Queensland coach Billy Slater has made two forced changes to his 17-man squad which will attempt to wrap up a third straight State of Origin series at the MCG next Wednesday week.
While New South Wales coach Michael Maguire has endorsed six changes to his squad beaten 38-10 in Sydney, Slater will stick with the same starting 13 to wrap up the series and set up a 3-0 whitewash scenario at and a sold-out Suncorp Stadium next month.
Slater has opted to rest first-game rookie J’maine Hopgood (sore back) and Brisbane’s Selwyn Cobbo (multiple niggling injuries) off his bench. He has recalled rugged and experienced Storm forward Felice Kaufusi and proven back-rower Kurt Capewell who, if needed can play multiple positions.
Kaufusi, 32, will pull on a maroon jersey for the 16th time since his debut under Kevin Walters in 2018. He was 18th man for Queensland in the series opener -- a role has gone to loyal servant Dane Gagai, whose 22 Origin career is still not over at age 33.
Capewell hasn’t played Origin since being involved in all three games of Queensland’s 2-1 series victory in 2022. He’s been a valuable asset for Queensland in the past and Slater likes what the 30-year-old Warriors forward offers in both attack and defence. Now with his fourth NRL club in New Zealand, Capewell has done the job previously and his familiarity with the intensity of what is required at Origin is a bonus.
Slater and Queensland selectors Gene Miles and Darren Lockyer opted to rest both Cobbo and Hopgood who are carrying niggling injuries but have handed the bulk of the squad the chance to wrap up their 27th series title.
Manly halfback, Daly Cherry-Evans, who was man-of-the-match in Sydney, will be aiming to complete an Origin hat-trick as Queensland captain.
While he hasn’t made any decision about his representative future, a hat-trick of series wins, topped off with a whitewash of NSW, would be something special towards the back end of his career.
Queensland fans will be hoping to see more than seven minutes of action from brilliant fullback Reece Walsh who hasn’t played a minute’s football since being wiped out in a high tackle in Origin 1 by Blue’s centre Josephy Sua’ali’I.
Walsh’s club coach and former Queensland Origin coach Kevin Walters has called on officials to better look after the players like Wash that bring fans through the gate.
North Queensland’s Tom Dearden will again step in for injured star Cameron Munster.
After seeing off NSW No.7 Nycho Hynes, in game one, he faces a new challenge on Wednesday week from Parramatta's Mitchell Moses, back in a Blue’s jumper for the must-win clash.
Cowboys 195cm giant, Heilum Luki, is Queensland’s 19th man with Slater continuing to educate players on what’s required to wear the maroon, naming Nambour 23-year-old Trent Loiero, from Melbourne Storm, as his 20th member of his squad.
QLD Maroons
1 Reece Walsh
2 Xavier Coates
3 Valentine Holmes
4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
5 Murray Taulagi
6 Tom Dearden
7 Daly Cherry-Evans
8 Reuben Cotter
9 Ben Hunt
10 Lindsay Collins
11 Jaydn Su'A
12 Jeremiah Nanai
13 Patrick Carrigan
14 Harry Grant
15 Moeaki Fotuaika
16 Felise Kaufusi
17 Kurt Capewell
18 Dane Gagai
19 Helium Luki
20 Trent Loiero
NSW Blues
1 Dylan Edwards
2 Brian To'o
3 Stephen Crichton
4 Latrell Mitchell
5 Zac Lomax
6 Jarome Luai
7 Mitchell Moses
8 Jake Trbojevic
9 Reece Robson
10 Payne Haas
11 Liam Martin
12 Angus Crichton
13 Cameron Murray
14 Connor Watson
15 Isaah Yeo
16 Haumole Olakau'atu1
17 Spencer Leniu
18 Mitchell Barnett
19 Cameron McInnes
20 Luke Keary
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