Queensland vs nsw got a fresh AFL twist when Zero Hanger released a State of Origin-style selection built for Game 2 in Melbourne tonight. Callum Mills leads the New South Wales side from the backline, with the squad mapped to the same qualification rules used for the AFL's Origin clash at the start of the year.
Mills Leads New South Wales
Mills was named captain in the back line, alongside Jack Buckley and Connor O'Sullivan. New South Wales was then spread across the half-back line with Riley Bice, Nick Blakey and Harry Cunningham, before Errol Gulden, Matthew Kennedy and Will Setterfield were placed in the centre.
That spine gives the side a clear shape. Jarrod Witts, Isaac Heeney and James Peatling were listed in the ruck division, while Lachlan Schultz, Jobe Shanahan and Harvey Thomas filled the half-forward line. Harrison Himmelberg, Taylor Walker and Patrick Voss formed the forward line, giving NSW size and scoring options in the same side.
Heeney And Witts In Focus
Heeney’s spot stands out because he was described as arguably the best player in the competition right now. Witts brings a different edge after being described as the tap ruckman you want on a side like this, and Blakey arrives off a breakout All-Australian season.
The interchange was built with five players: Lachlan McAndrew, Jacob Hopper, Cooper Sharman, Daniel Turner and Dane Rampe. That group gives NSW a deep bench for a representative side assembled around junior club location from where the players were drafted, rather than club allegiance or current form alone.
Origin Rules Shape The Side
The same selection rule was used at the start of the year for the AFL's Origin clash, which is why the team reads like a state-of-origin exercise rather than a club lineup. That framework turns the exercise into a direct comparison with the long-running Queensland and New South Wales rivalry in rugby league, with Melbourne hosting Game 2 tonight as the backdrop.
For readers tracking the AFL angle, the key takeaway is simple: NSW has been mapped with Mills at the back, Heeney in the middle of the contest, and Witts as the ruck anchor. The selection shows how much talent can be assembled when junior origin, not current club structure, is the filter.
