McQueen and Keary Named in Emerging Maroons Squads

The Queensland Maroons hierarchy will assess some of its brightest prospects when the Queensland (QAS) Emerging Origin Squad assembles in Brisbane next month.

The 14-man squad, which includes Rabbitohs player Chris McQueen, will work with QAS Rugby League director Wayne Bennett and current Maroons Coach Mal Meninga from January 25-27.

The camp will feature five newcomers to the QAS Emerging Origin program, a key component of the Maroons’ recent Origin success.

The fresh faces are Edrick Lee (Canberra Raiders), Michael Morgan (NQ Cowboys), Ben Ridge (Gold Coast Titans), Aidan Guerra (Sydney Roosters) and Josh Papalli (Canberra Raiders).

They will train alongside Bulldogs star Ben Barba, who returns for another QAS camp in 2013 along with Justin O’Neill (Melbourne Storm), Dale Copley (Brisbane Broncos), Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles), Andrew McCullough, Martin Kennedy (Sydney Roosters), Josh McGuire (Brisbane Broncos), William Zillman (Gold Coast Titans) and Chris McQueen (South Sydney Rabbitohs).

Next year will also see the introduction of a Junior Emerging Origin squad, which brings together Queensland’s best young players who will be vying for spots in Queensland’s Under 20 Origin team to play New South Wales.

The development squad includes six players, including Rabbitohs player Luke Keary, who are not eligible for selection in the annual game due to their age.

Several of these players took part in last season’s Under 20s match and selectors have opted to involve them in the January 17-20 QAS camp to further bolster their representative experience.

Queensland Rugby League (QRL) chief executive officer Robert Moore said the QAS program had been a vital cog in the pathway for elite players for many years.

“In the past few seasons alone the likes of Matt Gillett, Ben Te’o, Dave Taylor, Dane Nielsen and Jharal Yow Yeh have made the step from the QAS program into the Origin team,” Moore said.

“There is no doubt that their transition into one of sport’s toughest and most competitive arenas has been helped by their involvement in the QAS Emerging Origin program.

“The State Government and the QAS have always been big supporters of Rugby League and this is reflected by the introduction of an Under 20s development squad that will utilise the QAS’s state-of-the-art facilities early next year.”

The QAS Emerging State of Origin Squad for 2013 is:

Ben Barba (Bulldogs)
Justin O’Neill (Storm)
Edrick Lee (Raiders)
Michael Morgan (Cowboys)
Dale Copley (Broncos)
Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
Andrew McCullough (Broncos)
Martin Kennedy (Roosters)
Ben Ridge (Titans)
Josh McGuire (Broncos)
Aidan Guerra (Roosters)
Josh Papalii (Raiders)
William Zillman (Titans)
Chris McQueen (Rabbitohs)

The QLD Junior Emerging Origin Squad for 2013 is:

Caleb Timu (Broncos)
Corey Oates (Broncos)
Chris Grevsmuhl (Cowboys)
Hymel Hunt (Titans)
Kurt Mann (Storm)
Ian Riccardi (Panthers)
Anthony Milford (Raiders)
Travis Peeters (Broncos)
Francis Molo (Broncos)
Zac Santo (Cowboys)
Kierran Moseley (Panthers)
Patrick Mago (Raiders)
Soape Palau (Broncos)
Patrick Kaufusi (Cowboys)
Moses Mbye (Bulldogs)
Cameron Cullen (Broncos)
Brenko Lee (Raiders)
Joseph Forrester (Broncos)
John Folau (Eels)
Billy Brittain (Storm)
Ben Hampton* (Storm)
Luke Keary* (Rabbitohs)
Dylan Napa* (Roosters)
Korbin Sims* (Knights)
Lachlan Maranta* (Broncos)
Aaron Whitchurch* (Broncos)

*Ineligible for U20 State of Origin team in 2013