Kevin Walters has handed Harry Grant the Kangaroos captaincy for the second Test against England, going against Billy Slater’s decision to give the Queensland captaincy to Cameron Munster. With Isaah Yeo ruled out with concussion, the obvious choice was to make vice-captain Grant the new skipper.
Grant captains the Melbourne Storm at club level, but Slater made an inspired choice to make Munster the Maroons captain in State of Origin this year. It proved an absolute masterstroke, with Munster leading Queensland to a 2-1 series victory after they lost the first game under Daly Cherry-Evans.
Kevin Walters (L) has made Harry Grant the Kangaroos captain despite Billy Slater giving it to Cameron Munster in Origin (R). Image: AAP
But despite Munster showing his leadership qualities in Origin, Walters has played it safe and gone with Grant instead. The Storm skipper won’t let anyone down, and has continually shown he’s a great captain at club level.
But it will raise a few eyebrows that the triumphant Maroons captain Munster hasn’t got the nod. “Harry, and all of the senior players for that matter, stepped up after Isaah’s unfortunate injury last week,” Kangaroos coach Walters said on Tuesday night.
“While we’d love to have Isaah out there, he’ll still be contributing in many other ways around the group this week. He’s a natural leader, and so too is Harry so we’re in great hands this week. I’m really pleased with the way we’ve started the series, but we’re into a new week now and our focus is preparing well and being at our very best this Saturday.”
Harry Grant is Kangaroos captain despite missing out on the Maroons role. (Photo by Lee Parker – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Cameron Munster misses out despite being Queensland captain
Speaking in June after being given the Maroons’ captaincy, Munster said: “If you asked me that question five or 10 years ago, everyone would have laughed in your face. I’ve developed into a leadership role over the last three or four years.
“I have grown up a bit … I have a lot of leaders around me at the Storm and there are a lot of leaders in this team as well. I’m very excited to lead this team out. Five years ago, I was not even in the leadership group of my own club, so for me to be able to get this honour, my wife has played a massive part in that and my kids. I think having kids probably made me have to grow up a little bit more and want to be a role model not only for my kids but kids in the community in Queensland.”
RELATED:
Lindsay Smith to play second Test with Isaah Yeo out
Walters also could have handed the captaincy to Panthers co-captain Nathan Cleary, but Grant will be a popular choice amongst the Kangaroos players. Yeo is likely to return for third and final Test at Leeds, assuming he passes through all concussion protocols. Because he was ruled a category one concussion in the first game, he’s been forced to stand down for 11 days.
Meanwhile, Walters has switched Pat Carrigan to lock to cover Yeo and elevated Lindsay Collins from the bench to the starting front-row. Panthers prop Lindsay Smith has been handed a spot on the bench, after he was overlooked for the first Test. Jacob Preston, Bradman Best and Mitchell Moses are the reserves, even though some have called for Preston to start instead of Hudson Young.