Queensland have recalled Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai and Selwyn Cobbo as coach Billy Slater makes key changes to his Maroons side, while Bradman Best will replace the injured Latrell Mitchell in one of two changes to Michael Maguire’s NSW State of Origin side for game three.
Gold Coast forward David Fifita, who played all three Origin games for the Maroons last year, has again been overlooked in a controversial Queensland omission. Hamstring injuries to wingers Xavier Coates and Murray Taulagi forced Slater’s hand in one respect, but between them the recalled trio bring much-needed skill, power, pace, size and experience to the table after the Maroons were outmuscled and outclassed 38-18 in Origin II in Melbourne.
Taulagi sustained 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.
Newcastle fullback Ponga is a huge inclusion for the Suncorp Stadium showdown on 17 July after he returned successfully to the NRL in the Knights’ 16-12 win over Canberra on Sunday following 11 weeks on the sidelines with a Lisfranc injury to his foot.
Ponga, expected to come off the bench, 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 Maroons hero 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.
Brisbane centre 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’s huge frame and skill-set will give the Maroons thrust and physicality they lacked at the MCG.
St George Illawarra second-rower Jaydn Su’A has been dropped for the Brisbane battle, but veteran back-rowers Kurt Capewell and Felise Kaufusi, who both came off the bench in game two, have been retained.
For the Blues, Best will be tasked with filling the Mitchell-sized hole in the NSW backline after coach Michael Maguire picked the Newcastle centre for the decider. Best is in line for just his second Origin appearance for the Blues after Mitchell succumbed to a foot injury following South Sydney’s win over Parramatta on Thursday.
The inclusion of 22-year-old Best at centre is one of two changes made by Maguire. Mitch Barnett comes in for Haumole Olakau’atu for his NSW debut with a view to overpowering a Queensland side who were unable to withstand the Blues’ relentless forward pack in game two in Melbourne.
Throughout his NRL career, Barnett has shown an ability to cover both the middle of the field and the edges. But arguably nobody has a bigger task than Best as he steps into the void left by Mitchell, who gave Queensland centre Valentine Holmes a bath at the MCG.
Best missed out on selection for game one due to injury and was locked in a four-way battle to take Mitchell’s jersey before Maguire’s team announcement on Sunday evening. The Knights centre faced stiff competition from Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton as well as Manly’s Tom Trbojevic, who returned for the Sea Eagles in their golden-point win over North Queensland on Saturday.
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Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i was the fourth and final option available to Maguire, but the Sydney Roosters utility back has not played a competitive game since he was sent off in the series opener for his head-high hit on Reece Walsh.
Maguire will name the three members of the extended squad on Monday when he fronts the media.
Mitchell, meanwhile, will meet with a specialist over the coming days to see if he needs surgery on his foot. Surgery would probably rule Mitchell out of playing any further part in South Sydney’s season.
Queensland: 1.Reece Walsh, 2. Selwyn Cobbo, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 5. Valentine Holmes, 6. Tom Dearden, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans (captain), 8. Reuben Cotter, 9. Ben Hunt, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 13. Pat Carrigan, 14. Harry Grant, 15. Mo Fotuaika, 16. Felise Kaufusi, 17. Kalyn Ponga.
NSW: Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Bradman Best, Zac Lomax, Jarome Luai, Mitch Moses, Jake Trbojevic (captain), Reece Robson, Payne Haas, Liam Martin, Angus Crichton, Cameron Murray. Bench: Connor Watson, Isaah Yeo, Mitchell Barnett, Spencer Leniu.
