Dateline, Sunday June 1: Scotty Prince is dirty on himself.

The tiny Titan’s dream of playing Origin II is in tatters, he thinks, sitting there at Shark Park after the 30-14 loss to Cronulla.

With it all to play for – after the media said he was being considered for a spot with the Maroons – he plays rubbish.

Worse still, the main reason for him being considered in the first place – to cover for Darren Lockyer – no longer has any legs since Locky threw off the crutches and had a blinder.

It could have been me, not lucky legs Locky, laying on that last ditch, winning try after the siren sounded at Suncorp Stadium. I could have done the same in Origin, but now I guess I’ll never have the chance, he curses, ripping the strapping off a badly bruised ego.

Then he feels a hand on his shoulder and looks at a perfect stranger.

“There was a lot to like out there, Scott. I think we could have something.”

“Do I know you?”

“The name’s Allan Smith – I’m an Origin selector and I’m finally liking what I see.”

“Look, I don’t talk to Blues selectors.”

“Scott, you might not believe me, but I’m on your side … I pick who gets to wear the mighty Maroon.”

“And you liked what you saw out there – mate, no wonder Queensland had a Joe Cocker down in Sydney with talent scouts like you.”

“Look, I understand you’re not in the best frame of mind. I came in to say that we’ve finally got you in the frame – you could just be a happy camper.”

“I don’t follow – you’ve got Thurston and Lockyer – you don’t need me.”

“We may do ... we could finally pick you out of position and out of form. You see before, by doing everything right out on the field you were doing everything wrong from our perspective. To be truthful, we would prefer to pick when you have been forced back to Queensland Cup … but we can’t talk John Cartwright into dropping you to the Burleigh Bears. He is a Cockroach after all.”

“I thought the idea was to play good footie to get selected for Origin.”

“It is, but not before you wear the Maroon – otherwise it will be the same old disaster as last game. You see we had all the form players – the “dream backline” and they bookies shafted us by making us raging hot favourites! Until we can get Kevin Rudd to pass a law against that, we’re just having to continue to select blokes out of position like Karmichael.

“But isn’t that a bit risky…you can’t say Special K had a happy game?”

“Well, he was our best forward out there. With Justin Hodges a goner, you maybe a shock centre selection. After all, Berro played there and he was more a jockey than a Bronco.”

“So I can really expect a call from you guys?”

“All I can say, Scott, (sound of giggling) ... is that we all live in hope.”