Phil Gould believes a number of NSW players would struggle to make the Australian Kangaroos side if picked after Origin II.
Queensland dominated the Blues at Suncorp Stadium with a 32-6 win to seal the series only two games in.
A number of Maroons – who are yet to play for Australia – have made big impressions throughout the series, namely Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Reece Walsh.
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Australia’s side in the Rugby League World Cup final against Samoa included 11 NSW players.
Gould believes there’d be more Queenslanders than Blues if a Test side was picked today.
“To the victor goes the spoils,” he said on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus podcast.
“If Origin is a dress rehearsal for Test selection, then this team will be dominated by Queenslanders.
“I think there are very few NSW players that would earn a spot in the Australian side based on the two games that we’ve seen.”
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Throughout the 2023 Origin series; Nathan Cleary, Cameron Murray, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Josh Addo-Carr and James Tedesco were six of the 11 from the World Cup final.
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Interestingly the other five in Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton, Jake Trbojevic, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Angus Crichton haven’t played for NSW this year, whether that be through injury, retirement or non-selection.
“Even incumbents would be struggling to hold their position, and I think they would acknowledge that as well,” Gould added.
“If Origin is to be a selection trial for the national team, and it should be, I can’t imagine why a lot of those Queenslanders won’t make the team.”
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