State Of Origin

Queensland selector Allan Smith admits Cooper will remain in the queue along with fellow Cowboys back-rower Ethan Lowe when they finalise June 22's Origin II team on Monday.

Smith said only injuries would pave the way for Cooper's maiden Origin due to the selectors' loyalty to incumbent bench forward Guerra.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," Smith told AAP when asked about Queensland's Origin II side.

"Our biggest issue is how everyone pulls up."

McKinnon was left a quadriplegic in March 2014 as a result of a tackle in an NRL match between the Newcastle Knights and Smith's Melbourne Storm.

The former Knights forward criticised Smith in a 60 Minutes interview for comments the Queenslander made on field, and also for an apparent lack of contact since the incident.

Smith was not granted a right of reply in the Channel Nine interview and had remained silent for a long period.

The Panthers could be one of the best represented clubs in this year's series with as many as five players tipped to be on New South Wales Blues coach Laurie Daley's radar. 

Matt Moylan, Bryce Cartwright and Josh Mansour are all in line to make their debuts in Game One, while Trent Merrin is in the mix to add to his 13 appearances. Tyrone Peachey's name has also been mentioned after a stellar showing in the County-City clash earlier this month. 

STATE of Origin contests have long been famed as arenas epitomising physical aggression and tribal combativeness. However, that aggression is spilling over the sidelines with horrifying consequences.

There have been calls to ban live broadcasts of Origin games in Papua New Guinea because of violent outbursts that are erupting after matches, resulting in deaths.

Speaking to the ABC, an Enga police spokesman said the interstate matches drove people into a frenzy, and that the only way to eradicate this behaviour was to ban all live coverage.

The 46-point margin broke previous highest winning margin in Origin history of 40 points, set by the Blues 15 years ago.

It was also only the second time in Origin history that a team has scored more than 50 points after NSW defeated Queensland 56-16 in the aforementioned match in Game Three, 2000.

Manuel has been named the winner of TVWAN’s ‘money can’t buy’ State of Origin Experience Facebook competition after sharing and bringing the most new likes to TVWAN’s Facebook page.

The competition received almost 50,000 shares.

“I have watched TVWAN since they first launched in East New Britain province and their Facebook page is the only page running good competitions in PNG,” says Manuel.

Manuel would have loved to travel to Brisbane with his new wife, but as her visa is not ready will take his eldest sister on the amazing adventure.

The married father-of-one was at his kitchen table eating when he found out he will jet to Brisbane for the third game of the 2015 State of Origin series as winner of the TVWAN and Digicel Play Holden State of Origin competition.

The call came through from Yumi FM’s Sun Kamap show with DJ Bata Rat.

“I was having my breakfast when I got the call,” says Frank.

“But after the great announcement I had already lost my appetite to finish my breakfast.”

The 23-year-old liked and shared the State of Origin status on the TVWAN Facebook page and was randomly chosen as the winner.

“I received my tickets on Monday and am extremely excited to travel to see this history-making game,” Mr Morris said.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only travel to Melbourne, but see what should be a thrilling match.

“I am extremely grateful to TVWAN for the opportunity to take part in this fantastic prize.”

Mr Morris is 23 years old and is taking Medical Imaging Science at UPNG.