NSW legend Elias expects Maguire's Blues to target Queensland “pretty boy” Walsh

New South Wales icon Benny Elias has identified Queensland Maroons star fullback Reece Walsh as the player who must be targeted by the Blues, saying the Broncos young gun will be “absolutely annihilated” in Wednesday night’s series opener.

Walsh will line up for the Maroons for the third time after impressing in Queensland’s first two victories in last year’s series and is one of the X-factor’s in Billy Slater’s side.

But Elias, who played 19 Origins for the Blues including three man-of-the-match awards, said the 21-year-old was the “most vulnerable” out of all the Maroons.

“Let me tell you, we’re going to absolutely annihilate your No.1 pretty boy little Reece Walsh,” he said on SENQ Mornings.

“His fingernail painting and eyelashes are going to be absolutely ruined this evening.

“The first kick in the first set of six, it’ll go up high, he’ll be watching the ball and we’ll come through and cut him in half.

“So, all you Queenslanders who love your little boy up there, tonight is going to be an absolute hell for him, the bombs will come down in their drones.

“(We will) kick the ball up high, he can’t run because he is going to have no room as soon and as he takes that ball we will absolutely crack him in half, that’s our big plan.”

Elias, who tipped the Blues to win 24-6, said he was a big fan of Walsh but not during Origin.

“He’s a show pony, he’s great for the game, he’s wonderful to watch and I’m a big fan of his but I can’t like Reece Walsh tonight,” he said.

“If you had to pick a player whose vulnerable, he will touch the ball in every set of six because we’ll kick it to him and rightfully so.

“The one-millionth of a second after he catches the ball he’ll have three Blues in front of him and he won’t have anywhere to run.

“I think we’ve got it pretty well covered, we’re going to focus on him, and it all starts and finishes with the pretty boy.”

SEN has all your coverage covered for Game I of the State of Origin with a Maroons and Blues biased call as well as neutral commentary as the 2024 series kicks off.