Billy Slater announces Queensland Maroons State of Origin team after injury carnage ahead of game 2
Queensland is forced to make three changes ahead of a potential Origin series decider – with a Storm star being recalled after a massacre at the side of Billy Slater
- Three changes due to injuries
- Melbourne back replaces Selwyn Cobbo
- Recalls for Storm, Cowboys and Titans stars
Billy Slater has unveiled his new look Maroons for game two of the State of Origin series in Brisbane after being forced to make three substitutions after the side was injured.
Melbourne Storm flyer Xavier Coates, Cowboys forward Jeremiah Nanai and Titans propeller Mo Fotuaika have earned recalls for Queensland as the carnage of injuries took its toll.
Slater had to make three changes to the side that beat New South Wales 26-18 in Adelaide after injuries ruled out Jai Arrow [syndesmosis]Selwyn Cobbo [hip] and Tom Gilbert [shoulder surgery].
With Cobbo ruled out at the last minute, Ponga had a chance to return to the Maroons after his man-of-the-match performance in game three to win the series in 2022.
However, the Knights fullback, who has a legendary battle with concussions, decided to take himself out of the series to focus on his health and return to form with Newcastle.
Kaufusi was unlucky not to earn a recall after making 14 appearances for Queensland since debuting in game 1 of the 2018 State of Origin series.
Axed center Dane Gagai also failed to earn a recall on the wing
Nanai exploded onto the representative footy scene in 2022 after a breakaway season with the North Queensland Cowboys landed him a start with the Maroons.
However, he was handed a five-week suspension after being charged with a dangerous grade three contact attack for his hip drop on Braden Hamlin-Uele in the Cowboys’ tough loss to Cronulla earlier in the season, ruling him out of the first Origin series. contest.
He returned for the Cowboys in their shock win over the Melbourne Storm and showed enough to impress Slater, earning a recall to the Maroons.
Dolphins award recruit Felise Kaufusi was widely tipped to also earn a recall, but was overlooked after two lengthy suspensions for dangerous tackles this season.
Gold Coast Titans mild-mannered Moeaki Fotuaika, who played four Origin games for the Maroons in 2020 and 2021, also received a recall to replace Arrow on the bench.
Coates celebrates a try with Dane Gagai. The Melbourne storm winger is back in the Origin side for game two, but Gagai wasn’t so lucky
Nanai returned from a five-game suspension to help the Cowboys upset the Melbourne Storm and set the stage for his recall
Mo Fotuaika is in devastating form for the Titans and was picked for his first game since 2021, on the bench for the injured Jai Arrow
While teammate David Fifita controls the big bucks and headlines, Fotuaika has quietly returned to the form he made his Maroons debut in 2020.
“I’m enjoying my footy a lot more this year, where last year wasn’t the best footy. That’s the driving force for me this year – to just have a good year this year and find confidence in every game we play,” Fotuaika said earlier this year.
“I take that in every week and try to play good football all the time.
“Because I didn’t have a good year last year, I felt like I was letting myself and the team down by not being at my best.
The Maroons also made two changes to their expanded roster with Titans fullback AJ Brimson replacing Cowboys playmaker Tom Dearden as 18th man.
The Titans have a bye into Round 16 and the inclusion of Brimson allows Dearden to play for the Cowboys in their home game against Penrith.
Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh is the new 19th man, replacing Storm propeller Christian Welch, who faces a one-game suspension on Sunday for dangerous contact with Sharks forward Royce Hunt.