'Big shoes to fill': Flegler ready for Big Papa's starting role

As Queensland head into an Origin series without Josh Papali'i for the first time since 2013, Thomas Flegler knows he's got a huge job on his hands as he steps into the vacant starting front row spot. 

Following Papalii's decision last week to retire from State of Origin football, Flegler has been selected to start along Lindsay Collins in the engine room for the series opener in Adelaide on May 31.

Papali'i has been a fixture of Queensland sides for the past decade and was a starting bookend in all but one of the interstate clashes played since 2019.

Ahead of his starting debut in what will be just his second Origin appearance, Flegler said he's well aware of the added responsibility that comes with setting the tone in the run-on side. 

"Massive shoes to fill taking over from him [Papali'i]. Hopefully I can go out there and fulfil my role and fill part of those shoes," Flegler told NRL.com. 

I have always looked up to him. As a young kid I used to watch him play and I was fortunate enough to be in the squad previously with him. 

Thomas Flegler

"I knew that one day whoever got the chance to step up for him was going to have very big shoes to fill. 

"To say I'm not going to be nervous would be lying. I am definitely going to be nervous, but I think most boys will be in this arena. 

"I know that come next Wednesday I am going to have to bring my A-Game."

While the opening exchanges are always full of passion and physicality in Origin games, Flegler also knows his can't afford to let his aggression get the better of him, as has been the case at times in the NRL. 

Over the past two and a half seasons the 23-year-old has been sin-binned five times, while he's given away 30 penalties in that 49-game period. 

But after showing improvement in those areas so far in 2023, he's confident he will be able to channel it in the right direction come game time. 

"It's been a bit of both [maturing and working on] that aggression. I know I need to work on that to stay on the field and not let the boys down," Flegler said. 

"It's been good to stay on the field and not give away too many cheap errors like that this year. 

"This is my fifth year, it's taken me a bit to get used to performing week in, week out. Being more consistent has been one of my goals and I am slowly getting used to that as well."