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Queensland have recalled Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai and Selwyn Cobbo with coach Billy Slater making key changes to the Maroons side for the State of Origin series decider.
Gold Coast forward David Fifita, who played all three Origin games for the Maroons last year, has again been overlooked with Felise Kaufusi retaining a spot on the interchange.
Another veteran, Warriors forward Kurt Capewell, has been elevated into the starting line-up at the expense of St George Illawarra’s Jaydn Su’A as Slater puts his faith in players who have served the state over a long period.
Hamstring injuries to wingers Xavier Coates and Murray Taulagi have forced Slater’s hand in one respect, but between them the recalled trio bring much-needed skill and experience to the table after the Maroons were outmuscled and outclassed 38-18 in Origin II in Melbourne.
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Taulagi suffered his injury in North Queensland’s 21-20 loss to Manly on Saturday night, and Coates limped off in Melbourne’s 16-6 win over Canberra in round 17.
Ponga is a huge inclusion as a bench utility for the Suncorp Stadium showdown on July 17 after he returned successfully to the NRL in the Knights’ 16-12 win on Sunday over Canberra following 11 weeks on the sidelines with a Lisfranc injury to his foot.
Billy Slater was confident on Monday morning about his inclusions and amended side for the decider.
“Every time you go through adversity it builds that resilience in you. I’ve been through it as a player, through injuries and setbacks and disappointments. Kalyn has done that and really matured as a person and footy player. To have the best part of three months off and perform the way he did, I dare say if Kalyn Ponga is not on the field yesterday, they may not get the two points,” Slater said.
“He was pretty influential in 2022, to have the strike of Reece and Kalyn in the footy team, we will be able to play our game.”
Selwyn Cobbo. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“He hadn’t really skipped a beat.”
Slater was eager to see veteran centre Dane Gagai back in camp.
“We all know what Dane Gagai brings, we all know how important this footy team is to him,” Slater said.
“He’s played more than 20 Origins, he’s a very passionate Queenslander and he’s playing wonderful footy.
“I’m really excited to see him back in a Maroon jersey.”
The coach addressed the omission of Fifita and Su’a, with the latter facing some injury troubles.
“Jaydn Su’A is probably the other guy that’s a little unlucky, he’s nursing a few issues,” Slater said.
“Dave was a serious consideration. But we feel that the 17 chosen are the 17 who have earned the opportunity to be here. Dave is a name that has been in the conversation for all games.
“He started the season a little bit behind the 8 ball and he’s still working to the standard he created last year.”
The undefeated Origin mastermind took on the media in regards to access, with talk of Slater cancelling a traditional media day starting panic station stories.
“We don’t get out full squad until mid-afternoon today. You’ll have access to the majority of players throughout the camp. You guys see that, you get to come to Sanctuary Cove, I feel the access is great. We do everything possible to get the voices of our players to the people watching our game,” Slater said.
“I think you’re reading into it a little too much. I think it’s unfair.
“Players talking to media is certainly not a factor in performance from game two. That’s the first time I’ve thought of that.”
The Melbourne legend was also keen to see Reed Mahoney, who was an inclusion to the extended squad.
“Reed has really earned this opportunity, where the Bulldogs are sitting isn’t any fluke. He made 69 tackles on the weekend, born at the same hospital as myself,” Slater laughed.
There had also been speculation that Canberra prop Josh Papali’i could be convinced to come out of representative retirement for one last Origin with Queensland after their pack was outmuscled by the Blues in game two.
But the Raider was not named when Slater announced his squad on Monday morning.
Ponga last played for the Maroons in the 22-12 win in the 2022 decider in Brisbane when he had his best game for Queensland.
The 26-year-old made his Maroons debut off the bench in 2018 when he played in the middle and showcased his versatility in a similar role to the one he will play in the decider.
Gagai, 33, has been a match-winner for the Maroons so often on his way to scoring 12 Origin tries in 22 appearances. He was 18th man in game two of this year’s series, but sealed his return to the starting side with a dynamic display for the Knights against the Raiders, where he scored two tries and ran for 215m.
He will line up at centre with Valentine Holmes shuffling out to the wing.
Queensland’s bench hooker Harry Grant was rested from Melbourne’s first game after the Marons were thrashed 38-18 in game two, but it has since come to light he is contending with a sternum injury.
The Storm also sat Grant out of Saturday night’s 40-28 defeat of Wests Tigers, though football boss Frank Ponissi attributed that decision to “bumps and bruises” his captain is carrying.
Slater insisted the injured Latrell Mitchell’s withdrawal from the NSW team had no influence his own selections after opposing centre Valentine Holmes struggled to curb the South Sydney star’s influence in Origin II.
Cobbo, who shone in the 38-10 win in game one, returns after being rested for the Melbourne clash to get over injury niggles and to recharge mentally.
The 22-year-old Brisbane centre’s huge frame will give the Maroons some of the thrust and physicality they lacked at the MCG.
1 Reece Walsh (Broncos)
2 Selwyn Cobbo (Broncos)
3 Dane Gagai (Knights)
4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
5 Valentine Holmes (Cowboys)
6 Tom Dearden (Cowboys)
7 Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
8 Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)
9 Ben Hunt (Dragons)
10 Lindsay Collins (Roosters)
11 Kurt Capewell (Warriors)
12 Jeremiah Nanai (Cowboys)
13 Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
14 Harry Grant (Storm)
15 Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans)
16 Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins)
17 Kalyn Ponga (Knights)
18 Trent Loeiro (Storm)
19 Brendan Piakura (Broncos)
20 Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs)
with AAP
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