Tallis requires finish to ‘unstoppable’ star’s exile; ‘scary’ 104kg beast places Blues on alert: Origin Scout

Maroons legend Gorden Tallis says Billy Slater should decide Titans $1m enforcer David Fifita for the State of Origin opener.

Fifita, who was overlooked of Slater’s Maroons aspect in 2022, has loved a robust begin to the season with the Titans, averaging over 160 metres per recreation.

Tallis believes the $1m star is making an irresistible case for choice.

“If he keeps on playing the way he is playing, there is a spot for Dave in the Queensland team, absolutely,” Tallis informed the Courier Mail.

“If you have (Felise) Kaufusi, (Pat) Carrigan and (Reuben) Cotter doing the hard yards, there is no doubt Dave should be there adding the other side of things.

“Dave is a once-in-a-generation forward and what he brings to a team only Dave can bring.

“There’s a lot of back-rowers in this comp who have taken their games to another level.

“Viliame Kikau is at the top of the tree, but guys like (Keaon) Koloamatangi at Souths and Dave are uncompromising as well as skilful.

“Kieran Foran (Titans five-eighth recruit) has been great for Dave and if he gets a clear run and they get a combination going, Fifita will be unstoppable.”

Tallis’ endorsement comes as Fifita revealed he met with Slater forward of the 2023 season to debate his Origin prospects.

“We had a chat before the season in round one, myself and a few other boys in the team, about what it takes to put on that jersey and what you have to do,” Fifita stated to the AAP.

“We had lunch (with Slater) and caught up with him. I know what I need to do.”

BULKED UP COBBO PUTS BLUES ON ALERT

Broncos flyer Selwyn Cobbo is able to terrorise the Blues having placed on 7kg of muscle since final State of Origin.

Cobbo now weighs in at 104kg, up from the 97kg he performed eventually season.

It means he’s simply 2kg lighter than Greg Inglis who terrorised the Blues for a decade.

“I have bulked up,” Cobbo stated this week.

“Over the pre-season, I put on some weight and I worked hard to lose the baby fat and turn it into muscle, but I feel I am carrying it well.

“My form this year has been a bit up and down, but I have been getting better with each week and I was happy with my try (against the Raiders).

“It would be exciting to be in that Queensland jersey again, but I’m not taking it for granted.

“There’s a lot of good Queensland players who want that jersey and there’s a few games to go until Origin, so I want to push for that over the next few weeks.”

Cobbo’s supervisor Tas Bartlet stated he was surprised by the 20-year-old’s transformation.

“It’s scary how big Selwyn is getting,” stated Bartlett of Pacific Sports Management.

“He is developing that broad, barrel chest that Greg Inglis had.

“With another pre-season, he is going to be a monster.

DALEY’S SHOCK HALVES CALL

Ex-NSW coach Daley has revealed he would overlook both incumbent Jarome Luai and in-form star Nicho Hynes in the starting halves if he was picking the Blues side this year.

Veteran Daily Telegraph reporter Phil Rothfield suggested on Monday morning it was now “totally impossible to ignore Nicho Hynes’ claims to play at five-eighth” amid rising discuss the Cronulla star and reigning Dally M winner may break up the Nathan Cleary-Luai halves partnership.

But legendary five-eighth Daley revealed his shock desire can be to call both Bulldogs celebrity Matt Burton or Canberra’s Jack Wighton within the No.6 — though it’s since been revealed the latter plans to rule himself out and retire from represenative soccer.

“I’ll probably get laughed out of town but I’d go with Burton or Wighton,” Daley, who coached the Blues from 2013 to 2017, stated on the Big Sports Breakfast.

“I’d probably look at him (Hynes) being more off the interchange bench. That’s where I see him fitting in at this stage.

“I just like those big, bustling five-eighths. I love Wighton and Burton, big runners of the football, both left-foot kicking games, strong in defence. To me it just shows you – when Jack plays Origin regardless of his club form, he plays well.

“Matt Burton, I love him as a player. And in that environment, plus he’s got a bit of a combination with Cleary, he knows those Penrith guys. I’d have no hesitation in throwing him in. I see Nicho in more of that utility role off the bench.”

SUAALII SHOULD BE SNUBBED … AND NOT BECAUSE OF RUGBY MOVE

Rothfield, in the meantime, has revealed his Blues squad, and there’s no place for celebrity teen Joseph Suaalii.

And it’s not due to his defection to rugby union however due to his type — the veteran pundit saying there are as many as seven centres presently forward of him within the pecking order.

“I don’t think he (Suaalii) has played particularly well for the last couple of weeks,” Rothfield stated on Monday.

“I thought Reimis Smith more than matched him when he went to Melbourne a couple of weeks ago … and when the Roosters were desperate against the Sharks I don’t think he produced a lot.

“I don’t think the rugby decision should have anything to do with it.”

Rothfield stated Suaalii was not going through “enormous scrutinty” each time he took the sphere after signing a $1.6m-a-season rugby deal from subsequent yr that can make him the very best paid participant in any Australian soccer code.

He stated the likes of Campbell Graham, Wighton, Kotoni Staggs, Stephen Crichton and Newcastle’s Bradman Best all deserved to be forward of Suaalii at centre whereas Brian To’o, Daniel Tupou or Graham must be most well-liked picks on the wing.

“If Joseph doesn’t make this NSW side it won’t be as Hamish McClennan, the Rugby Australia boss, has suggested a vindictive decision.”

‘FOR GOODNESS’ SAKE’ — RCG BUILDS UNDENIABLE CASE

Rothfield has advised Blues coach Brad Fittler and Alexander are below huge strain to get their picks proper this season after shedding two of the previous three collection — and making some key choice blunders within the course of.

One of these, he stated, was leaving 115kg Test prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard out of final yr’s collection.

While Fittler insisted there was nothing private behind the 29-year-old Parramatta star’s omission, there was hypothesis it could have been all the way down to angle and his relationship with the numerous former Penrith Panthers teammates within the squad.

Whatever the explanation, Rothfield believes Fittler can not afford to make the identical mistake this yr.

“Reagan Campbell-Gillard, for goodness’ sake … Freddy saying last year that he didn’t suit the Blues, give me a break,” Rothfield stated.

“He was outstanding for the Kangaroos at the World Cup and he was outstanding for the Parramatta Eels yesterday. I’d like to see him back in the mix this year.”