Brisbane prop Josh McGuire will replace the injured Nate Myles in Queensland’s starting front row in next week’s State of Origin game two in Brisbane.
North Queensland winger Kyle Feldt has also been added to the squad as cover for Dane Gagai who is nursing a muscle strain.
Cowboys backrower Ethan Lowe has officially been named 18th man.
McGuire earn an Origin starting debut after Walters opted for the Broncos juggernaut over Warriors’ Jacob Lillyman and Canberra wrecking ball Josh Papalii.
Lillyman will start on the bench with Papalii.
Lillyman returns to the 17 after being the only incumbent overlooked for game one which Queensland claimed 6-4 in Sydney.
Cowboys flyer Feldt will arrive at the Maroons’ Gold Coast camp on Wednesday night and will take part in Queensland’s first training session on Thursday.
A Maroons spokesman played down Gagai’s injury, saying the Newcastle strike weapon was “responding well to treatment” and was expected to resume running by the weekend.
Lowe – a member of the 2016 Emerging Origin squad – will join the Queensland camp on Friday.
Queensland team
Darius Boyd, Corey Oates, Greg Inglis, Justin O’Neill, Dane Gagai, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (capt), Josh McGuire, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker. Interchange: Michael Morgan, Jacob Lillyman, Aidan Guerra, Josh Papalii. 18th man: Ethan Lowe.
naiko
Guest
Fancy putting nervous Kyle in the game of his life against a blues outfit with nothing to loose.....no way I'd stick with the experienced Gaigai.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I still think Gagai is the weak link in the QLD squad and the Blues need to target him better. Although he did some good things in Origin 1 he still made mistakes and that is two Origin games in a row he has made mistakes. Its the 1% that matters in Origin. If Feldt is picked I think it will strengthen that side with his combo with O'Neil. Either way the Blues should target that side apart from running their big boys Klemmer and Fifita for longer minutes.