cowboys, but also Queensland’s hopes of winning back-to-back State of Origin series under new coach Kevin Walters.
Scott, 31, has played 22 Origins for Queensland, forging a reputation as one of the Maroons’ toughest props.
He has been instrumental throughout Queensland’s decade of dominance, making his Origin debut in 2006, the first year of Mal Meninga’s eight-straight dynasty.
The Maroons have ushered in a new wave of front-row talent in recent years with Josh Papalii and Josh McGuire cementing roles in the team.
With 31-Origin warhorse Nate Myles nearing the end of his representative career, the time has come for Walters to blood some fresh props.
At the top of the pecking order is Napa and Sims.
Sydney Roosters enforcer Napa has been banging on the Origin door for three years and looks destined to finally bring it down this year.
But Sims has emerged as a genuine contender since resurrecting his career at the Broncos under Wayne Bennett.
Sims has been solid in the opening two rounds of the season, going toe-to-toe with Scott on Friday and Broncos halfback Ben Hunt said he should be in contention.
“This definitely opens the door for Korbin,” Hunt said.
“There’s an opportunity for some younger forwards in the Queensland team this season and Korbin has been really good for us.
“He runs the ball hard and defends really well. He just has to keep playing good football and he could get a sniff.”
Sims did not attend this year’s Emerging Origin camp which included other props Tim Glasby, Felise Kaufusi (18th man last year), Lloyd Perrett, Christian Welch, Jarrod Wallace and Napa.
Cowboys youngster Coen Hess has also started the season in hot form and could come into the forwards mix.
Scott and Myles started in Game Three last year with McGuire and Jacob Lillyman off the bench.
Papalii missed the final game with a knee injury. The Maroons must also find a replacement for retired lock Corey Parker.
Walters was already ruing the loss of star centre Greg Inglis to a season-ending knee injury last weekend and Scott’s absence is a further blow in his second year in charge.
The Cowboys are also licking their wounds after a brutal 21-20 derby win against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
Winger Antonio Winterstein had surgery on a broken wrist on Friday while fullback Lachlan Coote is expected to miss at least two weeks with a calf injury.
Scott’s injury is pivotal given they lost props James Tamou (Penrith) and Ben Hannant (retired) in the off-season.
Sam Hoare and Shaun Fensom will come into the mix for NRL call-ups next Saturday against Manly and in-form lock Jason Taumalolo said they had the cattle to cover the loss of Scott.
“If Thumper (Scott) is out for a while he will definitely be a huge loss for the team,” Taumalolo said.
“His go-forward and leadership is what drives the team. I have faith with all the younger boys who were on the bench.”
8. McGuire
9. Smith
10. Myles
11. Thaiday
12. Gillett
13. Papalii
14. Milford
15. Sims
16. Napa
17. Hess
I reckon we are looking at something like that. Lillyman or Myles will probably be in there though.
Out of your fucking mind mate. "All he has" ?!It's funny how the Cows fans were so much louder than the Broncs at times at the ground. Felt like their own home game with "Cowboys!" calls. Felt like the refs favoured the Cows. Probably after the Roberts forward pass for Kahu's try.
I was impressed with Thaiday, made some impressive runs. Really unimpressed with Milford, he seriously doesn't have anything other than a step and some finishing skills. He's still a fullback IMO.
Also, it feels like we seem to get tired more often than any other team in the comp. It's only round 2, and both times we've had periods where our players were barely breathing.
Mead would playIf Kahu is left out of the side next week against the Storm due to his injury he picked up tonight. Who do you think will best fill his spot?
Depending on how Benji went/goes with Redcliffe, does he make his debut for the Broncs and slot into Centre pushing Moga to Wing?
Or
Does Mead Slot straight back in to cover Kahu?
Or
Do we look at Pearson, Seve, Pangai?
Also anyone know how much longer Opacic is out for?
I thought the cows were penalised more??Just how good are these games between the us and NQL these days. Sensational game.
We should've won that no doubt at all in the first half of golden point, just like the grand final of 2015 we blew it completely although we should've won that grand final before extra time. Would've been good if Benji played tonight he would've given us a lot of composure in the big moments and probably would've sunk a field goal in extra time unlike Milford.
- Hunt played well in the first half but I felt he went missing in the second but there is positive signs there for him. This should lift his confidence
- We should've had Sims on for a lot longer than 44 minutes. He was making life hell for the Cowboys and continuing his Sharks form. Hope he gets more minutes in the future
- Moga was very average tonight and I didn't like his attitude. When he dropped the ball in the second half, he just stood there looking at the ground whilst the Cowboys were threatening to break away. Play to the whistle son.
- Roberts had another strong game with his try and meter forward pass that wasn't picked up
- Ironically we were praising the goal kicking and thought we had it all fixed after Kahu last week. Karma's a bitch
- Another strong performance from the bench, we are in good hands there
- Find it crazy people carrying on about referees when the worst call went our way and we were on the right end of a 7-3 penalty count
Umm he had a very good kick and run out of dummy half for a repeat set last night... i thought repeat sets on the 5th were all that mattered on this forumTop shelf game for Rd 2 of season. JT probably the best half ever in the history of the game. Thought the boys all did very well.
Losing Gillett was a key moment - in tight games like that keep ing JT on a leash is the key to bringing it home.
I am not a fan of McGuire continuing to kill the play on 4th and 5th tackle in opposition red zone.
The tries to the cowgirls just before and after half time were another key. Used to be a time when the broncs would lead the league, by a huge margin, for tries 5 minutes before and after the half. Now other teams are leaving us for dead here. Need some more spark of the bench - and I think Alex Glenn needs to make way here.
On number 5..My opinions of the game:
1. That's the best I've seen of our forwards play and dominate for years and they need to play off the back of that.
2. The golden point is bullshit and never liked it and it needs to go.
3. Hunt and Milford both had great games for mine and they need to carry on from that. Hunt's kicking tonight was on song. Milford was playing straight and running more and if wasn't for last minute leg tackles we would of got more tries.
4. I understand why Kahu couldn't, but we slowed down a lot off our kick returns then dummy half runs we need to beat the first defender more.
5.Where was Boyd tonight he wasn't involved in our attacking plays at all. Boyd is normally right in there lurking and waiting for the sweep play(which is second to none). If Boyd was in position more Milford and Hunt would of had more opportunities.
6. I'm still against having Glenn in the team he adds next to nothing. His good line running isn't needed in the middle of the field. We slowed down when he came on.
7. We needed a impact player the forwards were running on empty and if Niko was there or Benji they would of had plenty of opportunities
Great game still none the less and we can build on this game!
Out of your fucking mind mate. "All he has" ?!
He's a fucking match winner most weeks and the amount of line breaks he masters up is a massive testimant to his skillset. He's a god damn threat everytime he does his "step" and is considered a lethal asset.
Wake up
There seems to be this train of thought that he's just a better version of Josh Hoffman, a Hoffman 2.0