Queensland Maroons head coach Nathan Cross defends his decision to select younger players for State of Origin, saying he is “not afraid of people’s ages.” Across multiple reports, Cross emphasizes that giving emerging talent the chance to play on the Origin stage is part of his coaching approach and opportunity for players to develop at the highest level of the competition. The coverage aligns on Cross’s position that age alone should not determine selection, and that performance and readiness are the key considerations behind his choices. The articles do not present conflicting explanations for the selections, focusing instead on Cross’s rationale and response to criticism or concern regarding how young some of the squad members are. Overall, the reports portray Cross as confident that younger players can handle the demands and expectations associated with State of Origin, and that his selections reflect a belief in giving new players exposure to elite representative rugby league.