The Queensland Maroons may have wrapped up the 2016 Origin series, but they now have a chance to complete their first clean sweep over the New South Wales Blues since 2010. Here are the final State of Origin teams to face-off in Game 3 on Wednesday night at ANZ Stadium.
Queensland will be hoping to give lock Corey Parker a memorable sendoff with the stalwart retaining his spot in the forward pack. It will be his last game in a Maroons jumper, having announced he will be retiring at the end of this season.
The only loss for the Maroons is Michael Morgan through a knee injury, with Corey Oates and Josh McGuire also copping knocks against Melbourne during Round 17 but still being named. Dane Gagai is not 100 per cent fit according to coach Kevin Walters, but will be ready to stretch out to full speed during the game. He will wear a leg brace.
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NSW coach Laurie Daley hopes to farewell captain Paul Gallen on a high, the 24-cap veteran playing in his last Origin. Eight players will have made their debut for the Blues in 2016, including James Tedesco and Wade Graham who will experience Origin for the first time on Wednesday.
Jack Bird will make his run-on debut starting in the halves alongside his Cronulla teammate James Maloney, Adam Reynolds was ruled out with a shoulder injury late last week. Matt Moylan will share the pivot role coming off the bench.
It’s something of a revamp for the Blues, who will be hoping for a win to give their fans something to be excited about for the 2017 series.
New South Wales Blues team for State of Origin Game 3
1. James Tedesco, 2. Blake Ferguson, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Josh Dugan, 5. Josh Mansour, 14. Matt Moylan, 7. James Maloney, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Robbie Farah, 10. Paul Gallen (c), 11. Wade Graham, 12. Josh Jackson, 13. Tyson Frizell.
Interchange: 6. Jack Bird, 15. James Tamou, 16. David Klemmer, 17. Andrew Fifita.
Queensland Maroons team for State of Origin Game 3:
1. Darius Boyd, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Greg Inglis, 4. Justin O’Neill, 5. Dane Gagai, 6. Johnathan Thurston, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Matt Scott, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Nate Myles, 11. Matt Gillett, 12. Sam Thaiday 13. Corey Parker
Interchange: 14. Gavin Cooper, 15. Josh McGuire, 16. Aidan Guerra, 17. Jacob Lillyman
Who has the advantage on paper?
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