Predicting the 2030 State of Origin teams: Bolters, code-hoppers and positional switches

They say a week is a long time in football.

What do they say about five years?

As this year's State of Origin series heads back to Queensland after the Maroons' come-from-behind victory, we've cast our minds to the future and attempted to predict what the teams will look like in 2030.

MORE: The numbers which make Origin the greatest rivalry in sport

It's a nearly impossible task.

Who could have predicted five years ago that Max King or Connor Watson, both then in the midst of injury nightmares, would find form and fitness and line up for the Blues?

While in 2020, this year's Maroons bolter Robert Toia was in year 10 at school.

In any case, we've had a crack.

Here's a reminder of the current squads and their ages:

State of Origin 2025 Game 3 teams

Current age in brackets

QLD Maroons 2030 predicted team

1. Reece Walsh (27)

The Broncos superstar will be in his prime by then, while there's no guarantee a 32-year-old Kalyn Ponga will have the longevity to retain his place in the team.

2. Xavier Coates (29)

The flying winger keeps his place in the side, although the likes of Alofiana Khan-Pereira and Xavier Savage could be pushing him pretty closely.

3. Robert Toia (25)

The youngster looked at home in his debut series this year and will only get better.

4. Jaxon Purdue (24)

A half by trade, Purdue has the versatility to cover several positions and, while playing at centre for the Cowboys this year,  has proven to be more than a handful.

5. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (28)

The Hammer could easily be pushing for the fullback spot himself but Walsh gets the nod for us.

Just too dangerous to leave out of the team and his versatility means he lands on the wing.

6. Tom Dearden (29)

Dearden looks to have the ability and the composure to make a long-term Origin playmaker.

Tackles like his life depends on it and a nightmare to defend when given an inch of space.

7. Sam Walker (27)

Long considered the heir to the Maroons halfback throne, Walker appears ready to step into the role as the likes of Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster move on.

8. Reuben Cotter (31)

Built for Origin, Cotter will eventually move into the front row and continue to get through a mountain of work.

Moeaki Fotuaika will only be 30 by then so could still be in the mix, while Lindsay Collins is more than likely to have sailed into the sunset. 

9. Harry Grant (32)

Grant will be a wily veteran come 2030 but he's got the craft and grit to make an impact in State of Origin for a long time.

10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (30)

Just like Payne Haas for the Blues, Tino will be among the first selected for Queensland for at least the next five years.

11. Jeremiah Nanai (27)

Already with a wealth of experience at the level, the prolific Cowboys man will continue to round out his game and carve out a long representative career for himself.

Currently 31, the curtain will have come down on Kurt Capewell's Queensland career by then.

12. Jack Howarth (27)

Another player we're tipping to move into the forwards eventually, Howarth is already in the Maroons squad and, by 2030, will have established himself as a premier backrower.

13. Trent Loiero (29)

After a solid enough starting debut in Game 2 this year, Loiero was a standout in the decider and looks ready to establish himself as the fulcrum of the Maroons' pack.

Interchange:

14. Owen Pattie (26)

If Grant is no longer playing to the level required, don't be surprised to see Pattie starting for his state.

Crafty around the ruck and with a devastating kicking game, he's the last thing a tired opposition wants to see coming off the bench.

15. Patrick Carrigan  (32)

An absolute workhorse, we expect the Broncos man to be setting the standards for Queensland for years to come.

16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (26)

Already in and around the Maroons side, the destructive runner from the Dolphins will prove a nuisance for any defence to handle coming off the bench.

17. Cooper Bai (23)

The son of Storm great Marcus Bai, 18-year-old Cooper starred in the Maroons' one-point win in the U19s Origin and looks to have a bright future.

NSW Blues 2030 predicted team

Age in 2030 in brackets

1. Fletcher Sharpe (26)

The Knights man has been a try-scoring machine since coming into first-grade and he seemed to be getting better with every week prior to his nasty injury.

He'd been playing five-eighth but is versatile enough to slot in anywhere across the backline and we're tipping him to be the long-term successor to Kalyn Ponga, providing Newcastle can hang onto him.

The current crop of Dylan Edwards, James Tedesco and Ryan Papenhuyzen will all be well into their 30s by then, giving the new blood a chance to take over.

2. Lehi Hopoate (25)

If Sharpe isn't playing fullback for the Blues in five years' time, this bloke is a good chance to be.

Equally adept on the wing, he's proven to be a first-class finisher who's also happy to do the tough stuff out of his own end.

Brian To'o will be 31 in 2030 but his physical game style may have taken its toll.

3. Stephen Crichton (C) (29)

The Bulldogs skipper is made for Origin and we expect him to be among the first names on the team sheet for the foreseeable future.

A born leader, don't be surprised to see him with the "C" next to his name for his state.

4. Joseph Sua'ali'i (26)

A curveball here but, with a Lions Tour and Rugby World Cup under his belt, Sua'ali'i has plenty of time to make the switch back to the NRL and add to his one and only Origin appearance - a five-minute cameo before being sent off for a hit on Reece Walsh.

With Latrell Mitchell already 28, his rep days may have wound up by the time 2030 rolls around.

5. Jack Bostock (26)

The Dolphins winger, who should be in his prime years, gets the other wing spot, although Zac Lomax, who will be 30 by then, will no doubt run him very closely.

6. Lachie Galvin (24)

The most talked-about youngster in the game, but there's a fuss around him for a reason.

Give him five years to fill out and get comfortable in his own game and he'll be in and around the Blues team.

7. Isaiya Katoa (26)

Already one of the best playmakers in the game, Katoa will surely have had a taste of Origin football by 2030.

Nathan Cleary, Mitchell Moses and Jarome Luai may still be running around then but the Dolphins halfback will be undeniable five years from now

8. Toby Couchman (26)

The young St George Illawarra workhorse has emerged as one of the competition's most promising forward prospects and looks to have rep footy in his future.

Currently 28 and 31 respectively, Max King and Mitch Barnett are unlikely to be pushing for selection in 2030.

9. Reece Robson (31)

Robson has looked comfortable at Origin level since making his debut and, while he may be at the tale end of his rep career come 2030, he looks like a safe bet.

10. Payne Haas (30)

One of the first names on the team sheet.

Barring injuries, will almost certainly go past Brad Fittler's record of 31 Blues appearances.

11. Samuela Fainu (26)

What he's doing in the NRL at the moment, at just 21, bodes very well for his future. A strong runner and skillful with ball in hand.

We expect the Origin careers of Liam Martin, Angus Crichton and Hudson Young to have wrapped up by 2030.

12. Bradman Best (28)

Hear us out. The barnstorming Knights centre has all the attributes to make a successful move into the backrow, with the size to handle himself, more than enough aggression and slick hands when needed.

13. Blake Steep (25)

The Roosters youngster has been filling in across the forward pack but looks to have all the skills and temperament to make a rep backrower.

Interchange:

14. Ethan Strange (25)

Provides cover in the halves and has the size and versatility to do a job at hooker or in the backs if needed.

15. Spencer Leniu (29)

There's no reason why Leniu can't keep skittling tired forwards off the bench for at least another half a decade.

16. Cody Hopwood (24)

The young Knights prop is yet to make his first-grade debut but he's got all the attributes to make a splash when he does, and at 6'5", you can't miss him.

17. Jacob Halangahu (23)

A standout at junior representative level, the Dragons man can come on and bring some punch in the backrow.

2030 State of Origin predicted teams