Tim who?
Queensland added another to a long list of bolters when they named unheralded Melbourne forward Tim Glasby to make his State of Origin debut in next week's must-win game two in Sydney.
It may not rival a 35-year-old Allan Langer flying in from England to play the 2001 series decider for the Maroons.
Or have anything on the rise of rookie Ben Ikin who was not recognised by oblivious Maroons coach Paul Vautin and turned away from the team hotel in 1995.
But Glasby has been tipped to make a name for himself when he runs out for the Maroons for the first time on June 21.
Not since little known Canberra centre Adam Mogg was asked to fill the big shoes left by an injured Greg Inglis for game two in 2006 has Queensland thrown such a selection curve ball as Glasby.
The 28-year-old has played 76 NRL games for the Storm and been part of the Emerging Maroons squad the past two years but is not exactly a household name in Queensland.
Or anywhere, really.
For the record, he averages 88m and 25 tackles a game for Melbourne this season and has started the last four Storm games at prop.
Maroons chairman of selectors Gene Miles believed the 105kg, 188cm Glasby would make his presence felt in game two.
"He's a big body. He does a lot of defensive work for the Storm in tight there, which is where NSW got us in the first one," he said.
"It will also be important that when we bring them (bench forwards) into the game that we don't lose any intensity."
Queensland coach Kevin Walters looked forward to snapping up the mobile Glasby as the latest from the Storm production line of Origin players.
"Tim is in the best defensive system in the country," Walters said.
"They have proven that the last 10 years.
"We felt we were lacking that in game one - Tim will bring a lot and then some in game two."
Glasby is expected to feature on a Maroons bench also including fellow debutants Jarrod Wallace and Coen Hess.
"His club form has been exceptional," Walters said of Glasby.
"He was in the grand final last year so he is no stranger to big games.
"I think it adds good value to our bench. It's a much improved bench we will bring in."
Share
