Kurt Capewell is ready to fill the shoes of his former Broncos teammate Selwyn Cobbo in the upcoming State of Origin II.
With Cobbo sidelined due to injuries, Capewell has been called up to the Queensland Maroons bench for next Thursday’s clash at the MCG, where they aim for a third-straight series victory.
Capewell’s versatility is highly valued, especially after Cobbo played 73 minutes in the backline during the series opener following Reece Walsh’s early injury. The veteran Warriors player, who has experience as a second-rower and centre, is prepared to step into multiple roles if needed.
“I have played a bit of centre, back row, and in the middle, so I am happy to fill in wherever I can and help out,” Capewell told the Warriors’ website from the Maroons camp in Toowoomba. The 30-year-old is focused on his role for Game Two, without concern for future selections.
Reflecting on Cobbo’s performance and development, Capewell praised his teammate’s growth and acknowledged Coach Billy Slater’s decision as part of Cobbo’s progression.
After moving to New Zealand this season, Capewell faced stiff competition from players like David Fifita, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai, and Tom Gilbert for a spot in the back row. Despite the challenges, he is thrilled to add to his nine Origin appearances.
“There is great talent throughout Queensland, especially with back-rowers. To get the call up again, I’m just over the moon,” he shared.
Capewell has embraced his new role with the Warriors, showing support for Queensland during training and engaging in friendly rivalry with his coach, Andrew Webster, a New South Wales supporter. He even expressed enthusiasm for the idea of an Origin game in New Zealand, confident that the Kiwi fans would create a home-like atmosphere for Queensland.
“I’m sure they would love it, probably almost as much as us Queenslanders. It’s pretty much another separate state of Queensland over there,” he joked, giving a shout-out to Kiwi Queensland supporters.
