Wayne Bennett ruined Brad Fittler's first retirement from Origin football, now his plans to give Greg Inglis the chance to return to the No.1 jersey could haunt Fittler a second time on the big representative stage.
The Maroons are on the hunt for a new fullback after the retirement of Billy Slater and then Valentine Holmes' decision to pursue his NFL dream.
Powerhouse: Greg Inglis playing fullback for Souths could spell trouble for NSW.Credit:NRL Photos
Kalyn Ponga and Cameron Munster loom as logical options, but could start their respective campaigns at Newcastle and Melbourne in the halves, which leaves Inglis in the box seat to convince Queensland coach Kevin Walters he is the best fit at fullback.
Bennett this week said he would give Inglis first right of refusal for Souths' fullback spot. There are no shortage of supporters who think 'GI' could do more damage in the No.1 than teammate Alex Johnston.
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Inglis was devastating in a beaten Queensland side in game one this year at the MCG when posted out in the centres, and could still cause even more trouble by getting the ball in his hands more often at fullback.
Walters would have to begrudgingly thank Bennett if Inglis accepted the fullback role and starred in the opening months of the season. Bennett returned to coach the Maroons to victory in 2001, the year Fittler retired from the Blues before he answered an SOS from Phil Gould a few years later.
Appetite for destruction: Greg Inglis fells Tyson Frizell during the first match of the State of Origin series.Credit:AAP
Blues enforcer Tyson Frizell said any team with Inglis was always going to be tough, regardless of what position he played.
While shifting Inglis to fullback would spare the Blues from being whacked by him defending in the front line, there would be the alternate problem of stopping his giant frame on kick returns.
Frizell also welcomed the extra forward competition from Newcastle-born Broncos and Tongan wrecking ball Tevita Pangai Junior, who will ditch the Mate Ma'a for the Blues.
"Greg in a Queensland jersey has always been hard to handle," said Frizell, as tickets went on sale for State of Origin games one and three for 2019, in Sydney and Brisbane on June 5 and July 10 respectively, some selling for just $50.
"GI would get his hands on the ball a lot more at fullback, so he would definitely be a handful for NSW. He's best off staying back there [in defence] so he's not in the front line and picking you off straight away.
"He never lets anyone down and tries to lead by his actions. In that game one last year, he tried to lead that squad and definitely did it."
As for Pangai Junior joining the hot contest for forward spots, who like Frizell can play in the middle or the edge, the St George Illawarra favourite said: "He's a great young prospect playing some really good footy. I know the fans would be excited to see someone like him a part of it.
"He was one of Tonga's best players and if he can bring that to NSW and Origin it would be great."
Tevita Pangai Junior inked a one-year extension to stay at Brisbane with Souths no doubt hopeful the Bennett factor will lure him to Redfern in 2020.
Frizell, who welcomed his first child, a four-kilo son, Axton, last Friday, and will undergo medical testing at the Dragons on Friday before a return to the paddock next week.
Gareth Widdop will remain at the Red V next year but looks set to return to England after that, shock news which has seen him since ridiculed by his club mates.
"He made it clear he was here next year, but [returning to England] is always something he has aspired to do, and nobody will hold it against him,'' Frizell said.
The Dragons arrested their usual late-season fadeout to embarrass Brisbane in their own backyard of the finals in week one, then put up a decent fight while battling injuries to lose to three Adam Reynolds' field goals in the semi-final against Souths.
*Tickets for the Sydney and Brisbane Origin games are now on sale, while an additional round of tickets for game two at Perth's Optus Stadium on June 23 have also been released. Visit nrl.com/tickets
Christian covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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Wayne Bennett ruined Brad Fittler's first retirement from Origin football, now his plans to give Greg Inglis the chance to return to the No.1 jersey could haunt Fittler a second time on the big representative stage.
The Maroons are on the hunt for a new fullback after the retirement of Billy Slater and then Valentine Holmes' decision to pursue his NFL dream.
Powerhouse: Greg Inglis playing fullback for Souths could spell trouble for NSW.Credit:NRL Photos
Kalyn Ponga and Cameron Munster loom as logical options, but could start their respective campaigns at Newcastle and Melbourne in the halves, which leaves Inglis in the box seat to convince Queensland coach Kevin Walters he is the best fit at fullback.
Bennett this week said he would give Inglis first right of refusal for Souths' fullback spot. There are no shortage of supporters who think 'GI' could do more damage in the No.1 than teammate Alex Johnston.
Advertisement
Inglis was devastating in a beaten Queensland side in game one this year at the MCG when posted out in the centres, and could still cause even more trouble by getting the ball in his hands more often at fullback.
Walters would have to begrudgingly thank Bennett if Inglis accepted the fullback role and starred in the opening months of the season. Bennett returned to coach the Maroons to victory in 2001, the year Fittler retired from the Blues before he answered an SOS from Phil Gould a few years later.
Appetite for destruction: Greg Inglis fells Tyson Frizell during the first match of the State of Origin series.Credit:AAP
Blues enforcer Tyson Frizell said any team with Inglis was always going to be tough, regardless of what position he played.
While shifting Inglis to fullback would spare the Blues from being whacked by him defending in the front line, there would be the alternate problem of stopping his giant frame on kick returns.
Frizell also welcomed the extra forward competition from Newcastle-born Broncos and Tongan wrecking ball Tevita Pangai Junior, who will ditch the Mate Ma'a for the Blues.
"Greg in a Queensland jersey has always been hard to handle," said Frizell, as tickets went on sale for State of Origin games one and three for 2019, in Sydney and Brisbane on June 5 and July 10 respectively, some selling for just $50.
"GI would get his hands on the ball a lot more at fullback, so he would definitely be a handful for NSW. He's best off staying back there [in defence] so he's not in the front line and picking you off straight away.
"He never lets anyone down and tries to lead by his actions. In that game one last year, he tried to lead that squad and definitely did it."
As for Pangai Junior joining the hot contest for forward spots, who like Frizell can play in the middle or the edge, the St George Illawarra favourite said: "He's a great young prospect playing some really good footy. I know the fans would be excited to see someone like him a part of it.
"He was one of Tonga's best players and if he can bring that to NSW and Origin it would be great."
Tevita Pangai Junior inked a one-year extension to stay at Brisbane with Souths no doubt hopeful the Bennett factor will lure him to Redfern in 2020.
Frizell, who welcomed his first child, a four-kilo son, Axton, last Friday, and will undergo medical testing at the Dragons on Friday before a return to the paddock next week.
Gareth Widdop will remain at the Red V next year but looks set to return to England after that, shock news which has seen him since ridiculed by his club mates.
"He made it clear he was here next year, but [returning to England] is always something he has aspired to do, and nobody will hold it against him,'' Frizell said.
The Dragons arrested their usual late-season fadeout to embarrass Brisbane in their own backyard of the finals in week one, then put up a decent fight while battling injuries to lose to three Adam Reynolds' field goals in the semi-final against Souths.
*Tickets for the Sydney and Brisbane Origin games are now on sale, while an additional round of tickets for game two at Perth's Optus Stadium on June 23 have also been released. Visit nrl.com/tickets
Christian covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.
