LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Matty Johns has criticized Billy Slater's decision to exclude aggressive Raiders prop Corey Horsburgh from the Queensland squad for State of Origin Game 1.
Given Slater's surprising choice to start rookie Robert Toia at centre, fans and analysts alike were taken aback by Horsburgh's omission.
Instead, Slater opted for Patrick Carrigan and Moeaki Fotuaika as his primary props, with Lindsay Collins and Reuben Cotter ready for bench play.
Johns speculated that Slater's strategy may involve a fast-paced game to counter NSW's formidable forward pack, notably Payne Haas.
However, he expressed bewilderment over the decision to leave Horsburgh out, commenting, "I was very surprised," during a segment on SEN Radio.
There were also discussions about Laurie Daley avoiding players from struggling teams to foster a winning culture, which might have affected selections like Terrell May from the Wests Tigers.
While Johns praised the Titans players in the Queensland lineup, he was puzzled by the team's ongoing struggles in the NRL.
He noted, "You look at the Queensland side, the mainstay of the pack are Titans players.
You have Mo, you have Tino and Beau Fermor.
Beau will start.
Why can't they have success?" Slater's decision to lean on talent from struggling teams like the Titans and Cowboys raised concerns, especially since both franchises have poor records this season but still feature three Maroons players each for the upcoming match.
Johns and Denan Kemp highlighted the potential risks of this selection strategy for Queensland's performance in the series.