Queensland team for 2012 State of Origin Game 3 announced
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Queensland have named a 20-strong squad for the 2012 State of Origin Game 3 decider to provide cover for their injured stars, which include fullback Billy Slater.
Slater features in Queensland’s expanded squad, but is racing the clock to be fit after suffering a knee injury in Origin II, initially expected to sideline him for up to another three weeks.
Greg Inglis is expected to wear the No.1 jersey if Slater succumbs to injury, with Melbourne’s Dane Nielsen likely to slot into Inglis’ left centre spot.
Canterbury’s Ben Barba has not been included, with experienced North Queensland fullback Matt Bowen earning a recall to the 20-man squad.
Maroons selectors are also sweating on Justin Hodges (ribs) and Sam Thaiday (shoulder), while Gold Coast lock Ashley Harrison (broken toe) has been ruled out, handing Brisbane’s Corey Parker his Origin starting debut against NSW at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday July 4.
Parker’s Broncos teammate Ben Te’o has been called into the extended Maroons squad.
South Sydney forward Dave Taylor lost his starting spot to Thaiday and will be under pressure to make the bench with the inclusion of Te’o.
Selectors will make a final call on whether Matt Scott starts after the Cowboys enforcer attends his mother’s funeral on Wednesday.
If Queensland win game three, they will seal a seventh straight series, giving retiring prop Petero Civoniceva a fitting farewell in Maroons colours.
Meninga will give Slater until the end of the week to prove his fitness.
“He ran yesterday, he was very upbeat, we are very hopeful but we can’t make any judgements just yet,”he said.
And asked about whether Inglis would replace Slater at fullback, Meninga said: “We’ve got Matt (Bowen) here as well, but we are in no hurry (to make a decision).”
Squad (alphabetical): Matt Bowen, Darius Boyd, Petero Civoniceva, Cooper Cronk, Matt Gillett, Ben Hannant, Justin Hodges, Greg Inglis, Nate Myles, Dane Nielsen, Corey Parker, Matt Scott, David Shillington, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith (capt), Brent Tate, David Taylor, Ben Te’o, Sam Thaiday, Johnathan Thurston.
© AAP 2013- Explore:
- NRL, Rugby League, State Of Origin, State of Origin 2012
June 26th 2012 @ 2:13pm
Johnno said | June 26th 2012 @ 2:13pm | Report comment
Would loved Ben Barba to be in the squad. I am a big Matt Bowen fan, and his combination with JT is a big advantage and i see as a big plus for why he got selected, and I never underestimate the importance of club combinations, history shows club combinations always work well at rep level. We are seeing that this year with, Cameron Smith and cooper crank for QLD.
-But I sure would of been tempted to go with Ben Barba he is in the form of his life, so pick on form. Or Inglis to fullback. And Boyd returned to form last night too, funny that, he is in good form in origin this year Boyd, and now just before origin played well for Newcastle for once.
So rep footy is different to club footy just asked Greg Bird the same question, but I sure would of been tempted too of played Ben Barba in game 3 if anyone saw his amazing try on the weekend you would know why, simply breathtaking.
July 4th 2012 @ 10:44am
Monica said | July 4th 2012 @ 10:44am | Report comment
Exactly Johnno i’m fan of Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and yes my little cousin Ben have played very well made us all his family very proud and we all hoped he would get the chance to fill in the gap for the 3rd Match but all i can say is
WE AS QUEENSLANDERS MAY AFFIRM ABSOLUTELY THAT NOTHING GREAT IN THE WORLD HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT PASSION WELL WE CHASING OUR 7TH VICTORY TONIGHT TO SHOW WHAT IS OUR PASSION ALL ABOUT SO GO MIGHTY MAROONS SHOW US THE PASSION SHOW THE BLUES WHAT WE QUEENSLANDERS STAND FOR AND THAT IS VICTORY….
Also our prayers and thoughts are with both Matt Scott and Robbie Farah
June 26th 2012 @ 2:16pm
oikee said | June 26th 2012 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
Big Mal could have picked a syncronised swimming team beat this mob, its only the kiwi nsw blues.
They wont know where to hide or where to look when they get on our turf, no more friendly reffing decisions or grubby tactics will go un-noticed now Sticky, your ass belongs to us \\\\\\////// yeah.
The magnificent 7.
June 26th 2012 @ 2:37pm
Ryan O'Connell said | June 26th 2012 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
Just make sure you show your face if NSW win.
June 26th 2012 @ 11:49pm
nathan said | June 26th 2012 @ 11:49pm | Report comment
If? LOL
QLD is all about when we win, no ifs, no buts.
June 26th 2012 @ 2:41pm
Mals said | June 26th 2012 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
Oikee – good to “Aussie” Ben Te’o called into the Queensland squad. He was born & raised in Queensland right?
He didn’t play in NSW for the Tigers & Samoa in the 2008 World Cup before playing for the Broncos…?
June 26th 2012 @ 3:01pm
oikee said | June 26th 2012 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
If he has even been to Queensland, even if he looked us up on a map, he is a Queenslander, just like Sonny bill.
I will show up Ryan, i know you will want to sink the boot in like you always do,.
Just heard a whisper, about the new tv deal. The game will for the first time ever be beamed live , yes live into Hobart via norse code.
Things are looking up. hehe
June 26th 2012 @ 3:34pm
steve b said | June 26th 2012 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
Yeh according to oikee you only have to have made a visit north of the border to qualify as canetoad, and by the way oikee Hobart is one of the few places outside the eastern states where you can see SOO in real time ..So your news is a bit late mate just like your canetoads….
June 26th 2012 @ 4:59pm
Ryan O'Connell said | June 26th 2012 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
I’ve never put the boot in. Never had the chance – NSW have lost for 6 years!
June 26th 2012 @ 7:59pm
Meesta Cool said | June 26th 2012 @ 7:59pm | Report comment
Ryan,, Oikee has just declared you an Honorary Queenslander!… Welcome to the winners!.
June 26th 2012 @ 5:23pm
dishes said | June 26th 2012 @ 5:23pm | Report comment
oikee thinks everyone wants to be a Queenslander.. not sure what the appeal is in being an inbred bogan redneck but when i work that out i’ll get back to you… ha ha
June 26th 2012 @ 8:35pm
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League said | June 26th 2012 @ 8:35pm | Report comment
I’ve spoken to some really dumb people from NSW and Victoria. I mean REALLY dumb. Calling them ‘rednecks’ would be a compliment to them and an insult to real rednecks.
June 27th 2012 @ 7:33pm
Ronnie the Eel said | June 27th 2012 @ 7:33pm | Report comment
what do u reckon a redneck actually is?
June 26th 2012 @ 3:35pm
mushi said | June 26th 2012 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
even New South Welshmen can’t stand New South Welshmen.
June 26th 2012 @ 11:46pm
Timnaik said | June 26th 2012 @ 11:46pm | Report comment
Awesome post Oiks!
June 26th 2012 @ 11:53pm
MemberforDobellforCEOofARLC said | June 26th 2012 @ 11:53pm | Report comment
Oikee has a groupee how nice !
June 27th 2012 @ 12:00am
Gus said | June 27th 2012 @ 12:00am | Report comment
Wow oikee
which two games have you been watching ?
kiwi nsw blues … maybe you need to look where the players representing Queensland are originally from.
And by the way I think that the maroons had more than their share of good calls in game 1.
Anyway it will be nice to see your ego and the maroons arrogance come crashing to the ground with the same thud
that will be brought about by the blues bashing the living daylights out of your team .
Nothing lasts forever
June 27th 2012 @ 8:32am
oikee said | June 27th 2012 @ 8:32am | Report comment
Hey Gus, i am just repeating what the Victorian Mayor said, he took one look at the NSWales side and thought it was the kiwis team playing.
June 26th 2012 @ 2:17pm
eagleJack said | June 26th 2012 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
They have certainly covered every scenario if Slater isn’t cleared to play. But what about Matt Scott? Im guessing they will move Myles up to the front-row but I would have thought maybe McGuire would have got a call-up. Or are there still eligibility issues for him to overcome?
June 26th 2012 @ 2:18pm
Qld thru and thru said | June 26th 2012 @ 2:18pm | Report comment
There is a rumour floating around that Inglis to 6, Thurston to 7, Cronk to the bench (with Neilson and Bowen both starting) … I hope this is true … would be left field but would make Ricky scratch both of his heads.
June 26th 2012 @ 2:30pm
Meesta Cool said | June 26th 2012 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
Imglis never really set the world on fite at 6… maybe three good games…. If unhappy with Thurston at 6, do number swap with Cronk, Cronk to the bench, is not a good move.
Both teams seem to have named a few players that are a bit injury sus!.. We will see.
June 26th 2012 @ 3:11pm
eagleJack said | June 26th 2012 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
MC, I have bad memories of Inglis winning the Clive Churchill when playing at 6!
But that was a loooooong time ago. Every NSW fan will be praying that rumour is true. But I will put it in the “slim to none” category.
June 26th 2012 @ 8:02pm
Meesta Cool said | June 26th 2012 @ 8:02pm | Report comment
EJ,,, that Churchill Winning game was one of the three that I referred to… lol
June 26th 2012 @ 11:57pm
matthewthorpe said | June 26th 2012 @ 11:57pm | Report comment
id be surprised if that would happen, would screw even more with our defensive line and theyre already looking unwilling to move inglis from the centres because of the defensive change.
June 26th 2012 @ 2:32pm
Rellum said | June 26th 2012 @ 2:32pm | Report comment
Seems to be pretty much as expected. Now it is injury watch till Sat.
June 26th 2012 @ 2:39pm
Ryan O'Connell said | June 26th 2012 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
No real surprises here, apart from naming Slater. However, NSW did the same thing with Glenn Stewart.
Can’t wait for game III, should be a cracker.
June 26th 2012 @ 2:47pm
Johnno said | June 26th 2012 @ 2:47pm | Report comment
Ben T’eo is born in Auckland NZ another kiwi australian rugby league and QLD rugby league have poached.
Ben Teo was in the junior kiwi team 2 years ago, and renounced ties with NZ to play origin
When will Australia stop poaching kiwi rugby league talent, stop this Australia it is not okay.
Ben T’eo should be playing for NZ not QLD, give it up Australia stop taking New Zeleands rugby league talent.
You took Karmichal Hunt too.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/kiwis-lobby-rugby-league-international-federation-for-eligibility-rule-overhaul/story-e6frepbx-1226406373079
June 26th 2012 @ 2:59pm
Steveo said | June 26th 2012 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
You took Nathan Fien!
June 26th 2012 @ 3:07pm
Johnno said | June 26th 2012 @ 3:07pm | Report comment
And you took James Tamou too and big WIllie Mason born in NZ was Mason.
June 26th 2012 @ 11:58pm
matthewthorpe said | June 26th 2012 @ 11:58pm | Report comment
guess theyd all just rather be aussie than a kiwi
June 26th 2012 @ 3:04pm
jdubya said | June 26th 2012 @ 3:04pm | Report comment
The onus is on NZRL to attract their own players. There is something wrong with NZ rugby league if their own countrymen are rejecting them. They need to stop whinging and go back to the drawing board and start attracting the talent.
Australia aren’t going to give them players out of charity, are you kidding?
June 26th 2012 @ 3:08pm
Johnno said | June 26th 2012 @ 3:08pm | Report comment
“jdubya giving them players out of charity are you kidding”.
Ben Te’o is a kwi not an aussie . Therfore it is hardly charity when he is a kiwi more like the other way around kiwis giving the aussies and state of origin charity.
June 26th 2012 @ 3:26pm
Steveo said | June 26th 2012 @ 3:26pm | Report comment
Gerard Beale – Brisbane
Josh Hoffman – Mackay
Jason Nightingale – Sydney
Sam McKendry – Perth
Nathan Fien – Mt Isa
Frank Pritchard – Darlinghurst
Shaun Kenny Dowall – Brisbane
…. all played for NZ in your last test match. ALMOST HALF THE TEAM WERE BORN IN AUSTRALIA, and here you are whinging about a guy who’s probably not even going to play for Queensland next week, and James Tomou. Probably shouldn’t throw stones in glass houses….
June 26th 2012 @ 6:04pm
john said | June 26th 2012 @ 6:04pm | Report comment
i think as soon as you make your 1st grade debut you say who you want to play for before anyone thinks your good and before your a chance for origin or tests. its not as simple as saying its where your born i know 2 guys who came here from england at age 14, now 21 all their family lives here and they support australia and qld even against england
June 27th 2012 @ 11:28am
QLD-er said | June 27th 2012 @ 11:28am | Report comment
Austalia doesnt “poach” players…. no one is forcing anyone to do anything…. go back to the players and hit them up about where their loyalties lie… if they want to put their hands up to play for Australia because they’re going to get paid more (among other things) then why should the country be blamed for the choices they make….
June 28th 2012 @ 10:39am
bj said | June 28th 2012 @ 10:39am | Report comment
look at the Euro cup 2012 at the moment the Italians have a striker from the Canary or Virgin Islands, definately not Italy
June 30th 2012 @ 1:55pm
Cowboys4life said | June 30th 2012 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
Actually Mario balotelli is an Italian he was born in Palermo Italy his birth parent arent from Italy but he was born there and the later adopted
July 1st 2012 @ 6:48pm
justafan said | July 1st 2012 @ 6:48pm | Report comment
mate, ben t’eo made the decision a fair while ago. certainly before anyone even considered or talked to him about an origin spot.
June 26th 2012 @ 3:05pm
Rob said | June 26th 2012 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
The players choose themselves to not play for NZ to play origin, maybe instead of whinging about it NZ Rugby League should look at a north vs south island game so they stop trying to get into our Origin series, which in their defence is probably the highest quality rugby league match in the world, so no wonder they want to be apart of it, I’d much rather have a team full of REAL queenslanders playing then a bunch of kiwi’s in the mix.
June 26th 2012 @ 3:26pm
spek said | June 26th 2012 @ 3:26pm | Report comment
I thought the only issue was whether bowen or GI at no.1 and bowen looked like grabbing the full back spot? All the press has been tipping bowen this week.
The forwards looks more problematic to me: Harrison out Parker in (must be small question mark over Parker’s involvement given the “to the bone” gash) Thaiday most likley in and Dave Taylor- on form – out etc.
Myles to the front row (?) teaming up with Petro up against two large and in form NSW props. that looks v.messy from a Qld perspective and a big challenge as well given that NSW have clearly won the forward contest – especially in that vital first 20 mins.
Qld have a mountain to climb to be competitive upfront: and its a mountain they have not climbed all series.
spek
June 26th 2012 @ 4:18pm
WQ said | June 26th 2012 @ 4:18pm | Report comment
Unfortunately spek, I agree with you. The QLD forwards have been dominated twice by NSW’s this year and if it happens again we can forget 7 in a row!
It is about time they stepped up and played in this series with a bit of mongrel, the NSW’s forwards certainly have. They have looked hungrier for the contest as opposed to going through the motions.
Justin Hodges would want to have a big game as well because he has looked dead-set pedestrian so far in the series.
As a QLD supporter I am hoping that we have just not fired a shot yet in this series and all that is about to change…
June 26th 2012 @ 5:01pm
rl said | June 26th 2012 @ 5:01pm | Report comment
why would Myles go to the front row when you have Hannant and Shillo on the bench?
July 1st 2012 @ 6:55pm
justafan said | July 1st 2012 @ 6:55pm | Report comment
i do agree that nsw have won the battle of the forwards and i hate to say it seeing as its his last game but i think petero has to go back to the bench. just a bit to old to handle the pace of the first 20-25mins. i think matt scott will be fine to start. and probably hannant into the starting side, on current form i think hes about the best front rower in the world at the moment.
June 26th 2012 @ 3:47pm
RexE said | June 26th 2012 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
Spek is correct – the qld forwards are a problem. However they are capable of stepping-up to the mark…..I hope!!