May 27, 2026 — 11:45amSam Walker has vivid memories of growing up alongside Kurt Capewell, despite the latter being nine years his senior. The fact the two Ipswich Grammar School alumni are now lining up together in the Queensland Maroons jumper is a reality yet to sink in for the young halfback.“We’ve been family friends with Kurt for so long, I spent a lot of time with him as a kid,” Walker said, recalling his backyard battles with Capewell.“To be able to play against him a fair few times now and finally be able to run out together will be something really special. It’s something I’m sure after the game we can look back on which will be pretty cool.Ready for the Maroons: Sam Walker.Getty Images“But for now, it’s all systems go, I’ve got a job to do.”The inclusion of Walker and Capewell makes Ipswich Grammar the equal-most represented school in the Queensland side for Wednesday night’s game.The college, as well as Ignatius Park (Kalyn Ponga and Gehamat Shibasaki), are the only schools represented more than once among the 19 players to step onto Sydney’s Accor Stadium.It is a similar case with the New South Wales squad, with only Sydney’s Newington College – Tolu Koula and Cameron Murray – boasting more than one player in the side.Of the junior clubs, Mascot Jets (three) dominate for the Blues, while Brisbane’s Easts Tigers is the only club represented more than once in the Maroons.Schools such as Keebra Park on the Gold Coast have become established nurseries for rugby league talent, to the point where Maroons debutant Briton Nikora could not make their top team.David Fifita, Reece Walsh, Benji Marshall, Payne Haas and Ben Te’o are just some of the leading names to emerge from the school’s rugby league academy. And it was Te’o’s name that caught Nikora’s eye, and convinced the edge forward to take his football more seriously.“I was sort of a late comer, I wasn’t too into all the open teams and the boys making the schoolboys teams. I was just cruising playing with my mates enjoying footy,” Nikora said.“He [Te’o] went to Keebra Park as well, and when you come up through Keebra Park you hear of all those players on the wall who have made it.“At the time, I didn’t really take much notice of players back then, but once I enjoyed my footy and got into it, I’ve seen the way he played, the physicality, and the way he carried himself. I looked up to him, I haven’t really told him that.”The selections of Nikora and Blues rivals Addin Fonua-Blake and Victor Radley have been met with some criticism in sections of the rugby league world, given the trio are only eligible due to NRL rule changes made this year.Briton Nikora will make his Origin debut for Queensland.Getty ImagesUnder the new policies, athletes who have represented tier one nations outside of Australia – New Zealand and England, as the three have – can be chosen for their respective states provided they began playing junior rugby league there before their 13th birthday.Nikora, who first played rugby league at Parkwood Sharks, wants to silence the naysayers.“I moved over here at nine years old, obviously there’s been some things going on about eligibility, people don’t like it, but I’ve done all my schooling growing up here, and Queensland gave me and my family the opportunity,” Nikora said.“They gave me a better life, and that’s what I carry close to my heart. I just want to prove it to them, prove this means a lot this game.“I’m not just here to take part, I’m here to put this jersey in a better place.”Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.More:State of OriginFor subscribersBluesQueensland MaroonsNRL 2026NRL 2026From our partners