SCINTILLATING starts to the season by the Broncos and Cowboys have seen Queensland’s top-four clubs rewarded at the State of Origin selection table, with new coach Billy Slater unveiling an impressive new-look team to begin his tenure as Maroons boss.

Cowboys Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai and Broncos Selwyn Cobbo and Patrick Carrigan will join the FOGS family on June 8 after being named to make their Origin debuts in Game 1 in Sydney.

Uncapped Cowboys Tom Dearden and Murray Taulagi have also been included in an extended 22-man squad to get a feel for the Origin environment and gain experience for future campaigns.

After the disappointment of last year’s series, Maroons fans will be delighted with the make-up of Slater’s first Queensland team, which hits all the marks of new faces, experienced old heads and white-hot NRL form to bring crucial momentum to the Maroons’ campaign.

Cobbo’s brilliant form with the Broncos sees him join fullback Kalyn Ponga and Xavier Coates in an electric back three, with Origin try-merchants Valentine Holmes and Dane Gagai coming together for the best centre combination Queensland has had in years.

Skipper Daly Cherry-Evans and Cameron Munster are again the foundation stone of the team in the halves, with the ultra-reliable Kurt Capewell and Felise Kaufusi the edge forwards.

In the middle, Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has been rewarded for a herculean lone hand for the Gold Coast against Brisbane on Friday night, partnering Maroons mainstay Josh Papalii in the front row, with Cotter in the No.13.

Dragons playmaker Ben Hunt has won the race to the hooking job after his brilliance at No.9 in Game 3 last year, relegating Harry Grant to the bench alongside Carrigan, Nanai and Lindsay Collins – who returns to the Queensland team after missing the 2021 series with injury.

South Sydney workhorse Jai Arrow and 2021 debutants Thomas Flegler and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are the other players in the extended squad.

QUEENSLAND: Kalyn Ponga, Selwyn Cobbo, Valentine Holmes, Dane Gagai, Xavier Coates, Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans (c), Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Ben Hunt, Josh Papalii, Kurt Capewell, Felise Kaufusi, Reuben Cotter. INTERCHANGE: Harry Grant, Lindsay Collins, Patrick Carrigan, Jeremiah Nanai. SQUAD MEMBERS: Tom Dearden, Jai Arrow, Thomas Flegler, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Murray Taulagi.