McQueen Emerging Maroon

Rabbitohs young gun Chris McQueen has been selected in the Queensland Academy of Sport’s Emerging Origin squad for 2012. The 2012 Queensland Academy of Sport Emerging Origin Squad will feature four newcomers when it assembles in Brisbane next month. Selectors have named a 14-man squad that includes McQueen, Broncos pair Dale Copley and Josh McGuire along with Roosters powerhouse Lama Tasi. The quartet will enjoy their first run under the guidance of QAS head coach Wayne Bennett and Maroons maestro Mal Meninga. This year’s QAS Emerging Origin Squad members Ben Barba (Bulldogs), Justin O’Neill (Storm), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles), Martin Kennedy (Roosters), Jake Friend (Roosters), Matt Gillett (Broncos) and Ben Te’o (Broncos) have again been selected, while Esi Tonga (Eels), Chris Sandow (Eels) and Maurice Blair (Storm) are back in the fold after featuring in 2010. Queensland chairman of selectors Des Morris is pleased with the strength of the 2012 QAS squad and expects some of the players to get an opportunity at a higher level in the near future. “A few of them have been in the QAS squad before and have improved over the course of the season,” Morris said. “With the halves, we’ve got a couple of young blokes (Cherry-Evans and Sandow) there to see how they work together. We’re also keen to have a look at a number of new players, including Chris McQueen who has come through the Intrust Super Cup and is now playing well in the NRL in a number of positions.” The QAS squad will be put through its paces in Brisbane from January 20-22.